DeLong's fluid live show effortlessly blends classic songwriting and futuristic technology—Wii-motes, Sega controllers, MIDI-interfaces, and drum pads blend into a fluid and original live experience. robertdelong.com
Perfect
Robert DeLong Lyrics
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to find something that was perfect.
And I climbed the side of the house:
to find something that was perfect.
I took too much all at once
to find someplace that was perfect.
And I let myself try on love
to find something that was perfect.
Don't hurry through it,
Don't hurry through it,
Don't hurry through it,
Don't hurry through it.
(it's a rush...)
YOU danced alone through the dark
to find something that was perfect.
HE climbed the side of the car
to find something that was perfect.
WE took too much all at once
to find something that was perfect.
I let myself try on love,
to find someone who was perfect.
Don't hurry through it,
Don't hurry through it,
Don't hurry through it,
Don't hurry through it.
(it's a rush...)
And I saw nothing in the dark
and found that the absence was perfect.
I climbed outside of God's house
and found that the absence was perfect.
I took to much all at once
and found that the absence was perfect.
Saw nothing perfect in love
and found that the absence was perfect.
Don't hurry through it (it's a rush).
The lyrics to Robert DeLong's song Perfect paints a picture of someone on a journey to find perfection. The opening lines of the song, "Shouted aloud in the dark to find something that was perfect. And I climbed the side of the house to find something that was perfect" suggest that the individual was desperately searching for something ideal. They try various means including taking too much at once and trying on love. The repetition of the line "Don't hurry through it" indicates that the singer is giving an instruction for taking things at a slow pace and not rushing to find absolute perfection.
As the song progresses, the point of view shifts to "you" and "he" indicating that the search for perfection is not only personal but shared. The lines "I let myself try on love, to find someone who was perfect" suggest that the central character was searching for love trying to find it in someone who is considered perfect. However, as the song draws to a close, it takes an unexpected turn when the character realizes the absence is perfect. The lyrics "Saw nothing perfect in love and found that the absence was perfect" suggest that the search for perfection is futile and that the state of silence and emptiness is perfect.
Line by Line Meaning
Shouted aloud in the dark
I cried out into the darkness seeking something perfect.
to find something that was perfect.
My quest was for perfection in what I was searching for.
And I climbed the side of the house:
I went to great lengths and struggled to find what was perfect.
I took too much all at once
I sought too much at once in my quest for perfection.
to find someplace that was perfect.
I wanted to find the perfect place for myself.
And I let myself try on love
I opened myself to the experience of love to find perfection.
to find something that was perfect.
I wanted to find perfection in love and relationships.
Don't hurry through it,
Take your time and appreciate the journey.
YOU danced alone through the dark
Someone else searched alone in the darkness for perfection.
HE climbed the side of the car
Someone else went to great lengths for their quest for perfection.
WE took too much all at once
Together as a group, we sought too much for perfection at once.
I let myself try on love,
I gave love a chance in my search for perfection.
to find someone who was perfect.
I hoped to find the perfect person through love.
And I saw nothing in the dark
I saw no perfection in the darkness, only absence.
and found that the absence was perfect.
I found that the void of perfection was perfect in its own way.
I climbed outside of God's house
I searched beyond what was expected, even beyond what was considered holy.
and found that the absence was perfect.
In that search, I found that absence of perfection was still perfect.
Saw nothing perfect in love
I couldn't find perfection in love.
and found that the absence was perfect.
But even in that absence, there was still perfection.
Don't hurry through it (it's a rush).
Take your time, even if it feels like you're in a hurry.
Contributed by Mason H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.