And that's precisely what Perrone's music is. It's his life -- his worst days, his hopes, and the fears and loves that have come with experience and insight. For Perrone, songwriting is a way of sorting through the thoughts in his mind, capturing a moment or an emotion, and setting that to melody. The result is the sound of a singer-songwriter completely opening himself to whatever may come.
"When I write, it's no holds barred. I don't censor myself," Perrone says. "So many of the songs are just me, picking myself apart."
Perrone has spent more than eight years earning the reputation of an artist who brings audience emotions right to the surface, establishing himself as a noted voice in the Boston music scene. Through residencies at intimate local hideaways and nights before sold-out crowds at Boston's famed Paradise Rock Club and Avalon, Perrone has fused bonds with audiences, honed his craft -- and picked up a 2005 Boston Music Award nomination for Best Local Male Vocal along the way.
But his approach to musicianship is one that begins away from any stage. Perrone is more songwriter-singer than the other way around, seeking the honesty and clarity in music that can otherwise seem difficult to find.
"Writing a song is all the best parts of music," Perrone says. "You catch onto something and it's new, it's fresh, it's exciting. And when you're able to piece a song together, play it from start to finish for the first time, it's amazing. I want to run out and grab someone, get them to listen."
A collection of 13 songs came together in a recording studio last year to form "Used To Dream," Perrone's debut solo effort. A collaboration with musician Steve Belleville, musician/producer Dennis Carroll (6Media Group) and guest appearances from 10 local music talents, the songs flourished in an organic recording process focused more on the feeling of a take than glossy production.
"Glen Phillips, Ray LaMontagne, Griffin House, Joseph Arthur, Ryan Adams, Damien Rice -- when you listen to their songs, they just feel completely honest," he says. "I'm not listening to the technical details, the recording process. I get lost in the feeling of the song. I feel a connection to it. There's something alive about it."
Perrone discovered that the imperfections that arise in the recording process can actually feel perfect for a song, capturing the emotion and intent he imagined when he first set the words to paper.
With that in mind, Perrone was free to explore the possibilities inherent in each song."Used To Dream" features both a return to the basics -- including Perrone's return to the percussion skills he first learned as a youth -- and the ability for seasoned musicians to introduce new elements -- mandolin, banjo and slide guitar, among them -- into songs.
A songwriter brought up on and well-versed in pop rock, Perrone stretched "A Soundtrack (For the Happier Times)" into a languid torch song that drips with the blues and soul as it examines jealousy and circumstance.
The haunting harmonies that soar through "What Comes Up Through the Floor" proves to defy conventional song structure entirely. It's a song without a chorus, but a deceptive one -- lush and menacingly dark.
"I like the fact that it's a dark and creepy song. It's one of the most different songs I've written," Perrone says, "but one that completely summed up what I wanted it to say."
Perrone balances the dark introspection with a charm listeners have long come to know -- saucy, sweet and self-conscious all at the same time. In "Somewhere Beside Me," he sings of a love that lingers through snapshots from his past, noting with a hint of pop-backed self-deprecation that "you're more than a picture I still try to flirt with."
"Lie," likewise, highlights the backwards glance one casts at the end of a relationship, one that needs to end with deception in order to spare both parties involved. The frustrated lyrics, however, are cast against bright instrumentation -- demonstrating Perrone's ability to create multi-layered listening experiences.
At album's close, he brings it back to the basics -- guitar, voice, thoughts -- for "Like Riding a Bike," his most personal, vulnerable song to date.
"I don't want to be here in ten years, living off handouts and hand-me-down dreams," he quietly sings. "If I left for California tomorrow, could you say that I left you with anything, honestly?"
Somewhere along the way, an album of songs that needed to come out became the album to mark a new stage of Perrone's career.
Audiences in live settings throughout the Northeast are already feeling the connection, demonstrated through strong word-of-mouth support and an avid on-line community dedicated to sharing the music. The fans that approach the musician to share their thoughts and appreciation serve as a testament to his musical longevity -- they are new listeners and those who have been there since Perrone's first concert in March 1998.
Perrone describes the response as "an amazing, wonderful thing" for someone who, as a young boy, was often found belting out songs to imaginary crowds in his living room.
"That's the thing that amazes me," he says. "Back then, that was such a dream of mine. And there are time it's just such a surreal experience, I almost think I'm going to realize I'm still dreaming."
Here It Is
Chad Perrone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and it left me reeling from that sudden turn
a sucker punch that left my face numb
and I was supposed to keep trying
but you entered a place I would be leaving
and you covered up things I was revealing
I hate that I see you when I'm dreaming
I'm supposed to keep lying
To lose myself in the past
Here it is
The truth laid out as if we had lost it
it's hit or miss
and we were miles off from the target
You carried a spark that I'd been craving
You were support for the walls that had been caving in
But how am I to believe what you're saying
When it's more than I can bare
My friends say I can't let go completely
and the truth that I've laid out has been lost on me
I'm left wondering what you might be thinking
like me, do you even care
Leave it up to me
To lose myself in the past
Here it is
The truth laid out as if we had lost it
it's hit or miss
and we were miles off from the target
And even if we turned this all around
I'm not sure anyone we know would be on our side
Not that it matters what they think
cause either way, we're miles away tonight
All the words that I couldn't let fall from my lips
Found a home in your loose hands and they started to slip
and now I sit here plagued by the thought of this
Here it is
The truth laid out as if we had lost it
it's hit or miss
and we were miles off from the target
Here it is
The truth laid out as if we had lost it
it's hit or miss
and we were miles off from the target
And then we were miles off…
we were miles off
from the target
miles off...
In Chad Perrone's song "Here It Is," the singer addresses a relationship that has gone wrong. The lyrics depict a sense of betrayal and disappointment as the singer confronts the other person's actions. The first verse refers to the person's decision, which has left the singer feeling stunned and unsure. The singer tries to make things work, but soon realizes that the other person is not reciprocating the same level of commitment. The second verse sees the singer grappling with their own mixed emotions, as they try to come to terms with the other person's behavior. The truth has come out, but it's too late to repair the damage that has been done.
The chorus repeats the phrase "Here it is," as if to acknowledge that the truth has finally been revealed. The use of the phrase "hit or miss" emphasizes how uncertain the situation has become. The third verse mentions the other person's positive qualities, but ultimately the singer can't trust them anymore. The fourth verse echoes the same sentiment, as the singer realizes that their truth has been lost on the other person. The final lines of the song suggest that the relationship is irreparable, even if they were to try and make amends.
Overall, the song portrays the complexity of relationships and the lingering effects of betrayal. The lyrics are emotive and thought-provoking, allowing the listener to empathize with the singer's feelings. The use of repetition throughout the song emphasizes the central themes of truth and disappointment.
Line by Line Meaning
You chose the path that you're walking on
You made a decision to take a certain direction in life.
and it left me reeling from that sudden turn
Your choice had an unexpected and unpleasant effect on me.
a sucker punch that left my face numb
Your decision felt like a sudden hit that stunned me to the point of being unable to react.
and I was supposed to keep trying
I felt like I had to persevere even though it was difficult.
but you entered a place I would be leaving
You went somewhere that I had already moved on from.
and you covered up things I was revealing
You concealed information that I was being open and honest about.
I hate that I see you when I'm dreaming
Even in my subconscious, you continue to affect me negatively.
I'm supposed to keep lying
I feel like I have to continue to be untruthful about my feelings.
Leave it up to me
I'm responsible for my own actions.
To lose myself in the past
I tend to dwell on what has already happened.
Here it is
This is the truth.
The truth laid out as if we had lost it
The reality has been presented as if it was hidden or forgotten.
it's hit or miss
It's unpredictable whether the situation will be successful or not.
and we were miles off from the target
We were far from achieving our goal.
You carried a spark that I'd been craving
You possessed something that I had a strong desire for.
You were support for the walls that had been caving in
You were a source of strength during a tough time.
But how am I to believe what you're saying
I'm having a hard time trusting what you're telling me.
When it's more than I can bare
The situation is overwhelming.
My friends say I can't let go completely
My friends think I need to keep some emotional attachment to you.
and the truth that I've laid out has been lost on me
I'm having a hard time accepting the reality of the situation.
I'm left wondering what you might be thinking
I'm curious about what's going on in your mind.
like me, do you even care
I'm questioning whether or not you have any concern or compassion for me.
And even if we turned this all around
Even if we changed our approach or actions,
I'm not sure anyone we know would be on our side
I don't think anyone would support us.
Not that it matters what they think
Their opinions are insignificant.
cause either way, we're miles away tonight
Regardless, we're far from each other at this point in time.
All the words that I couldn't let fall from my lips
All the things I wanted to say but didn't.
Found a home in your loose hands and they started to slip
You mishandled the information I confided in you.
and now I sit here plagued by the thought of this
I'm currently fixated on this bad situation.
And then we were miles off...
We were a long distance apart mentally and emotionally.
we were miles off
There was a great divide between us.
from the target
We were far from achieving our goal.
Writer(s): Chad A. Perrone
Contributed by Cameron I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.