Imperfect Tense
Turner Frank Lyrics
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Somewhere in the City
Three days no sleeping,
Not eating, not feeling good anymore
Drenched in sweat and self-pity now,
It's not a pretty sight
What to say in my defense, I was imperfect tense
So won't you be my present sense
Breaking, I'm shaking, it's taking a long long time
To come down off this murderous medication
Trying to remember, my reasons for running myself
Into the ground with such dedication
What to say in my defense, I was imperfect tense
Used to have such balance, but I don't know where it went
So won't you be my present sense, sense
'Cause it's not meant to be
I am lost at sea
So mermaids sing to me
Of the better times and the things that can be
Like the diamonds in the Mediterranean sea
Or the beatings and sleeping and times that I took
And of washing the drink and the drugs from my blood
And I've nothing to say in my defense
I'm far from perfect I'm still tense
They say that love can change you once
Please say that love can change me once
Come on change me
The opening lines of Turner Frank’s song Imperfect Tense describes the singer in a very vulnerable state, naked and retched on a hotel bathroom floor, somewhere in the City, after three days without sleep, food, or feeling good anymore. He’s at the lowest point in his life, drenched in sweat and self-pity, and it's not a pretty sight. The character is struggling with drug addiction and depression, trying to come down off his medication, and trying to remember why he started running himself into the ground in the first place. He's haunted by the fact that he was once in a state of balance but lost it and is now in an imperfect tense.
The repetition of “what to say in my defense, I was imperfect tense” emphasizes the character's guilt and remorse, but they're also admitting that they weren't in a good state of mind when their actions led them to this low point. They're asking someone to be their present sense and help them move forward. The song exhibits a strong sense of recovery and removing oneself from the destruction caused by addiction, to a healthier state. The closing lines indicate a desire to change for the better through love, yearning for someone to save them from their current state.
Line by Line Meaning
Naked and retched and retching on a hotel bathroom floor,
I was stripped down, repulsive, and vomiting in a hotel bathroom, somewhere in the city
Three days no sleeping,
I haven't had a restful night's sleep in three days
Not eating, not feeling good anymore
I've had no appetite and feel miserable
Drenched in sweat and self-pity now,
I'm sweating profusely and dwelling on my own misery
It's not a pretty sight
The whole situation is ugly and unfortunate
What to say in my defense, I was imperfect tense
I don't have much to excuse myself because I wasn't doing well at the time.
Used to have such balance, but I don't know where it went
I used to have a sense of stability, but I don't know how I lost it.
So won't you be my present sense
Could you be my grounding and help me stay in the moment?
Breaking, I'm shaking, it's taking a long long time
I'm emotionally and physically shattered, and it's taking forever to heal.
To come down off this murderous medication
It's hard to detox from this potent medication.
Trying to remember, my reasons for running myself
I'm striving to recollect why I pushed myself so much.
Into the ground with such dedication
I was committed to doing something that now seems pointless & harmful.
’Cause it's not meant to be
This isn't how life is supposed to turn out.
I am lost at sea
I'm struggling with life and have no direction.
So mermaids sing to me
I wish for a mystical sounding remedy.
Of the better times and the things that can be
Let the myths & legends talk about a more beautiful future.
Like the diamonds in the Mediterranean sea
Bright and immense life treasures lying beyond my horizon.
Or the beatings and sleeping and times that I took
Or about the events and choices that made me who I am.
And of washing the drink and the drugs from my blood
And about washing out the booze and drugs from my body and mind.
And I've nothing to say in my defense
I can't defend myself, I'm stuck.
I'm far from perfect I'm still tense
I know I've flaws and tension in me.
They say that love can change you once
People believe that love can make a difference once in a while.
Please say that love can change me once
Let me believe that love can also change me from all of this.
Come on change me
Please make a way for things to be different.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: FRANCIS EDWARD TURNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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