Song Meaning
The narrator grapples with a deep-seated need for external validation, admitting, "When I'm aching for their respect." This desire is immediately met with a counter-impulse to retreat, a wish "to just get back to sleep" when confronted by "regrets." It’s a cycle of seeking approval and then recoiling from the vulnerability that comes with it.
The central tension lies in the pursuit of an unattainable ideal. The repeated refrain, "Perfect always takes so long / Because it don't exist," acts as both a mantra and a confession. This isn't just about a personal failing; it suggests a broader, almost existential frustration with the very concept of perfection, which the lyrics declare simply "doesn't exist."
The most striking element is the stark contrast between the yearning for respect and the immediate dismissal of perfection. The repeated, almost desperate, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" following the promise of finding "better words" highlights the difficulty in bridging the gap between intention and action. This isn't a smooth apology; it's a fractured admission of repeated failure.
What makes these lyrics resonate is their raw honesty about internal conflict. The writing captures that frustrating loop of wanting to be better, seeking external affirmation, and then being overwhelmed by the impossibility of achieving a flawless state. The relentless repetition of "it doesn't exist" hammers home a sense of weary resignation, a hard-won, if bleak, acceptance.
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