Spilled Perfume
Pam Tillis Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I ain't even going to ask you
I can read you like a book
Girl if I ever saw one that's an
"I can't believe I did that" look
You look like something that the cat drug in
So I won't kick you while you're down
Let me tell you friend to friend
'Bout a block I've been around

Did you really think last night would last forever
Did you really think that guy hung the moon
Right now you hate yourself 'cause you knew better
But there's no use crying over spilled perfume

Did you really think last night would last forever
Did you really think that guy hung the moon
Right now you hate yourself 'cause you knew better
But there's no use crying over spilled perfume

There's a big difference between lonely
And lonely for way too long
And I knew when he made his move
You weren't feeling all that strong
So I bit my tongue 'cause I saw it coming
And you danced so close to him
It's two steps forward and three steps back
When a heart is on the mend

Did you really think last night would last forever
Did you really think that guy hung the moon
Right now you hate yourself 'cause you knew better
But there's no use crying over spilled perfume

You fell in a moment of weakness
Well you just got to pull yourself back up
Dry your morning-after tears
'Cause what's done is done

Did you really think last night would last forever
Did you really think that guy hung the moon
Right now you hate yourself 'cause you knew better
But there's no use crying over spilled perfume





No use crying over, no use crying over
No use crying over, spilled perfume

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Pam Tillis's song "Spilled Perfume" are about a woman who regrets sleeping with a man who she knew was not worth it. The singer, addressing the woman, says that she doesn't have to ask what happened because she can read the situation on her face. The woman looks like she knows it was a mistake to sleep with the man, but instead of condemning her, the singer sympathizes with her. She tells her that she has been around and knows that feelings can be overwhelming, but they don't last forever.


The verse "Did you really think last night would last forever? Did you really think that guy hung the moon?" highlights the fact that she was caught up in the moment of what she thought was intense love, but in reality, it was a one-night stand. She now despises herself because she knows better than to fall for such flimsy promises of love. The last verse encourages the woman to pick herself up, make amends, and move forward with her life rather than weeping over something she can't change.


Overall, the song is a cautionary tale to women about picking the right man and not falling for cheap promises of love. Sometimes we all make mistakes, but it's important to learn from them and move on.


Line by Line Meaning

I ain't even going to ask you
I don't need to ask you what happened, I already know


I can read you like a book
Your body language and expression give it all away


Girl if I ever saw one that's an 'I can't believe I did that' look
You regret what happened and feel embarrassed about it


You look like something that the cat drug in
You look like you had a rough night and didn't sleep well


So I won't kick you while you're down
I won't make things worse by criticizing you


Let me tell you friend to friend 'bout a block I've been around
I have experience and can offer advice as your friend


There's a big difference between lonely and lonely for way too long
Feeling lonely sometimes is normal, but being lonely for a long time is not


And I knew when he made his move, you weren't feeling all that strong
You were vulnerable and he took advantage of that


So I bit my tongue 'cause I saw it coming
I didn't say anything because I knew what was about to happen


It's two steps forward and three steps back when a heart is on the mend
You were making progress, but this setback has made it harder to heal


You fell in a moment of weakness
You made a mistake because you were in a vulnerable state


Well you just got to pull yourself back up
You need to recover from this and move on


Dry your morning-after tears, 'cause what's done is done
Don't dwell on it, it's over and you can't change what happened


No use crying over, no use crying over, no use crying over, spilled perfume
There's no point in being upset about something that can't be undone




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DEAN DILLON, PAM TILLIS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@dmurphyi28

One of they best country songs ever recorded

@jenniferl.hyde-estes5508

Definitely agree 150%

@algatte2441

Agree

@elsiemcmillan6578

I agree.

@ka-barsmom1456

Most women will never admit what a ‘direct hit’ this song is. But that’s ok…they survived and hopefully, went on to have a wonderful life. 💪💪💪❤️❤️❤️

@amandalidey329

It's definitely my favorite song Pam ever released. For sure. ✨️✨️✨️💘💘💘

@jamesklapetzky8633

We really need to bring back music like this. Such GREAT & AMAZING Music along with the Artists/ Groups.

@tomburgess9632

I have such a hard time understanding why so few people realize and appreciate the amazing unique voice of Pam Tillis, along with Patty Loveless, and Allison Krause

@brandip6789

Absolutely! Unfortunately a lot of people go by looks :(

@extremeocd1184

She's an amazing singer!!! She has a "can't miss that voice" sound......you hear a song.....you know it's her. Such a great attribute, such a great talent!! As far as looks, I think she's gorgeously unique! Her mother looked just like her when she was younger. Pams a dead ringer of Doris. I love the song that her and Mel sang together.....live, on stage. I don't know if they ever recorded it? I may have just not known but they sure should have!!! "Waiting on The Wind" If you're not heard it, look it up here on YouTube.

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