Disavowing the punk rock roots of many of their alt-rock contemporaries, they have a diverse, densely layered, and guitar-heavy sound, containing elements of gothic rock, heavy metal, dream pop, psychedelic rock, progressive rock, shoegazing, and, in later recordings, electronica. Corgan is the group's primary songwriter; his musical ambitions and cathartic lyrics have shaped the band's albums and songs, which have been described as "anguished, bruised reports from Billy Corgan's nightmare-land".
The Smashing Pumpkins broke into the musical mainstream with their second album, 1993's Siamese Dream. The group built its audience with extensive touring and their 1995 follow-up, the double album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 album chart. 1998's Adore would just barely miss out, peaking at number two. With 30 million albums sold worldwide, the Smashing Pumpkins were one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed bands of the 1990s. However, internal fighting, drug use, and diminishing record sales led to a 2000 break-up.
In 2006, Corgan and Chamberlin reconvened to record a new Smashing Pumpkins album, Zeitgeist. After touring throughout 2007 and 2008 with a lineup including new guitarist Jeff Schroeder, Chamberlin left the band in early 2009. Later that year, Corgan began a new recording series with a rotating lineup of musicians entitled Teargarden by Kaleidyscope, which encompassed the release of stand-alone singles, compilation EP releases, and two full albums that also fell under the project's scope—Oceania in 2012 and Monuments to an Elegy in 2014. Chamberlin and Iha officially rejoined the band in February 2018. The reunited lineup has released three albums so far—Shiny and Oh So Bright, Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun. in November 2018, Cyr in November 2020, and ATUM in 2023.
Perfect
The Smashing Pumpkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We just can't pretend
That lovers make amends
We are reasons so unreal
We can't help but feel that something has been lost
But please you know you're just like me
Next time I promise we'll be
Perfect
Perfect strangers down the line
Lovers out of time
Memories unwind
So far I still know who you are
But now I wonder who I was
Angel, you know it's not the end
We'll always be good friends
The letters have been sent on
So please, you always were so free
You'll see, I promise we'll be
Perfect
Perfect strangers when we meet
Strangers on the street
Lovers while we sleep
Perfect
You know this has to be
We always we're so free
We promised that we'd be
Perfect
In "Perfect," Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins sings about a lost relationship that has reached a standstill. The song was released as a single in 1998, and though it didn't score as high on the charts as some of the band's other singles from the period, it has nonetheless gone on to become a fan favorite over the years.
Corgan's lyrics touch on themes of nostalgia, regret, and a longing for the past. He describes the relationship as being like that of old friends who can't pretend to be lovers anymore, and the reasons for their separation as being "so unreal." Despite this, there is a sense of hope in the chorus as he sings about the possibility of the two of them becoming "perfect strangers down the line" and maybe even "lovers while we sleep."
The song's optimistic message is underscored by its bright, poppy sound, with chiming guitars and a driving beat. It's a far cry from the band's more intense and brooding songs, but it still carries the emotional weight that defines so much of their music.
Line by Line Meaning
I know we're just like old friends
We have known each other for so long that we are like old friends
We just can't pretend
We can no longer pretend that we are just friends
That lovers make amends
The relationship between lovers is reconciliatory
We are reasons so unreal
We are not genuine in our reasoning
We can't help but feel that something has been lost
We have a sense of loss that is beyond our control
But please you know you're just like me
We share similar traits and qualities
Next time I promise we'll be
I will ensure that the relationship is better next time around
Perfect
The relationship will be flawless
Perfect
The relationship will be ideal
Perfect strangers down the line
We will be strangers in the future
Lovers out of time
Our relationship is out of sync with time
Memories unwind
We reminisce about the past
So far I still know who you are
I still remember who you are
But now I wonder who I was
I am questioning my past self
Angel, you know it's not the end
I want to emphasize that this is not the end of our relationship
We'll always be good friends
We will maintain a strong friendship
The letters have been sent on
We have communicated our feelings through letters
So please, you always were so free
You were always a free spirit
You'll see, I promise we'll be
We will become an ideal couple
Perfect
Our relationship will be perfect
Perfect strangers when we meet
We will be strangers when we meet again
Strangers on the street
We will be strangers to each other in public
Lovers while we sleep
Our relationship will be intimate while we are asleep
Perfect
The relationship will be perfect
You know this has to be
We both know that this has to happen
We always were so free
Our relationship was always unrestricted
We promised that we'd be
We made a promise to each other
Perfect
Our relationship will be perfect
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: William Patrick Corgan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind