Tender Sugar

Tender Sugar is a song from Silent Hill 4: The Room. The song is track 1 of the game's soundtrack and was composed by Akira Yamaoka with lyrics written by Joe Romersa and sung by Mary Elizabeth McGlynn. The song's video features Joseph Schreiber and parts of the game.

A largely ambient version of this song plays when Joseph Schreiber speaks to Henry Townshend and Eileen Galvin in Room 302 of the Past.

Symbolism
Joseph is seen writing on himself throughout the video and, implied through the lyrics, the song may be about Schreiber. The song's lyrics state "the sweet sugar saves me, it's the room that confines me" and about how it can't differentiate dreams from reality, which may be Joseph pleading for salvation from his room.

The "white sugar" may be White Claudia or its form PTV which has hallucinogenic properties.

The lyrics may also reference Walter Sullivan, whose possible addiction to White Claudia/PTV and filial attachment to Room 302 the Order caused. However, the "white sugar" may also be a metaphor for desiring his mother's breastmilk, implied by the line "mother's sugar always loves me".

Lyrics
 I run, I fall What ripped away? Check my body now Was it body or soul?

The darkness fades Fades to the light Disappearing now Disappears from the night

And all these nightmares I once had as a child The morning always came, it came too late What did my mind forget? Forget to hide? Could the nightmare be awake? I don't know

In or out Up or down Never know it's an illusion Round and round On and on Every day spins my confusion

Not again, not again, not again This dream I can't awake What is real? What is real? What is real? It's getting hard for me to take What I need, what I need, what I need A little something I rely And the white sugar gently hides me

Oh, the sweet sugar saves me It's the room that confines me Confines me Sweet sugar

Yesterday Back and forth Broken door no longer opens Breaking down Need it now Mother's sugar always loves me

Not again, not again, not again This dream I can't awake What is real? What is real? What is real? It's getting hard for me to take What I need, what I need, what I need A little something I rely And the white sugar gently hides me

Oh, the sweet sugar saves me It's the room that confines me 

Tender Sugar - Empire Mix


This is a faster remix of the song.