She is known for the emotional sound of her ballads. Some of her most popular songs include "Angel", "Building a Mystery", "Adia", "Possession", "Fallen", "I Will Remember You", and "World on Fire". Her best-selling album to date is Surfacing, for which she won two Grammy Awards and four Juno Awards.
Her first album Touch was released in September 28, 1988, recorded in 1987-1988, Vancouver, Canada. The album received both critical and commercial success and included the hit song Vox. During this period she co-operated with Tom Ferris and Dean Russel of Moev, who discovered her as a singer. She contributed backing vocals their 1990 album Head Down and embarked on her first national concert tour as an opening act for The Grapes Of Wrath, another Tom Ferris's band.
Her second album Solace (1991) was a real breakthrough in Canada, spawning the hit singles The Path of Thorns (Terms) and Into the Fire and being certified double platinum for sales of 200,000 copies in Canada.
In 1994 her third album Fumbling Towards Ecstasy quietly became Sarah's international breakthrough, scaling the charts in a number of countries. In the United States, the album was a steady seller that stayed in the middle ranges of the pop charts for almost two years.
Sarah's fourth album Surfacing, released in 1997, brought her international success, selling over 11 million copies worldwide. Still in the spotlight from the album, Sarah launched the highly popular Lilith Fair tour, which helped launch the careers of several well-known female artists.
Her next record Afterglow came out in 2003; it contained the singles Fallen, Stupid, and World On Fire. It was her first album of new material in six years. Sarah took a few years furlough to start a family with her husband and drummer, Ashwin Sood.
Her Holiday album Wintersong came out in October 2006. The album consists of eleven new recordings of well known Christmas songs as well as seasonal favorites interpreted by Sarah. The title track Wintersong is an original work of Sarah.
McLachlan's first studio album of original material in seven years, Laws of Illusion, was released on June 15, 2010. It features 10 new songs in addition to the previously released tracks "U Want Me 2" and "Don't Give Up on Us. The first single Loving You Is Easy was released on April 23, 2010. It was followed by Forgiveness, released on June 30, 2010.
09_Afterglow_-_Perfect_Girl
Sarah McLachlan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In your reverie a perfect girl
Your vision of romance is cruel and all along I played the fool
All your expectations bury me
Don't worry, you will find the answer if you let it go
Give yourself some time to falter
But don't forgo knowing that you're loved no matter what
I own my insecurities, I try to own my destiny
That I can make or break it if I choose
But you take my words and twist them 'round
Til I'm the one who brings you down
Make me feel like I'm the one to blame for all of this...
Don't worry, you will find the answer if you let it go
Give yourself some time to falter
But don't forgo knowing that you're loved no matter what
And everything will come around in time
You need everybody with you on your side
Know that I am here for you but I hope in time
You'll find yourself all right alone
You'll find yourself with open arms
You'll find yourself, you'll find yourself in time
The riot in my heart decides to keep me open and alive
I have to take myself away from you
'Cause I can't compete I can't deny there's nothing that I didn't try
How did I go wrong in loving you
Don't worry, you will find the answer if you let it go
Give yourself some time to falter
But don't forgo knowing that you're loved no matter what
And everything will come around in time
In "Perfect Girl," Sarah McLachlan sings about the struggles of living up to someone else's idea of a perfect partner, and the toll that it takes on one's self-esteem and mental health. The lyrics suggest that the singer has been trying to please their partner, but finds themselves constantly falling short of their expectations. The partner's idealized vision of romance seems to be a burden that the singer cannot bear. They try to own their insecurities and destiny, but their partner twists their words and makes them feel responsible for their own disappointments. The singer eventually realizes that they need to retreat and take care of themselves, even if it means leaving their partner behind. The final stanza suggests that it is possible to find peace and self-love even in the midst of a difficult situation.
Overall, the song touches on themes of self-worth, emotional abuse, and the importance of setting boundaries in relationships. It is a powerful message to anyone who has struggled to please someone else, only to find that they have lost themselves in the process.
Line by Line Meaning
Am I faithful, am I strong, am I good enough to belong
Questioning self-worth and whether it meets expectations for acceptance
In your reverie a perfect girl
To the person, being perceived as an ideal in their dreams
Your vision of romance is cruel and all along I played the fool
The image of love is harsh; and the singer feels foolish for trying to fit it.
All your expectations bury me
The pressure of meeting the other person's ideals becomes suffocating
Don't worry, you will find the answer if you let it go
Relax and the solution will present itself
Give yourself some time to falter
It's okay to stumble and make mistakes.
But don't forgo knowing that you're loved no matter what
Remember that they are still loved for who they are
And everything will come around in time
Things will get better over time
I own my insecurities, I try to own my destiny
Taking responsibility for both one's flaws and path forward
That I can make or break it if I choose
The artist alone can determine their success or failure.
But you take my words and twist them 'round
The other person manipulates and misunderstands what the singer says
Til I'm the one who brings you down
The other person blames the artist for their issues
Make me feel like I'm the one to blame for all of this...
Feeling the weight of the other person's problems on one's shoulders
You need everybody with you on your side
The person has a dependent nature, needing others to support them
Know that I am here for you but I hope in time
The singer supports them but hopes they become independent
You'll find yourself all right alone
Encouragement that they can make it on their own
You'll find yourself with open arms
The artist will welcome them back when they improve
You'll find yourself, you'll find yourself in time
With time they will discover and improve themselves
The riot in my heart decides to keep me open and alive
The singer chooses to remain passionate about life despite struggles
I have to take myself away from you
The artist must distance themselves from the other person
'Cause I can't compete I can't deny there's nothing that I didn't try
Feeling inadequate and seeing no other solution
How did I go wrong in loving you
Reflecting on the missteps during the relationship
Contributed by Thomas T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jaded Hart
on In The Arms Of The Angels
This will surely make you cry! Everyone can identify with this song! Hear it you won't regret it. And maybe you'll remember!