The second verse of the song explores the emotional agony that results from ultimately falling short of these high expectations in greater detail as the song goes on. The sharp query, "How long before you screw it up?" along with the hurried, "hurry up" repeat express a sense of exasperation and glaring lack of empathy. The chorus reappears, reinforcing the central idea that acceptance and affection are contingent on fulfilling the unachievable requirements laid out. The phrase "That wasn't fast enough… to make us happy" highlights how unsatisfactory these expectations are and how they feed an unachievable need for acceptance.
"Perfect" serves as a call to evaluate the toxic nature of chasing perfection and the adverse impact it can have on one's self-esteem and well-being.
Perfect
Alanis Morissette Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you're flawless, then you'll win my love
Don't forget to win first place
Don't forget to keep that smile on your face
Be a good boy
Try a little harder
You've got to measure up
How long before you screw it up
How many times do I have to tell you to hurry up
With everything I do for you
The least you can do is keep quiet
Be a good girl
You've gotta try a little harder
That simply wasn't good enough
To make us proud
I'll live through you
I'll make you what I never was
If you're the best, then maybe so am I
Compared to him compared to her
I'm doing this for your own damn good
You'll make up for what I blew
What's the problem, why are you crying
Be a good boy
Push a little farther now
That wasn't fast enough
To make us happy
We'll love you just the way you are
If you're perfect
The song Perfect by Alanis Morissette is an emotionally charged song that speaks of standards and expectations, mostly from the perspective of a parent towards a child. In the first verse, the parent (presumably the mother) sets high expectations for her child, expecting nothing but perfection - "If you're flawless, then you'll win my love." The verses continue with the repetition of the phrase "be a good boy/girl" followed by "try a little harder," showcasing the unattainable standards the parent sets for their child. The chorus of the song features the parent comparing themselves to their child, living through them to correct their past mistakes.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes is never quite enough
Occasionally, completing the minimum requirement is insufficient
If you're flawless, then you'll win my love
Your worth is defined by your lack of imperfection and error
Don't forget to win first place
The only acceptable outcome is being the best
Don't forget to keep that smile on your face
Even if you're struggling, always present a happy facade
Be a good boy
Act in accordance with my expectations
Try a little harder
You have not done enough and need to exert more effort
You've got to measure up
You must meet or exceed the set standards to gain approval
Make me prouder
My personal satisfaction is linked to your achievements
How long before you screw it up
Your mistakes are inevitable and will eventually occur
How many times do I have to tell you to hurry up
You're not completing tasks fast enough to meet expectations
With everything I do for you
I am frequently going out of my way to assist you
The least you can do is keep quiet
Do not speak up or complain, despite my demanding behavior
Be a good girl
Act in accordance with my expectations of femininity
You've gotta try a little harder
You have not demonstrated enough effort
That simply wasn't good enough
Your previous effort was not satisfactory
To make us proud
Your achievements reflect our competence as parents or authority figures
I'll live through you
Your accomplishments serve as a reflection of my own missed opportunities
I'll make you what I never was
I will live vicariously through you and project my own insecurities onto your life
If you're the best, then maybe so am I
Your success validates my worth and achievements
Compared to him compared to her
Your performance is being evaluated against others
I'm doing this for your own damn good
My actions are justified by my belief that it will benefit you in the long run
You'll make up for what I blew
I have failed in some aspect of my life and expect you to succeed where I did not
What's the problem, why are you crying
You're not allowed to express negative emotions as it is inconvenient for me
Push a little farther now
Your current level of effort is insufficient and needs to be increased
That wasn't fast enough
Your previous performance was too slow or did not meet the required pace
To make us happy
Your purpose is to fulfill my own happiness and approval
We'll love you just the way you are
As long as you are perfect and meet our expectations, we will love and accept you
If you're perfect
The only way to receive love and acceptance is to be flawless
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Glen Ballard, Alanis Nadine Morissette
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gmun2248
Heather Browning My mum has a sign hanging in her kitchen (that my dad bought her, ha ha- he checked first!) It says: "Sometimes I open my mouth and my mother comes out."
Verbatim.
I don't have kids, but sometimes I am still aware of certain things - those things we all say we'll never do/ say/ be (also my mum).
I'm in my 30s, I had a bad accident & surgeries & have been loving with my parents for a while again. I am lucky, 75% of the time we all get on well - & I really have no idea what I'd have done without their support.
BUT what freaks me out a bit is that things we used to joke about, about her parents, my grandparents, she actually has started to justify certain things as she gets older - "now I understand how your gran felt" about various things. :-O !!
It's an Oscar Wilde quote: "All women become like their mothers. That's their tragedy. No man does. That's his."
Hmmmm..... ;-)
@rodrigojair4087
Perfect 💕👌
Sometimes is never quite enough
If you're flawless, then you'll win my love
Don't forget to win first place
Don't forget to keep that smile on your face
Be a good boy
Try a little harder
You've got to measure up
Make me prouder
How long before you screw it up
How many times do I have to tell you to hurry up
With everything I do for you
The least you can do is keep quiet
Be a good girl
You've gotta try a little harder
That simply wasn't good enough
To make us proud
I'll live through you
I'll make you what I never was
If you're the best, then maybe so am I
Compared to him compared to her
I'm doing this for your own damn good
You'll make up for what I blew
What's the problem, why are you crying
Be a good boy
Push a little farther now
That wasn't fast enough
To make us happy
We'll love you just the way you are
If you're perfect.
@rusne.
♥
Sometimes is never quite enough
If you're flawless, then you'll win my love
Don't forget to win first place
Don't forget to keep that smile on your face
Be a good boy
Try a little harder
You've got to measure up
Make me prouder
How long before you screw it up
How many times do I have to tell you to hurry up
With everything I do for you
The least you can do is keep quiet
Be a good girl
You've gotta try a little harder
That simply wasn't good enough
To make us proud
I'll live through you
I'll make you what I never was
If you're the best, then maybe so am I
Compared to him compared to her
I'm doing this for your own damn good
You'll make up for what I blew
What's the problem, why are you crying
Be a good boy
Push a little farther now
That wasn't fast enough
To make us happy
We'll love you just the way you are
If you're perfect
@eftipef2
written and recorded in 20 minutes... amazing
@disney_obsessed_girl8027
What? Really????
@bisonlakota
Um, no...................................😹😹😹😹😹😹😹😹😹😹😹😹😹
@iantuition
@Disney_Obsessed_Girl yep. Just about all of JLP was written and the vocals cut in a day each.
@MrAholloway85
@king iantuition. a day is a lot more than 20 minutes lol
@ronaldlippe9156
Big n Agile
@thebullwhisperer916
This song hits home for those raised by narcissist parents. I can't even sing this one without crying my eyes out. The pain still hurts.
@SuperDmva
Same. This song hits me at so many levels
@tynellesharratt463
💕
@biatoppan9696
Perfect!