Their music is a mix of hard rock styles. The band cites influences such as Rage Against The Machine, Foo Fighters, Incubus, The Smashing Pumpkins, and Nirvana.
Early on, vocalist Lacey Mosley began playing music with drummer James Culpepper. Later on guitarists Jared Hartmann and Sameer Bhattacharya were recruited. "Sameer and Jared are really experimental with melodies and pedals, and we all had different influences that were all blending together with the same passionate and hopeful heart, and that brought out this beautiful feeling. It was magical," said Mosley. When they were still playing as Listen, they played with bassists Josh C. and Jonathan B.. The bassist was replaced by Kirkpatrick Seals in 2002 after he left his previous band The Grove.
All five members of the band are of the Christian faith. This faith in Jesus influences their music, but lead singer Lacey Mosley doesn't necessarily believe that makes Flyleaf a strictly Christian band. "We all share the same faith. And so when we deal with the whole 'Christian band thing,' we kind of think about something P.O.D. says, like, 'If you're a Christian, it affects everything in your life. So if you're a plumber, does that make you a Christian plumber?'" Mosley said. "I don't know the answer. We're a band, it's part of who we are, so it comes out in our music, and it's the fuel for what we do. And finding Christ saved my life. So I'm not ashamed of it at all. And most of our album reflects that".
Flyleaf released a song "Cassie" that was about the shooting of Cassie Bernall and Rachel Scott. They were shot in the head after admiting they were Christian. This is just one example of how Flyleaf are touched by events and touch others through their music.
Flyleaf released their first full-length studio album, "Flyleaf", in October 2005. The album was re-released in United States in October 2007 along with their latest digital EP, "Much Like Falling", that was released onto the iTunes store. The re-released version of "Flyleaf" contains additional acoustic tracks.
On the 10th of November 2009, Flyleaf released their second album, called "Memento Mori". The album is a little less heavy than their debut album. Two songs that were released before the official release are "Beautiful Bride" and "Again".
Songfacts reports that their third album will be called "New Horizons". The title track premiered on 89X Radio on August 1, 2012, and will be released on iTunes on August 21, 2012.
On October the 22nd 2012, Lacey Sturm/Mosley declared that she was leaving Flyleaf and that the band was splitting up. This was only a week before their new album was due to be released (New Horizons - 30th October 2012).
On November 7, 2022, it was announced by Flyleaf that Sturm had returned to the band, with the band now calling themselves "Flyleaf with Lacey Sturm".
Official site: www.flyleafmusic.com
Perfect
Flyleaf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sick of bearing the guilt
So open the windows to cool off
And heat pours in instead
Perfect in weakness
I'm only perfect in just your strength alone
Leave me putrid and filthy
And how can you look at me
When I can't stand myself
I'm tired to be honest
I'm nobody
Perfect in weakness
I'm only perfect in just your strength alone
Perfect in weakness
I'm only running in just your strength alone
I tried to kill you
You tried to save me
You save me
You save me
You save me
You save me
Perfect in weakness
I'm only perfect in just your strength alone
Perfect in weakness
I'm only running in just your strength alone
The song "Perfect" by Flyleaf is a narrative of a person who is struggling with their own imperfections, guilt and self-loathing. The singer is sick of running around the same circular road and carrying the burden of guilt. To let off some steam, they open the windows, but instead of cool air, they feel the heat. This can be interpreted in two ways, either the world outside the window is too cruel or their own guilt and shortcomings are suffocating them.
The singer seeks perfection in themselves, but their efforts to clean up themselves only leave them feeling rotten and unclean. They question how anyone can look at them when they don't even stand themselves. This person is tired of being honest because being honest means confronting their own failures and shortcomings. They feel like nobody, and they find solace in the fact that they are perfect only in their weakness and their reliance on the strength of someone else, someone who has tried to save them even when they tried to kill themselves.
These lyrics can be viewed as a representation of the struggles that humans face in their daily lives. They portray how perfection is unattainable and the pressure to achieve it can be overwhelming. The singer accepts their imperfections and acknowledges that they need someone else's strength to become a better version of themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Sick of circling the same road
Tired of living the same unfulfilling life over and over again.
Sick of bearing the guilt
Tired of carrying the burden of past mistakes and regrets.
So open the windows to cool off
Trying to find a way to ease the mental and emotional pain by changing the environment.
And heat pours in instead
However, bringing in a new environment causes more problems than solutions.
Perfect in weakness
Although flawed and imperfect in nature, the person is deemed perfect in the eyes of their significant other.
I'm only perfect in just your strength alone
The person only feels complete and fulfilled when their significant other is present and supporting them.
All my efforts to clean me
The person has been attempting to improve themselves and eliminate their flaws, but to no avail.
Leave me putrid and filthy
Despite the effort put in to change, the person still feels dirty and corrupted.
And how can you look at me
The person feels ashamed and undeserving of affection from their significant other.
When I can't stand myself
They find it difficult to accept and love themselves, making it hard to believe others could love them too.
I'm tired to be honest
Feeling emotionally and mentally drained from the constant struggle of self-improvement.
I'm nobody
Feeling like there is nothing special or unique about themselves.
I tried to kill you
The person has made attempts to push their significant other away because of their insecurities and self-doubt.
You tried to save me
Despite being pushed away, the significant other still tries to support and help the person.
You save me
The significant other is a source of salvation and hope for the person.
You save me
The significant other continues to provide emotional and mental support for the person.
You save me
The presence of the significant other is essential for the person's well-being.
You save me
The significant other is deemed the source of the person's strength and stability.
Perfect in weakness
Despite limitations and flaws, the person is still considered perfect in the eyes of their significant other.
I'm only running in just your strength alone
With the support and love of their significant other, the person can continue to persevere and improve themselves.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HOWARD BENSON, SAMEER BHATTACHARYA, JAMES CULPEPPER, JARED HARTMANN, MARK LEWIS, LACEY NICOLE MOSLEY, PAT SEALS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind