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.

Without You
Perfume Genius Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

It's the strangest feeling
Unknown even
Almost good
It's a blurry shape
It's a jumbled tape
But sound
It's enough
Not too loud

Just enough to find a trace
It's enough
In the mirror
I can almost find your face

You know it's been such a long, long time
Without you
Without you

It's the strangest feeling
Unknown even
Almost good
With the dark still swinging
So long chasing
Satisfaction's
A lowly thing
Or so she tells me

Underneath the feeling
I'm feeling something
When the center falls out
At least I'll have this spring

You know it's been such a long, long time
Without you
Without you

It's the strangest feeling
Unknown even
Almost good
With the dark still swinging

It's enough not to lie
Just enough to find a trace
It's enough in the mirror
I can almost find your face
I'm feelin'
I'm feelin' something
It's enough in the mirror
I can almost find a trace
At least I'll have this spring

You know it's been such a long, long time
Without you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Without You" by Perfume Genius speak of a complicated emotional state that borders between being positive and negative. At the beginning of the song, the persona sings that the feeling they have is strange and unknown, but it is almost good. This sentiment is further explained in the following lines where the persona likens the feeling to a blurry shape and a jumbled tape that produces sound - it is enough to find a trace but not too loud. The persona even sees a reflection of the person they are missing in the mirror, emphasizing that the feeling is intense enough to produce a tangible result.

However, the line "You know it's been such a long, long time, without you" indicates that the persona has been without the person they are missing for an extended period. This statement adds a layer of sadness to the song and hints at the possibility that the feeling the persona is experiencing is sparked by a deep sense of loneliness or longing. As the song progresses, the persona acknowledges that satisfaction is a "lowly thing" and that they are experiencing something profound, but they cannot describe it precisely. The final lines of the song are repeated, which further emphasizes the depth of the persona's yearning for the person they are missing.

Line by Line Meaning

It's the strangest feeling
Experiencing an emotion that is unfamiliar and difficult to define

Unknown even
Unidentifiable or indescribable

Almost good
Close to being positive or enjoyable

It's a blurry shape
The emotion is hazy or unclear

It's a jumbled tape
The emotion is fragmented or disordered, like a jumbled recording

But sound
An audible sensation that can be felt

It's enough
The sensation is sufficient or satisfactory in some way

Not too loud
The sensation is not overpowering or overwhelming

Just enough to find a trace
The emotion is present, but only in small amounts

It's enough
Repeating that the emotion is satisfactory

In the mirror
Seeing the emotion reflected in oneself

I can almost find your face
The emotion is related to missing someone, and the mirror almost shows their image

You know it's been such a long, long time
Acknowledging the passage of time since being without the person

Without you
Repeating the absence of the person

With the dark still swinging
While feeling the effects of depression or sadness

So long chasing
Spent a lot of time seeking something

Satisfaction's
Describing the pursuit of happiness or fulfillment

A lowly thing
Fulfillment may not be as important as one initially thought

Or so she tells me
An outside source may have provided this perspective

Underneath the feeling
Describing a deeper emotional sensation

I'm feeling something
The artist is experiencing a strong emotional response

When the center falls out
During a time of chaos or upheaval

At least I'll have this spring
Despite everything, the singer can still find something positive to hold onto

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Michael Hadreas

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS

No Related Genres

More Genres

No Artists Found

More Artists Load All

No Albums Found

No Tracks Found

PT2M35S

07Your Body Changes Everything4:13

Genre not found

Artist not found

Album not found

Search results not found

Song not found

Most interesting comment from YouTube:

abstract

3y↑13

Lyrics:
It's the strangest feeling
Unknown even
Almost good
It's a blurry shape
It's a jumbled tape
But sound
It's enough
Not too loud
Just enough to find a trace
It's enough
In the mirror
I can almost find your face
You know it's been such a long, long time
Without you
Without you
It's the strangest feeling
Unknown even
Almost good
With the dark still swinging
So long chasing
Satisfaction's
A lowly thing
Or so she tells me
Underneath the feeling
I'm feeling something
When the center falls out
At least I'll have this spring
You know it's been such a long, long time
Without you
Without you
It's the strangest feeling
Unknown even
Almost good
With the dark still…