My Body
Perfume Genius Lyrics

I go hungry
I frequently experience the sensation of not having had enough food to eat.

Pick at the shell
I either pluck at or scratch the hard, outer layer of a nut or shell.

Paw the bottom
I grasp at the lowermost point of a chasm or a hole that does not have any water.

Of the well
I am referring to the aforementioned hole which is often dug to obtain water.

I wear my body
I am expressing the idea of carrying myself around, as if my physical form is an item of clothing.

I go bottom
I often descend to the lowest part of a pit, a mine, or any other place that is dug or excavated.

Struggle for air
I have difficulty breathing, as if I am under some sort of physical duress.

I go humming
I emit a gentle, melodious sound without using any lyrics or words.

'Like A Prayer'
This line was written by Madonna for her song of the same name, and it suggests that the humming is reminiscent of this particular track.

I wear my body
This line repeats the declaration I made earlier in the song, reiterating that my body is a garment that I wear.

I wear my body like a rotted peach
This simile compares my decaying, fragile body to that of a spoiled, decomposing fruit that is no longer worth having.

You can have it if you handle the stink
This line suggests that, despite the smell produced by my rotting body, some people might still find it useful or valuable.

I'm as open as a gutted pig
This simile relates my physical form to that of a hog that has been slaughtered and had its internal organs removed, rendering it exposed and vulnerable.

On the small of every back
This phrase refers to the lower spine or lower back, where one might find a tattoo or a mark that embodies the physical representation of myself.

You'll see a picture of me
This line suggests that the aforementioned tattoo or mark is a pictorial representation of my persona or my physical form.

Wearing my body
This line restates the central idea of the song, conveying the notion that the physical form is akin to an article of clothing or apparel that one wears.

I go guzzle
I frequently drink or imbibe liquor or some other form of liquid.

Scrap from the bin
I collect and consume the scraps of food or other items that are often found in the trash or waste bin.

Take it all
This phrase connotes the notion of consumption, emphasizing the idea of eating or all consuming something.

On the chin
I take the insult, mockery or degradation in a defiant position, as if daring or challenging someone.

I wear my body
This line reiterates the central idea of the song - that I am constantly carrying my physical form with me, almost as if it is a second skin.