Recorded at Maze Studios, Southern Gothic (?Make Records Not Bombs?, 2008) is a meandering tour of the underbelly of Atlanta, lead by Jones’ gruff delivery and parabolic lyrics. Lush production invokes the muscular rhythms of ‘70s Fela Kuti, the propelling pop sensibility of the Gorillaz and the vocals of a modern-day Tom Waits. Cee Lo of Gnarls Barkley and newly signed SRC artist Asher Roth are featured on the album, with a revision of Tom Waits’ “Step Right Up” as a centerpiece. Also on the album are Atlanta musicians Brand Hagen (Trances Arc) and Julian Dorio (The Whigs). The Constellations live show consists of a five-man band backing Jones’ trademark vocals and persona: James Arnold, Ryan Davis, Jamie Gordon, Wes Hoffman and Jason Nackers (Second Shift). A crowd-pleasing, all-girl “Clap Squad” covers back-up vocals and completes the spectacle. The band plays locally monthly and will begin touring nationally this summer.
Perfect Day
The Constellations Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can the smell the taste,
A trace of lace
There's something sinister in place
It leaves me restless
So it's a perfect day
To fade away
It's a perfect day to
Turn away and run
It's a perfect day
To go and tie one off
It's a perfect day
To waste away
A perfect plot to play
Just another
Perfect day,
But before you know,
It's gone
My mind slips
Further from what's real
Take my hands away
From the steering wheel
I'm crashing,
Coming down in waves
I wipe the sweat
From upon my face
And it's a perfect day
To leave this place
It's a perfect day
To hide in my own home
It's a perfect day
And it's taking its toll
It's a perfect day
To waste away
Your perfect part to play
Just another
Perfect day,
But before you know,
It's gone
It's a perfect day
To hide down in my home
It's a perfect day
And it's taking its toll
It's a perfect day
To waste away
Your perfect part to play
Just another
Perfect day,
But before you know,
It's gone
The Constellations's song Perfect Day explores the theme of addiction and the internal turmoil that comes with it. The first verse sets the tone with "The wind blows cool across my face, I can the smell the taste, a trace of lace," which suggests that the singer has been using drugs and can still taste and smell them. The following line, "There's something sinister in place," hints at the dangers of addiction and how it can lead to a person feeling restless and unable to find peace. The chorus repeats the phrase "It's a perfect day," which creates an ironic contrast to the negative emotions being expressed in the lyrics. The repeated line "Just another perfect day, but before you know, it's gone" serves as a reminder that addiction can feel like a temporary escape, but it ultimately leads to consequences.
The second verse delves deeper into the singer's emotional state, as they describe their mind slipping away from reality and the physical danger of crashing while under the influence. The line "And it's a perfect day to leave this place" suggests that the singer is considering leaving behind their current problems by giving in to their addiction. The repetition of "It's a perfect day" in the chorus reinforces this idea, but the line "And it's taking its toll" acknowledges that the temporary relief is not worth the long-term damage. The final line "Your perfect part to play" further emphasizes the idea that addiction can feel like an escape or a role to play, but it ultimately leads to a tragic end.
Line by Line Meaning
The wind blows cool across my face
I can feel the cool wind blowing on my face.
I can the smell the taste, A trace of lace
I notice a faint smell, and taste of lace in the air.
There's something sinister in place
A feeling of something dangerous or harmful is present.
It leaves me restless, With no peace
The situation is causing unrest and discomfort with no relief.
So it's a perfect day, To fade away
The conditions are so bleak that disappearing seems preferable.
It's a perfect day to Turn away and run
The ideal moment to escape or abandon the situation has arrived.
It's a perfect day To go and tie one off
A good opportunity to indulge in drugs or alcohol.
It's a perfect day To waste away A perfect plot to play
A great day to do nothing and pursue a self-destructive path.
Just another Perfect day, But before you know, It's gone
Despite all the negative aspects, time is fleeting, and the day will soon be over.
My mind slips Further from what's real
The situation is causing me to lose my grip on reality.
Take my hands away From the steering wheel
I'm losing control of my life, similar to losing control of driving a car.
I'm crashing, Coming down in waves
The situation is causing me to feel intense emotional distress.
I wipe the sweat From upon my face
The situation is causing me to feel physically uncomfortable.
And it's a perfect day To leave this place
The ideal time to get away from the current location has arrived.
It's a perfect day To hide in my own home
A good opportunity to stay hidden away and avoid contact with the world.
It's a perfect day And it's taking its toll
Despite being perfect, the day is still causing damage and exhaustion.
It's a perfect day To waste away Your perfect part to play
A great opportunity to play the role of someone bent on self-destruction.
Just another Perfect day, But before you know, It's gone
Similar to earlier, reminding that despite everything, time passes quickly.
It's a perfect day To hide down in my home
Reiterating the opportunity to remain indoors and avoid interaction with the outside world.
It's a perfect day And it's taking its toll
Again mentioning how the situation, while perfect in a twisted way, is still taking a toll on the person.
It's a perfect day To waste away Your perfect part to play
A final repetition to emphasize the chance to engage in self-destructive behavior.
Just another Perfect day, But before you know, It's gone
A final reminder that despite everything, time will not stand still.
Contributed by Owen O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.