Perfect – English Lyrics

• By: Alanis Morissette
• Album: Jagged Little Pill Acoustic

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into 'Perfect' by Alanis Morissette, a raw and emotionally charged song that offers a unique window into English expressions of frustration, societal pressure, and conditional love. Its powerful lyrics and Morissette's distinctive vocal delivery make it a compelling piece for understanding nuanced emotions in English. Listen closely to how the language conveys the struggle for acceptance and the ultimate rejection of impossible standards.

[English]

Sometimes is never quite enough

If you're flawless, then you'll win my love

Don't forget to win first place

Don't forget to keep that smile on your face

Be a good boy

Try a little harder

You've got to measure up

And make me prouder

How long before you screw it up

How many times do I have to tell you to hurry up

...

With everything I do for you

The least you can do is keep quiet

Be a good girl

You've gotta try a little harder

That simply wasn't good enough

To make us proud

I'll live through you

I'll make you what I never was

If you're the best, then maybe so am I

Compared to him compared to her

I'm doing this for your own damn good

You'll make up for what I blew

What's the problem... why are you crying

Be a good boy

Push a little farther now

That wasn't fast enough

To make us happy

We'll love you just the way you are if you're perfect

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
flawless /ˈflɔːləs/ C1	adjective - without any imperfections; perfect
measure /ˈmɛʒər/ B2	verb - to ascertain the size, amount, or degree of something
proud /praʊd/ B1	adjective - feeling deep pleasure or satisfaction as a result of one's own achievements
screw /skruː/ B2	verb - to make a mistake or mess something up
crying /ˈkraɪɪŋ/ B1	verb - to shed tears, typically as an expression of distress or emotion
happy /ˈhæpi/ A2	adjective - feeling or showing pleasure or contentment
try /traɪ/ A2	verb - to make an attempt or effort to do something
good /ɡʊd/ A1	adjective - having the qualities required for a particular role
place /pleɪs/ A1	noun - a particular position or point in space
smile /smaɪl/ A1	noun - a facial expression characterized by an upward curving of the corners of the mouth
harder /ˈhɑːrdər/ B1	adjective - more difficult or requiring more effort
live /lɪv/ A2	verb - to remain alive; to have life
best /bɛst/ A1	adjective - of the highest quality, excellence, or standing

Key Grammar Structures

• Sometimes is never quite enough

  ➔ Use of "enough" as an adverb

  ➔ "Enough" modifies the adjective "quite", indicating that it is not sufficient. The word order is important: adverb + enough.

• If you're flawless, then you'll win my love

  ➔ First Conditional

  ➔ This sentence shows a likely result (winning love) based on a condition ("if" being flawless). The structure is "if + present simple, will + base form of the verb".

• Don't forget to win first place

  ➔ Imperative with "Don't forget to + infinitive"

  ➔ This is an imperative sentence giving a command/instruction. "Don't forget to + infinitive" expresses a reminder or an instruction not to omit doing something.

• How long before you screw it up

  ➔ Question with "How long before..."

  ➔ This phrase asks about the amount of time that will pass until something negative happens. It expresses impatience and anticipation of failure.

• The least you can do is keep quiet

  ➔ The least you can do is + infinitive

  ➔ This structure expresses that something is the bare minimum expected in a situation. It often carries a tone of disapproval or dissatisfaction.

• I'll live through you

  ➔ Future tense with 'will' to express intention

  ➔ The 'will' is used to express a strong intention or determination. In this case, it signifies the speaker's intent to experience life vicariously through another person.

• Compared to him compared to her

  ➔ Ellipsis and implied verb "is"

  ➔ The verb "is" is omitted for brevity, but it's implied: "Compared to him, (I am compared) to her". This highlights the constant comparison being made.

• I'm doing this for your own damn good

  ➔ Present Continuous for emphasis or annoying habit

  ➔ While technically present continuous, the use of 'doing' here suggests a repeated action or a situation that's ongoing and perhaps irritating to the subject. "Damn" is an intensifier.