Perfume Genius is the alias of singer-songwriter Mike Hadreas. Born in Des … Read Full Bio ↴Perfume Genius is the alias of singer-songwriter Mike Hadreas. Born in Des Moines, Iowa, Mike moved to Seattle when he was 6. Growing up, Hadreas was the only openly gay student at his school, and he received death threats that were ignored by the school administration. He dropped out of high school during his senior year. Two years after dropping out, he was attacked by several young men in his neighborhood. He moved to Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and worked as a doorman for a club in the East Village. In 2005, Hadreas returned home to Seattle and began recording music. In 2008, Hadreas set up a MySpace page under the name Perfume Genius, beginning his music career. The moniker comes from the genius perfume-maker in Tom Tykwer’s 2006 movie Perfume: The Story of a Murderer.

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.

Sister Song
Perfume Genius Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Drive on, drive on
My special one
Don't you stop 'til you know you're gone
Your sister and me have a set of keys
Don't you worry your head 'bout a thing

Drive on, drive on
My special one

Don't you stop 'til you know you're gone

Drive on, drive on
My special one
Don't you stop 'til you know you're gone
Your sister and me will keep your place clean
so it shines when you finally come home

Drive on, drive on

My special one
Don't you stop 'til you know you're gone

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of Perfume Genius's song "Sister Song" offer several possible interpretations. The phrase "drive on, drive on" creates a sense of forward motion, evoking a journey or a road trip. The repeated phrase "my special one" suggests a close relationship between the singer and their subject, perhaps romantic but potentially platonic or familial as well. The repeated admonition to "don't you stop 'til you know you're gone" could be interpreted as encouragement to push past one's limits, to pursue a dream, or to take a risk.

The mention of "your sister and me" suggests that the song's subject may be leaving home for a period of time, and that the singer and their sister will be looking after their home or personal belongings while they're away. This establishes a sense of trust and camaraderie, suggesting that the subject has a supportive network to rely on. The final lines of the song emphasize a sense of hope and anticipation, as the singer assures the subject that their space will be kept clean and ready for their return. Overall, the song seems to express a theme of encouragement and support, with the singer urging their subject to pursue their goals and reassuring them that they have a support system in place.

Line by Line Meaning

Drive on, drive on
Keep moving forward

My special one
Someone very dear to me

Don't you stop 'til you know you're gone
Don't give up until you've reached your goal

Your sister and me have a set of keys
Your loved ones will take care of your belongings and home while you're away

Don't you worry your head 'bout a thing
You don't need to be anxious or concerned

Your sister and me will keep your place clean
We will maintain and preserve your home for when you return

so it shines when you finally come home
Your home will be welcoming and immaculate upon your return

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: MICHAEL HADREAS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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