Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson, known professionally as Katy Perry (born October… Read Full Bio ↴Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson, known professionally as Katy Perry (born October 25, 1984 in Santa Barbara, CA) is an American singer, songwriter, and television judge. The story of who was born into a totally Christian environment and who years later would become a pop music star. Muse of those who feel different or excluded, Katy Perry got her first guitar (from the church) at the age of thirteen and dreamed of it, as many young people do. The difference is that she did it. She broke free from the shackles of faith (without ever losing it) and set out to live through songs about her experiences. The result? Aside from Michael Jackson, only she was able to place five songs from the same album at the top of the charts.

After singing in church during her childhood, she pursued a career in gospel music as a teenager. Perry signed with Red Hill Records and released her debut studio album Katy Hudson under her birth name in 2001, which was commercially unsuccessful. She moved to Los Angeles the following year to venture into secular music after Red Hill ceased operations and she subsequently began working with producers Glen Ballard, Dr. Luke, and Max Martin. After adopting the stage name 'Katy Perry' and being dropped by The Island Def Jam Music Group and Columbia Records, she signed a recording contract with Capitol Records in April 2007.

Perry rose to fame in 2008 with her second album, One of the Boys, a pop rock record containing the controversial U.S number one song "I Kissed a Girl" and "Hot n Cold". Three subsequent albums have topped the U.S. Billboard 200. The disco-influenced Teenage Dream (2010) spawned five chart-topping U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles–"California Gurls", "Teenage Dream", "Firework", "E.T.", and "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" — a record tying her with Michael Jackson's "Bad". Its follow-up record Prism (2013) was inspired by her divorce, and incorporates pop and dance along with themes of self-reflection, everyday life, and relationships. With the music videos for its chart-topping songs "Roar" and "Dark Horse", Perry became the first artist to have multiple videos reach one billion views on Vevo. Her 2017 electropop album, 'Witness' featured a political subtext and a theme of liberation. Her sixth studio album 'Smile' followed in 2020.

Perry has nine U.S. Billboard Hot 100 number one singles and has received various awards, including four Guinness World Records, five Billboard Music Awards, five American Music Awards, a Brit Award, and a Juno Award. She has been included in the annual Forbes lists of highest-earning women in music from 2011 to 2019. Her estimated net worth as of 2016 is $125 million. Perry is one of the world's best-selling music artists, having sold over 18 million albums and 125 million singles worldwide. In film, she released an autobiographical documentary titled "Katy Perry: Part of Me" in 2012, and voiced Smurfette in the 2011 film The Smurfs and its sequel in 2013. Her Super Bowl halftime show performance is the most watched in history. Perry also began serving as a judge on American Idol in 2018.

Brick By Brick
Katy Perry Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The weight of my words
Are like feathers from a bird
My mouth, it moves but you won't hear a thing
'Cause I've dug myself deep
I managed to fit both my hands and feet
All my little white lies
Smell like a big old bucket of bleach

In one ear
And out your other
So lock and key
You won't open up for me

So brick by brick
I am breaking through these walls
Oh, between you and me
I'm not giving up
I'm not giving giving up

I guess
And it feels like you're in China
And I am in Peru
When ever I am sleeping next to you
We can hear the crickets singing
Oh, all throughout the night
Oh boy, can we just get used
To something so right'

And sure I confess
I'm a mess
I'm a mess of mistakes
But please count to ten
Before you go and throw it all away

So brick by brick
I am breaking through these walls
Oh, between you and me
I'm not giving up
I'm not giving giving up
On on on us

'Cause if you give up
Then what am I supposed to do
All these dreams
Never will come true
Without you
Vocal ad lib

Brick by brick
I am breaking through these walls
Oh, between you and me
I'm not giving up
I'm not giving giving up

Oh, baby don't give up
On this love

Don't give up
On this love

Overall Meaning

In "Brick By Brick" by Katy Perry, the lyrics describe a relationship that is fractured and in need of repair. The main themes of the song are persistence and hope, as the singer tries to find a way to connect with her partner who seems distant and disconnected. The weight of her words seems to go unnoticed, and the little white lies she tells only make things worse. The bridge of the song speaks to the distance felt between the couple, as she describes feeling like she is in a different country than her partner. Despite the challenges, the singer will not give up on the relationship and is willing to break down the walls brick by brick to make things right.

Throughout the song, Katy Perry uses metaphor to describe the hurdles the couple must overcome. The reference to bricks suggests that there is a strong foundation to the relationship that can be built upon. The bridge of the song speaks to the distance felt between the couple, as she describes feeling like she is in a different country than her partner. Despite the challenges, the singer will not give up on the relationship and is willing to break down the walls brick by brick to make things right.

The overall tone of "Brick By Brick" is hopeful, even as the lyrics speak to the difficulties of a relationship that is struggling. The song encourages listeners to persevere in love and to believe in the power of connection. By the end of the song, the metaphor of bricks and walls gives way to a message of hope as the singer pleads with her partner to not give up on love.

Line by Line Meaning

The weight of my words
My words carry little weight and are insignificant.

Are like feathers from a bird
My words are light and have no impact, like feathers.

My mouth, it moves but you won't hear a thing
I talk but you don't listen or care.

Cause I've dug myself deep
I'm stuck in a hole and can't get out.

I managed to fit both my hands and feet
I'm fully submerged in my situation.

All my little white lies
I've been lying to you.

Smell like a big old bucket of bleach
My lies are obvious and smell really bad.

In one ear
You hear me but don't listen.

And out your other
You ignore me and forget what I say.

So lock and key
You're guarded and won't let me in.

You won't open up for me
You won't let me in your life.

So brick by brick
Slowly, I'm breaking down your walls.

I am breaking through these walls
I'm making progress in connecting with you.

Oh, between you and me
This is personal and private.

I'm not giving up
I won't quit trying to reach you.

I'm not giving giving up
I'm determined to fight for us.

I guess
I suppose.

And it feels like you're in China
You seem far away and unattainable.

And I am in Peru
I'm so distant from you, it feels like we're in different continents.

When ever I am sleeping next to you
Even though we're physically close while sleeping, it feels like we're far apart emotionally.

We can hear the crickets singing
The atmosphere is uncomfortable and silent.

Oh, all throughout the night
It feels like it's lasting forever.

Oh boy, can we just get used
Can we just try to make it work?

To something so right'
To something that we both know is right.

And sure I confess
I have to admit.

I'm a mess
I'm a disaster.

I'm a mess of mistakes
My life is full of mistakes and regrets.

But please count to ten
Take a moment to think and reflect.

Before you go and throw it all away
Don't make a hasty decision that could ruin everything.

'Cause if you give up
If you quit trying.

Then what am I supposed to do
I'll be lost and alone.

All these dreams
All our aspirations and hopes.

Never will come true
Will never materialize.

Without you
Without your help and support.

Oh, baby don't give up
Please don't quit on us.

On this love
On our relationship.

Vocal ad lib
Instrumental music or sounds without lyrics.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Greg Wells, Katy Perry

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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