Mike has released six studio albums - 2010's Learning, 2012's Put Your Back N 2 It, 2014's Too Bright, 2017's No Shape, 2020's Set My Heart On Fire Immediately and his most recent, 2022's Ugly Season, all of which have received praise from music critics.
Learning
Perfume Genius Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Until you take off that dress
No one will hear all your crying
Until you take your last breath
But you will learn to mind me
And you will learn to survive me
No one will answer your prayers
No one will hear all your crying
Until you take your last breath
But you will learn to mind me
And you will learn to survive me
Your father before you and your sister, too
Your husband, blah-blah-blah-blah, you
These lyrics are from Perfume Genius's song "Learning," and they speak to themes of control and manipulation within relationships. The first two lines address the idea that one's prayers or cries for help will go unheard unless they take some sort of action first, in this case, taking off their dress. This line can be interpreted as a metaphor for vulnerability and shedding layers of protection in order to ask for help.
The next two lines continue this idea by suggesting that one's cries for help may be ignored until their very last breath. This line is chilling and speaks to the idea that sometimes people are trapped in abusive relationships or situations where their cries for help are not being heard by anyone.
The final two lines are perhaps the most haunting of all, as they suggest that the person being addressed in the song will learn to "mind" and "survive" the person who seems to hold power over them. This line can be interpreted as speaking to the idea of Stockholm syndrome, where victims of abuse or manipulation begin to feel a sense of loyalty or love for their abusers.
Overall, these lyrics are incredibly powerful and capture the complexities of being in a controlling or manipulative relationship. The song itself is haunting and beautiful, with Perfume Genius's vocals adding a sense of vulnerability and raw emotion to the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
No one will answer your prayers
You cannot expect a response from a higher power or anyone else without making an effort.
Until you take off that dress
You have to shed your vulnerability and appear more assertive to receive attention and respect.
No one will hear all your crying
The world is indifferent to your pain until you express it in a way that suits their needs or expectations.
Until you take your last breath
People will only offer empathy when your suffering is so severe that there is nothing more they can do for you.
But you will learn to mind me
When you have no choice but to listen to someone, you will reach a point where their words start to penetrate your mind and influence you deeply.
And you will learn to survive me
Even if someone is a source of pain, you can gradually adapt to their presence and find ways to cope and carry on with your life.
Your father before you and your sister, too
Past generations in your family have also faced similar struggles.
Your husband, blah-blah-blah-blah, you
Your husband, or any other significant person, has their own set of issues and limitations that affect how they treat you.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Michael Hadreas
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind