Otherside
Perfume Genius Lyrics

The lyrics of Perfume Genius's song Otherside are rich with symbolism and nuance, making them open to interpretation. At its core, the song seems to be a meditation on the confusion and pain of a lost love. The refrain "Why can't you miss me / From the Otherside?" suggests a sense of distance or separation, as if the singer is trying to bridge a divide between themselves and the person they've lost. The lines "Even your going, let it in / Find you / Even in hiding, find it knows you" add to this sense of separation, but also suggest that the singer still feels a deep connection to the person they've lost. Perhaps they believe that this connection can overcome even the reality of physical distance.

The second verse adds additional layers to this reading. The line "Tethered by timing, let it undo" speaks to the power of circumstance to shape our relationships, and hints at the idea that the singer might be trying to break free of some kind of constraint or commitment that's keeping them from being with the person they miss. The phrase "Aimless and ripped from the root / Binds you" reinforces this idea of being at the mercy of external forces, and suggests that the singer is struggling to find a sense of purpose or direction in the absence of their lost love. Overall, Otherside is a wistful and emotionally resonant song that invites listeners to reflect on their own experiences of love and loss.