While touring with Chastity Belt in support of their third full-length " I Used To Spend So Much Time Alone" in April 2018, Shapiro was afflicted with health and relationship-related issues and felt unable to continue the tour, so she flew home.
When she returned to Seattle, Shapiro took time for herself and got to work on what would become her album "Perfect Version", an album for which she recorded “virtually every” instrument herself.
Around the Block
Julia Shapiro Lyrics
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Cause I can't find anywhere to park
Makes me think about all the days I really try but
Can't seem to get anything done
Then I go to sleep again
And I wake up in a bed
How mad can I really get
Walking in the rain through the streets
Even though I've got no place to be
Makes me think about all the times I really try but
Can't seem to figure it out
Then I go to sleep again
And I wake up in a bed
How mad can I really get
How hard should I laugh
Julia Shapiro's "Around The Block" is a reflective piece that talks about the struggles surrounding daily life. The lyrics, "Driving my car around the block, cause I can't find anywhere to park" begins with her trying to find a space to park her car, which is a common daily struggle for anyone living in a busy city or town. However, it also metaphorically speaks to how she's constantly searching for a place or opportunity to situate herself - professionally or personally - but she can't seem to find one. This feeling of hopelessness and helplessness is echoed in the lines "all the days I really try but can't seem to get anything done."
After this initial verse, we hear how she's taking a walk in the rain without any fixed destination, "walking the streets even though I've got no place to be." Her actions seem pointless, but it's representing how she's wandering aimlessly without a purpose, trying to figure things out. She reflects on her efforts and how sometimes, despite putting her heart and soul into something, she, unfortunately, can't seem to make sense out of things or get the desired results. The duality of her emotions comes through in the last lines of both the verses, where she questions herself, "How mad can I really get? How hard should I laugh." These lines symbolize how hopeless and confusing everything might seem, but life goes on, and one must move on from hardships and seek laughter amidst the chaos.
Line by Line Meaning
Driving my car around the block
I am continuously driving my car around the block as there are no parking spots available.
Cause I can't find anywhere to park
I am not able to find any parking spots near my destination.
Makes me think about all the days I really try but
This situation makes me recall all the days when I put in my sincere efforts but couldn't achieve desired results.
Can't seem to get anything done
Despite hustling, I am not able to accomplish anything.
Then I go to sleep again
After thinking over such a situation, I go to sleep.
And I wake up in a bed
After a good night's sleep, I wake up in my bed.
How mad can I really get
I am questioning how angry I should be about my current situation.
How hard should I laugh
Similarly, I am pondering about how much I should laugh off this situation.
Walking in the rain through the streets
I am taking a walk in the rain even though I don't have anywhere particular to go.
Even though I've got no place to be
I have no specific destination in mind for this walk.
Makes me think about all the times I really try but
The walk makes me remember all the times when I put in my sincere efforts but failed to find a way out.
Can't seem to figure it out
I am still clueless despite trying hard.
Writer(s): Julia Marie Shapiro
Contributed by Hailey F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.