In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Had a little love
But I spread it thin
Falling in her arms and out again
I made a bad name for my game 'round town
Tore out my heart and shut it down
Nothing to do
Nowhere to be
A simple little a kind of free
Nothing to do
No one but me
And that's all I need
I'm perfectly lonely
I'm perfectly lonely
I'm perfectly lonely
Yeah
Cause I don't belong to anyone
And nobody belongs to me
I see my friends around from time to time
When the ladies let us slip away
And when they ask me how I'm doing with mine
This is always what I say
Nothing to do
Nowhere to be
A simple little kind of free
Nothing to do
No one to be
Is it really hard to see?
I'm perfectly lonely
I'm perfectly lonely
I'm perfectly lonely
Yeah
Cause I don't belong to anyone
And nobody belongs to me
And this is not to say
There never comes a day
I'll take my chances and start again
And when I look behind
On all my younger times
I have to thank the wrongs
That led me to a love so strong
I'm perfectly lonely
I'm perfectly lonely
I'm perfectly lonely
Yeah
Cause I don't belong to anyone
And nobody belongs to me
That's the way
That's the way
That's the way
That I want it
That's the way
That's the way
That's the way
That I want it
That's the way
That's the way
That's the way
That I want it
That's the way
That's the way
That's the way
That I want it
That's the way
That's the way
That's the way
That I want it
That's the way
That's the way
That's the way
That I want it
That's the way
That's the way
That's the way
That I want it
That's the way
That's the way
That's the way
That I want it
But I spread it thin
Falling in her arms and out again
I made a bad name for my game 'round town
Tore out my heart and shut it down
Nothing to do
Nowhere to be
A simple little a kind of free
Nothing to do
No one but me
And that's all I need
I'm perfectly lonely
I'm perfectly lonely
I'm perfectly lonely
Yeah
Cause I don't belong to anyone
And nobody belongs to me
I see my friends around from time to time
When the ladies let us slip away
And when they ask me how I'm doing with mine
This is always what I say
Nothing to do
Nowhere to be
A simple little kind of free
Nothing to do
No one to be
Is it really hard to see?
I'm perfectly lonely
I'm perfectly lonely
I'm perfectly lonely
Yeah
Cause I don't belong to anyone
And nobody belongs to me
And this is not to say
There never comes a day
I'll take my chances and start again
And when I look behind
On all my younger times
I have to thank the wrongs
That led me to a love so strong
I'm perfectly lonely
I'm perfectly lonely
I'm perfectly lonely
Yeah
Cause I don't belong to anyone
And nobody belongs to me
That's the way
That's the way
That's the way
That I want it
That's the way
That's the way
That's the way
That I want it
That's the way
That's the way
That's the way
That I want it
That's the way
That's the way
That's the way
That I want it
That's the way
That's the way
That's the way
That I want it
That's the way
That's the way
That's the way
That I want it
That's the way
That's the way
That's the way
That I want it
That's the way
That's the way
That's the way
That I want it
Lyrics submitted by CycloneNimrod
Perfectly Lonely Lyrics as written by John Mayer
Lyrics © REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
I think that this is the best song on Battle Studies. "A simple little kind of free."
"And this is not to say there never comes a day I'll take my chances and start again And when I look behind on all my younger times I'll have to thank the wrongs that led me to a love so strong"
He's happy to be single, it's a nice change of pace and he knows that some day he'll settle down, and when that comes he'll be grateful of all the mistakes that led him there.
there are a lot of errors in the lyrics, but its not hard to follow.
I LOVE this song. The meaning is simple: he's fine with being single. he knows that one day love will come, but until then, there's no need to stress the issue. It's about enjoying the single life, and I totally agree with him.
Yeah sorry, I wrote this reaaaally quickly when slightly drunk. If you point out errors I'll fix them up.
It sounds like Eagels' Busy being fabulous ! lol! is there anyone else ?
for me one of the best-if not the best-of battle studies!
It's "A simple little kind of free" not - "I Sip"
I'll have to fake her arms that led me to a love so strong
it's I'll have to thank the wrongs.....
Love this song btw - it's my fave off the album!~
Reminiscing of his old stuff I think. I love this song... such an unusual and independent attitude. Probably my favorite from Battle Studies.
The third line should be:
"Made a bad name for my game 'round town"
Definatley my most played on the album. so simply perfect.
I hate to repeat what everyone else has said, but this is such a simple song, such simple lyrics, yet so effective. He is very truthful about every aspect of this song, qualities that make a perfect songwriter. This song makes me so content with life. Reminds me of dark nights at Christmas last year <3