Perfect
Doll Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Could make a dress
A robe fit for a prince
I could clothe a continent
But I can't sew a stitch

I can paint my face
And stand very, very still
It's not very practical
But it still pays the bills

I can't change my name
But I could be your type
I can dance and win at games
Like backgammon and life

I used to be the smart one
Sharp as a tack
Funny how that skipping years ahead
Has held me back

I used to be the bright one
Top in my class
Funny what they give you when you
Just learn how to ask

I can write a song
But I can't sing in key
I can play piano
But I never learned to read

I can't trap a mouse
But I can pet a cat
No I'm really serious
I'm really very good at that

I can't fix a car
But I can fix a flat
I could fix a lot of things
But I'd rather not get into that

I used to be the bright one
Smart as a whip
Funny how you slip so far when
Teachers don't keep track of it

I used to be the tight one
The perfect fit
Funny how those compliments can
Make you feel so full of it

I can shuffle, cut and deal
But I can't draw a hand
I can't draw a lot of things
I hope you understand

I'm not exceptionally shy
But I've never had a man
That I could look straight in the eye
And tell my secret plans

I can take a vow
And I can wear a ring
And I can make you promises but
They won't mean a thing

Can't you do it for me?
I'll pay you well
Fuck, I'll pay you anything
If you could end this

Can't you just fix it for me?
It's gone berserk
Fuck, I'll give you anything
If you can make the damn thing work

Can't you just fix it for me?
I'll pay you well
Fuck, I'll pay you anything
If you can end this

Hello, I love you
Will you tell me your name?




Hello, I'm good for nothing
Will you love me just the same?

Overall Meaning

The song "Perfect" by Dolls discusses a sense of incompetency and lack of self-worth, despite having talents and abilities. Throughout the song, the singer mentions several skills they possess - making dresses, painting their face, dancing, writing songs, and more, but there is always a downside. They cannot sew a stitch, or sing in key, or trap a mouse. Even though they recognize their skills, they still feel inadequate and unable to fix themselves.


The lyrics "I used to be the smart one, sharp as a tack. Funny how that skipping years ahead has held me back" suggest that the singer was always ahead in their intellectual abilities, but something held them back from flourishing. The verse "I can take a vow and I can wear a ring" suggests a possibility of marriage or commitment, but the following line "And I can make you promises but they won't mean a thing" implies a lack of trust in their own abilities to make promises they can keep. The chorus repeats the refrain of "Can't you just fix it for me?" implying the singer's dependence on someone else to fix their problems.


Overall, the song presents a sense of vulnerability and emotional turmoil. The singer is dealing with issues of self-doubt and lack of confidence despite having many skills and abilities. The lyrics also touch on societal pressures to be perfect, which can lead to feelings of inadequacy and worthlessness. The song speaks to a sense of yearning for acceptance and for someone to understand and help them overcome their struggles.


Line by Line Meaning

Could make a dress
I have the skills to make beautiful clothing items.


A robe fit for a prince
I can create luxurious, high-quality garments.


I could clothe a continent
My talent is so great, I could provide apparel for an entire continent.


But I can't sew a stitch
Unfortunately, I lack the necessary skill to sew.


I can paint my face
I am proficient in makeup application.


And stand very, very still
I can remain motionless for extended periods of time.


It's not very practical
However, this talent isn't necessarily useful in everyday life.


But it still pays the bills
Luckily, I can make money with this talent even though it is impractical.


I can't change my name
I cannot alter my identity.


But I could be your type
However, I embody certain traits that may appeal to you.


I can dance and win at games
I am a skilled and competitive dancer and gamer.


Like backgammon and life
I excel specifically in these two activities.


I used to be the smart one
I was once an intellectual leader.


Sharp as a tack
My mind was once incredibly sharp.


Funny how that skipping years ahead
It is amusing how being ahead of my peers has impacted my current situation.


Has held me back
In fact, this past success has hindered me in some way.


Top in my class
I was once the highest-achieving student in my class.


Funny what they give you when you
It's ironic what accolades you receive when you


Just learn how to ask
simply learn how to request or demand them.


I can write a song
I have the ability to create music.


But I can't sing in key
Unfortunately, I do not possess the ability to sing in tune.


I can play piano
I am proficient at playing the piano.


But I never learned to read
Strangely enough, I never learned to read music notation.


I can't trap a mouse
I don't have the ability to catch a mouse.


But I can pet a cat
However, I excel at showing affection to cats.


No I'm really serious
I'm not joking, I'm actually very good at this.


I'm really very good at that
In fact, I excel at showing affection to cats.


I can't fix a car
I lack the skills needed to repair a car.


But I can fix a flat
But I am able to fix a flat tire on a car.


I could fix a lot of things
Overall, I'm fairly handy and can make repairs to various items.


But I'd rather not get into that
However, I would prefer not to elaborate on this point further.


Smart as a whip
I was once incredibly quick-witted.


Funny how you slip so far when
It's rather ironic how much you can fall behind when


Teachers don't keep track of it
educators don't keep an accurate record of your progress.


The perfect fit
I was once a perfect match for what was required of me.


Funny how those compliments can
It's amusing how praise can


Make you feel so full of it
Inflate one's ego and sense of self-importance.


I can shuffle, cut and deal
I am proficient in playing card games and can handle decks expertly.


But I can't draw a hand
However, I am incapable of receiving a good hand in a card game due to luck.


I hope you understand
I hope this clarifies my skillset a bit better.


I'm not exceptionally shy
I am not extremely introverted.


But I've never had a man
However, I have never been in a long-term romantic relationship.


That I could look straight in the eye
I have never been able to find someone trustworthy enough to share my deepest aspirations with.


And tell my secret plans
Confide in someone about my confidential goals and desires.


I can take a vow
I am capable of making a serious commitment.


And I can wear a ring
Thus, I am qualified for the commitments that come along with marriage.


And I can make you promises but
I can agree to certain obligations, but


They won't mean a thing
I may end up breaking those promises anyway.


Can't you do it for me?
Can you assist me with this task?


I'll pay you well
I am willing to compensate you generously for your assistance.


Fuck, I'll pay you anything
I am so desperate for help, I will pay whatever you ask.


If you could end this
If you could just resolve this issue for me.


It's gone berserk
It has become unmanageable and chaotic.


If you can make the damn thing work
If by some miracle you can fix this problem for me.


Hello, I love you
I am showing affection towards you.


Will you tell me your name?
May I have some information about you in return?


Hello, I'm good for nothing
I am announcing my perceived lack of worth.


Will you love me just the same?
Regardless of my self-perception, will you still show me love and respect?




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Amanda Palmer

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

𝙐𝙣𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙚𝙧.

Can I get 2k likes on this Spotify playlist :
https://spoti.fi/3r7SCDQ

Shahiil Shet

u r telling me this is on spotifyyyy ??????? forget 2k its should get 20k dude ...............the remix if fireeeeeee

FlaminAppleSauce

No.

こうか

Please Itunes😢

B L U N t

@Jose8arenjel Ochoa bro it was there, I added it to my playlist. But all of a sudden it got vanished.
must've got taken down

Jose8arenjel Ochoa

I don y find that song in Spotify… 😢

1 More Replies...

Deep Chill

Breaking someone's heart is as easy as throwing a rock at the ocean but you'll never know how deep that rock will go

Gymbro :) 4life

The deeper the better 😈😈😈😈cause mine was deep asf

ABC's

Thats deep

Enrique Makary

Exactly!!

More Comments

More Versions