Perspective
Polite Fiction Lyrics


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Smile like you do 
come around again 
this presence of mind 
perspective can lend 
take take take 
you give and take 
how's it gonna feel when 
you break break break 
this thin veneer 
the air of indifference you make 

Tell me how 
tell me when 
I'll ever tire of you here 
and I could comb this town 
for years and years 
and never find a gaze 
that's quite as clear 
clear as you 

Sing to me at night 
and put me to sleep 
a lucid lullaby 
my heart you would keep 
hold hold hold 
you hold me here 
in your palm with fingers curled 
told told told 
I told you my dear 
that you would be my world 

And you could quench 
all of my thirst 




the drink is sweetest 
when it's sour first 

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Polite Fiction's song Perspective explore the idea of perspective and the impact it can have on someone's life. The song opens with the line "Smile like you do come around again," which may suggest that the subject of the song has a certain charm or charisma that draws people in. The next line, "this presence of mind perspective can lend," suggests that the subject's perspective is valuable in some way, perhaps because they have a unique outlook or a deep understanding of the world around them.


The song then explores the give and take of relationships, with the line "take take take you give and take." This could be interpreted as the subject taking what they need from others, but also giving back in their own way. However, the chorus of "how's it gonna feel when you break break break this thin veneer the air of indifference you make" suggests that this relationship may not last forever, and that the subject's indifference may eventually cause it to fall apart.


The rest of the song continues to explore the subject's impact on the singer's life, with lines like "sing to me at night and put me to sleep" and "you would be my world." The final line, "And you could quench all of my thirst the drink is sweetest when it's sour first," suggests that the subject may have a dark side or a past that has shaped them, but that this only makes them more desirable to the singer.


Line by Line Meaning

Smile like you do
Act like you always do


come around again
Return to me


this presence of mind
The ability to remain calm and rational


perspective can lend
A different point of view can help


take take take
You keep taking without giving back


you give and take
You also give back sometimes, but keep taking more


how's it gonna feel when
You'll feel the consequences when


you break break break
You finally break down


this thin veneer
Your superficial appearance


the air of indifference you make
The impression of not caring that you give off


Tell me how
Let me know


tell me when
Tell me when exactly


I'll ever tire of you here
I'll ever get bored of you being around


and I could comb this town
I could search this town


for years and years
For a very long time


and never find a gaze
And never find a look


that's quite as clear
As clear as yours


clear as you
As clear as you, who don't hide anything


Sing to me at night
Serenade me when we're in bed


and put me to sleep
And lull me to sleep


a lucid lullaby
A song that'll make me dream peacefully


my heart you would keep
And you'll have my heart, keeping me in love with you


hold hold hold
Don't let go


you hold me here
You keep me here, glued to you


in your palm with fingers curled
In your hand, your fingers wrapped around me


told told told
I said it


I told you my dear
I told you, my love


that you would be my world
That you mean everything to me and are my world


And you could quench
And you have the power to


all of my thirst
Calm all my desires


the drink is sweetest
It'll be the most satisfying thing


when it's sour first
When it starts out difficult or painful.




Contributed by Samantha H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@ryan8749

Anyone here from 2023? This song is still crazy underrated, one of the most undiscovered bands of the time

@razzedy_gamer

2024 lol

@NaveeSeal

The chorus sounds like something you'd listen to while looking out the window of a moving car looking at the city lights or the mountains or something.

@creaserclerkson

i actually do listen to this song when i do that lol

@nickekotevski9277

I can't explain why but it sometimes feels like I'm the only person in the world who loves this. 😁

@vanillaplanifoliae

you're not! i found this song a few years ago when i was a freshman in high school and i still adore it - all his songs are lovely, really

@tiyanajakiila4297

I feel the same exact way this my favorite song

@Phantanatomy

It’s unbelievable how underrated this song is

@nickekotevski9277

Extremely !!

@stevenseaman1946

Can't believe this song's been out for abt 7 years

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