Perfect Illusion – English Lyrics

• By: Lady Gaga

Lyrics & Translation

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
illusion /ɪˈluːʒən/ B2	noun - a thing that is or is likely to be wrongly perceived or interpreted by the senses.
perfect /ˈpɜːrfɪkt/ A2	adjective - having all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics; as good as it is possible to be.
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - an intense feeling of deep affection. verb - feel a deep romantic or sexual attachment to (someone).
mistaken /mɪˈsteɪkən/ B1	adjective - wrong in one's opinion or judgment.
control /kənˈtroʊl/ A2	noun - the power to influence or direct people's behavior or the course of events. verb - determine the behavior or supervise the running of.
pressure /ˈpreʃər/ B1	noun - the use of persuasion, influence, or intimidation to make someone do something.
stuck /stʌk/ B1	adjective - unable to move or be moved.
zone /zoʊn/ A2	noun - an area or stretch of land having a particular characteristic, purpose, or use, or subject to particular restrictions.
strong /strɔːŋ/ A1	adjective - having the power to move heavy weights or perform physically demanding tasks.
real /riːəl/ A1	adjective - actually existing as a thing or occurring in fact; not imagined or supposed.
show /ʃoʊ/ A1	noun - a theatrical performance or other public entertainment. verb - allow or enable to be seen.
eyes /aɪz/ A1	noun - the organs of sight.
dream /driːm/ A1	noun - a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep. verb - experience dreams during sleep.
crush /krʌʃ/ B1	verb - violently compress or shatter. noun - a brief but intense infatuation for someone, especially someone unattainable or inappropriate.
blow /bloʊ/ B1	noun - a strong gust of wind or air. Also, a sudden, hard stroke or impact. verb - (of wind or air) move creating an air current.
dilated /ˈdaɪleɪtɪd/ C1	adjective - (of a part of the body, such as the pupil or a blood vessel) made wider or larger; expanded.
free /friː/ A1	adjective - not under the control or in the power of another; able to act or be done as one wishes. verb - release from captivity, restraint, or slavery.
modern /ˈmɒdərn/ A2	adjective - relating to the present or recent times as opposed to the remote past.
ecstasy /ˈɛkstəsi/ C1	noun - an overwhelming feeling of great happiness or joyful excitement.
confusion /kənˈfjuːʒən/ B1	noun - a situation of uncertainty about what is happening, what to do, or who someone is.

Key Grammar Structures

• WAY TOO REAL TO BE WRONG

  ➔ "Too... to" construction, Intensifier "Way"

  ➔ The phrase "WAY TOO REAL TO BE WRONG" uses the "too + adjective/adverb + to + infinitive" construction to indicate an excessive degree that makes something impossible or undesirable. "Way" acts as an informal intensifier for "too," meaning "much" or "very."

• CAUGHT UP IN YOUR SHOW

  ➔ Past Participle used adjectivally/passive voice (implied), Phrasal Verb

  ➔ "CAUGHT UP" is the past participle of "catch," used here adjectivally to describe a state of being entangled or deeply involved. This often implies a passive voice structure (e.g., "I was caught up"). "Caught up in" is a common phrasal verb meaning to be deeply involved or entangled in a situation or event.

• IT WASN'T LOVE, IT WAS A PERFECT ILLUSION

  ➔ Simple Past Tense (negative and affirmative), Contrast

  ➔ This line uses the simple past tense of "to be" ("wasn't" and "was") to describe past states or facts. The two clauses are juxtaposed to create a strong contrast between what the speaker initially perceived and the reality they now understand.

• MISTAKEN FOR LOVE

  ➔ Past Participle used adjectivally/reduced clause

  ➔ "MISTAKEN FOR" is a past participle phrase used here to describe something that was incorrectly identified or understood as something else. It functions similarly to an adjective or a reduced relative clause (e.g., "it was mistaken for love" or "that was mistaken for love").

• I DON'T NEED EYES TO SEE

  ➔ Infinitive of Purpose

  ➔ The infinitive phrase "TO SEE" is used here to express the purpose or reason for not needing eyes. It answers the question "Why don't I need eyes?" This is often referred to as an infinitive of purpose.

• I FELT YOU TOUCHIN' ME / BUT I FEEL YOU WATCHIN' ME

  ➔ Verb of Perception + Object + Present Participle

  ➔ This structure ("feel/see/hear + object + present participle") indicates that the subject perceived an action happening at a particular moment. The action ("touchin'" / "watchin'") is ongoing or in progress when it is perceived. "Touchin'" and "watchin'" are informal contractions for "touching" and "watching."

• THAT'S WHAT IT MEANS TO CRUSH

  ➔ Noun Clause with "what", Impersonal "it" + "means to"

  ➔ "WHAT IT MEANS TO CRUSH" is a noun clause acting as the complement of "that's." "What" introduces this clause, referring to an unspecified thing or concept. The impersonal "it" in "it means to crush" refers to the general idea of what "crush" (in a romantic sense) signifies, implying a definition or explanation.

• NOW THAT I'M WAKIN' UP

  ➔ Conjunction "Now that"

  ➔ "NOW THAT" is a complex conjunction (or subordinating conjunction) that introduces a clause explaining the reason or cause for a new situation. It emphasizes that the current action or state is a result of something that has just happened or become true. "Wakin'" is an informal contraction for "waking."

• (DILATED, FALLING FREE IN A MODERN ECSTASY)

  ➔ Participles as Adjectives/Adverbials, Adjective + Noun Phrase

  ➔ "DILATED" is a past participle used as an adjective describing a state. "FALLING FREE" is a present participle phrase acting adverbially, describing the manner or process of falling. Both participles add descriptive detail to the feeling or situation. "MODERN ECSTASY" is an adjective modifying a noun, forming a noun phrase.

• SOMEWHERE IN ALL THE CONFUSION

  ➔ Adverb of Place, Prepositional Phrase

  ➔ "SOMEWHERE" is an adverb of place, indicating an unspecified location. It is followed by the prepositional phrase "IN ALL THE CONFUSION," which further specifies the context or environment where this "somewhere" exists. "All the confusion" refers to a general state of disorder or uncertainty.