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.
Search Me
Katy Perry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Through this laughter You feel my pain
Even through this mask You see my face
For You are the only one who really knows just who I am
And You search me
And You know all the secrets of my heart
And You search me
You search me
Growing up never comes easily
In Your hands, You’re the potter molding me
Then why do I wear this mask and play this game of hide and seek
When You are the only one who really knows just who I am
And You search me
And You know all the secrets of my heart
And You search me
Revealing the mysteries of who You are
You search me
My Father
My Father
You are my Father
Oh, and I am Your child
And you hear my cry
Even at the midnight
And You search me
And You know all the secrets of my heart
And You search me
Revealing the mysteries of who You are
You search me
The song "Search Me" by Katy Perry is a heartfelt and introspective exploration of the relationship between the singer and a higher power, referred to as "You." Through the lyrics, Perry expresses the idea that despite wearing a mask and putting up a façade to the outside world, "You" can see through all of that and truly know who she is at her core. The lyrics speak to the feeling of vulnerability that comes with allowing someone to see your true self, but also the comfort that can come with being truly known and understood.
The first verse speaks to the idea that "You" can see through the singer's outward appearance and into her heart. This is followed by the chorus, which repeats the line "And You search me," driving home the idea that the higher power is actively seeking to know and understand the singer. The second verse acknowledges the process of growing up and the challenges that come with it, but also acknowledges that ultimately "You" are in control and shaping the singer into who she is meant to be. The bridge brings the focus back to the relationship between "You" and the singer, with "You" being referred to as "My Father" and the singer as "Your child," emphasizing the close and personal nature of the relationship.
Overall, "Search Me" is a moving and vulnerable expression of faith and the desire to be truly known and understood by a higher power. It speaks to the idea that despite our flaws and imperfections, there is someone out there who truly sees us and loves us for who we are.
Line by Line Meaning
Through this skin You see my heart
You can see into my innermost being.
Through this laughter You feel my pain
You understand the pain and sadness behind my happy facade.
Even through this mask You see my face
You can see my true self, not just the persona I present to the world.
For You are the only one who really knows just who I am
You are the only one who truly understands me and sees all the depths of my soul.
And You search me
You actively seek to explore the mystery of who I am.
And You know all the secrets of my heart
You know everything about me, even the things I keep hidden from others.
Revealing the mysteries of who You are
As I allow you to search me and reveal my true self, I also come to understand more about who you are.
Growing up never comes easily
The process of maturing and developing as a person is difficult and challenging.
In Your hands, You’re the potter molding me
You are the one shaping and forming me as a person, like a potter molds clay.
Then why do I wear this mask and play this game of hide and seek
Despite knowing that you understand me on a deep level, I still sometimes hide or mask my true self.
My Father
Addressing God as a loving and caring parent.
You are my Father
Affirming the relationship between the artist and God as a parent-child connection.
Oh, and I am Your child
Acknowledging dependence on and connection to God as a child would a parent.
And you hear my cry
God listens closely to the singer's prayers and emotional outpourings.
Even at the midnight
God never stops being present and available, even in the darkest moments of life.
Contributed by Nora J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@IPGAuto
I guess paper and fame was what she valued her soul.
@QuincyUberVegan
I know that stage. This was filmed at my old church --HARVEST CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP in Riverside, CA!! Pastor Greg Laurie always welcomes new artists to come perform on his stage after the worship team opens the service. Many GREAT performers like Katy and better have appeared on this stage, and it was always a surprise guest we didn't know were coming until service began. Sometimes I would go to Harvest just because I had a funny feeling I might know who the guest would be. One time I guessed correctly and it was Rebecca St James
@grazy_santos
so cool!!
@rvegas81
I just bought Smile on Vinyl! And I was pleasntly surprised. This first album showcases great vocals talent. It was really hard to get a record deal without social media. She had. A true talent. Love her!
@meghanclutter3741
i always thought her voice would sound better with a guitar i was right. she has that rocker voice
@conferenceclips4940
Came here after I watched Out of Shadows documentary on YouTube. Had no idea she used to be a gospel singer. Good voice.
@CKdaGiftedOne206
That still rings true, Katy. God knows your heart.
@marcosrivera5376
This is the lamest comment I've ever heard.
@jacquelinereyesherrera2925
I really enjoy this song, I really miss Katy playing her guitar and just having raw emotion. She is a talented song writer.
@batsarecool09
Songs like "Thinking of You," "The Box," "Who Am I Living For," "Firework," "Pearl," "One of the Boys" etc. are about life experiences.