Morissette assumed creative control and producing duties for her subsequent studio albums, including Under Rug Swept (2002), So-Called Chaos (2004), Flavors of Entanglement (2008), and Havoc and Bright Lights (2012). Her ninth album, Such Pretty Forks in the Road, was released in 2020. Morissette has sold more than 75 million records worldwide and has been dubbed the "Queen of Alt-Rock Angst" by Rolling Stone.
Read the full article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alanis_Morissette
Studio albums
Alanis (1991)
Now Is the Time (1992)
Jagged Little Pill (1995)
Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie (1998)
Under Rug Swept (2002)
So-Called Chaos (2004)
Flavors of Entanglement (2008)
Havoc and Bright Lights (2012)
Such Pretty Forks in the Road (2020)
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