The Sweet Escape

"The Sweet Escape" is a pop song written by Gwen Stefani, Akon, and Giorgio Tuinfort for Stefani's second solo album The Sweet Escape (2006). "The Sweet Escape", which features elements of doo-wop, New Wave, and ska music, is an apology for a fight between two lovers and describes a dream of a pleasant life for them. As the album's title track, its title was chosen to help market Stefani's music and fashion lines. Although it was released as the second single from Stefani's second solo album in 2007, it had been sent to U.S. radio in December 2006. The song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at #93 in December 2006, and it peaked at #2 in April 2007 behind Akon's subsequent single "Don't Matter". The song spent 15 consecutive weeks in the top ten and remained on the chart for over nine months, listed at #3 on the year-end chart. The song was nominated for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals at the 2008 Grammy Awards but lost to Robert Plant and Alison Krauss' "Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)".

[Intro: Akon] Konvict, Konvict, Konvict Woo-hoo, yee-hoo Woo-hoo, yee-hoo Woo-hoo, yee-hoo Woo-hoo, yee-hoo [Verse 1: Gwen Stefani] If I could escape, I would But first of all, let me say I must apologize for acting stank and treating you this way 'Cause I've been acting like sour milk all on the floor It's your fault, you didn't shut the refrigerator Maybe that's the reason I've been acting so cold [Chorus: Gwen Stefani] If I could escape (Escape) and recreate a place that's my own world (Own world) And I could be your favorite girl (Forever), perfectly together And tell me boy, now wouldn't that be sweet? (Sweet escape) If I could be sweet (Be sweet) I know I've been a real bad girl (I'll try to change) I didn't mean for you to get hurt (Whatsoever) We can make it better And tell me boy, now wouldn't that be sweet? (Sweet escape, sweet escape) [Refrain: Akon] (Woo-hoo, yee-hoo, woo-hoo, yee-hoo) I wanna get away (Get away) to our sweet escape (Sweet escape) (Woo-hoo, yee-hoo, woo-hoo, yee-hoo) I wanna get away (Get away), yeah (Yeah) [Verse 2: Gwen Stefani] You melt me down, I'm at my lowest boiling point Come help me out, I need to get me out of this joint Come on, let's bounce, counting on you to turn me around Instead of clowning around, let's look for some common ground So baby, times get a little crazy I've been gettin' a little lazy Waitin' on you to come save me I can see that you're angry by the way that you treat me Hopefully you don't leave me, wanna take you with me [Chorus: Gwen Stefani] If I could escape (Escape) and recreate a place that's my own world (Own world) And I could be your favorite girl (Forever), perfectly together And tell me boy, now wouldn't that be sweet? (Sweet escape) If I could be sweet (Be sweet) I know I've been a real bad girl (I'll try to change) I didn't mean for you to get hurt (Whatsoever) We can make it better And tell me boy, now wouldn't that be sweet? (Sweet escape, sweet escape) [Bridge: Gwen Stefani & (Akon)] (Woo-hoo, yee-hoo, woo-hoo, yee-hoo) If I could escape (Woo-hoo, yee-hoo, woo-hoo, yee-hoo) If I could escape 'Cause I've been acting like sour milk all on the floor It's your fault you didn't shut the refrigerator Maybe that's the reason I've been acting so cold [Chorus: Gwen Stefani] If I could escape (Escape) and recreate a place that's my own world (Own world) And I could be your favorite girl (Forever), perfectly together And tell me boy, now wouldn't that be sweet? (Sweet escape) If I could be sweet (Be sweet) I know I've been a real bad girl (I'll try to change) I didn't mean for you to get hurt (Whatsoever) We can make it better And tell me boy, now wouldn't that be sweet? (Sweet escape, sweet escape) [Refrain: Akon] (Woo-hoo, yee-hoo, woo-hoo, yee-hoo) I wanna get away (Get away) to our sweet escape (Sweet escape) (Woo-hoo, yee-hoo, woo-hoo, yee-hoo) I wanna get away (Get away), yeah (Yeah) [Outro: Akon] (Woo-hoo, yee-hoo, woo-hoo, yee-hoo) (Woo-hoo, yee-hoo, woo-hoo, yee-hoo)