The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
When I'm nervous I have this thing yeah I talk too much
Sometimes I just can't shut the hell up
It's like I need to tell someone anyone who'll listen
And that's where I seem to fuck up, yeah
I forget about the consequences, yeah
For a minute there I lose my senses
And in the heat of the moment
My mouth starts going, the words start flowing, oh
But I never meant to hurt you
I know it's time that I learned to
Treat the people I love like I wanna be loved
This is a lesson learned
I hate that I let you down and I feel so bad about it
I guess karma comes back around
'Cause now I'm the one that's hurting, yeah
And I hate that I made you think that the trust we had is broken
Don't tell me you can't forgive me
'Cause nobody's perfect
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, nobody's perfect, no
If I could turn back the hands of time
I swear I never woulda cross that line
I should of kept it between us
But no I went and told the whole world how I'm feelin', oh
So I sit and I realize with these tears falling from my eyes
I gotta change if I wanna keep you forever
I promise that I'm gonna try
But I never meant to hurt you
I know it's time that I learn to
Treat the people I love like I wanna be loved
This is a lesson learned
I hate that I let you down
And I feel so bad about it
I guess karma comes back around
'Cause now I'm the one that's hurting yeah
And I hate that I made you think
That the trust we had is broken
So don't tell me you can't forgive me
'Cause nobody's perfect
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, nobody's perfect
Ooh, ooh
No, no, yeah
I'm not a saint no not at all
But what I did it wasn't cool
But I swear that I'll never do that again to you, ohh
I'm not a saint, no not at all
And what I did it wasn't cool
But I swear that I'll never do that again to you, yeah
I hate that I let you down (I let you down)
And I feel so bad about it (I feel so bad)
I guess karma comes back around (karma comes back around)
'Cause now I'm the one that's hurting yeah (back around again)
And I hate that I made you think (made you think)
That the trust we have is broken (it's not)
So don't tell me you can't forgive me (oh)
'Cause nobody's perfect, no (no)
And I hate that I let you down
And I feel so bad about it
I guess karma comes back around
'Cause I'm the one that's hurting, yeah
And I hate that I made you think (made you think)
That the trust we had is broken
So don't tell me you can't forgive me
'Cause nobody's perfect, yeah yeah, whoa
Don't tell me, don't tell
Don't tell me, you cant forgive me, oh, no, no, no
'Cause nobody's perfect, no
Sometimes I just can't shut the hell up
It's like I need to tell someone anyone who'll listen
And that's where I seem to fuck up, yeah
I forget about the consequences, yeah
For a minute there I lose my senses
And in the heat of the moment
My mouth starts going, the words start flowing, oh
But I never meant to hurt you
I know it's time that I learned to
Treat the people I love like I wanna be loved
This is a lesson learned
I hate that I let you down and I feel so bad about it
I guess karma comes back around
'Cause now I'm the one that's hurting, yeah
And I hate that I made you think that the trust we had is broken
Don't tell me you can't forgive me
'Cause nobody's perfect
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, nobody's perfect, no
If I could turn back the hands of time
I swear I never woulda cross that line
I should of kept it between us
But no I went and told the whole world how I'm feelin', oh
So I sit and I realize with these tears falling from my eyes
I gotta change if I wanna keep you forever
I promise that I'm gonna try
But I never meant to hurt you
I know it's time that I learn to
Treat the people I love like I wanna be loved
This is a lesson learned
I hate that I let you down
And I feel so bad about it
I guess karma comes back around
'Cause now I'm the one that's hurting yeah
And I hate that I made you think
That the trust we had is broken
So don't tell me you can't forgive me
'Cause nobody's perfect
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, nobody's perfect
Ooh, ooh
No, no, yeah
I'm not a saint no not at all
But what I did it wasn't cool
But I swear that I'll never do that again to you, ohh
I'm not a saint, no not at all
And what I did it wasn't cool
But I swear that I'll never do that again to you, yeah
I hate that I let you down (I let you down)
And I feel so bad about it (I feel so bad)
I guess karma comes back around (karma comes back around)
'Cause now I'm the one that's hurting yeah (back around again)
And I hate that I made you think (made you think)
That the trust we have is broken (it's not)
So don't tell me you can't forgive me (oh)
'Cause nobody's perfect, no (no)
And I hate that I let you down
And I feel so bad about it
I guess karma comes back around
'Cause I'm the one that's hurting, yeah
And I hate that I made you think (made you think)
That the trust we had is broken
So don't tell me you can't forgive me
'Cause nobody's perfect, yeah yeah, whoa
Don't tell me, don't tell
Don't tell me, you cant forgive me, oh, no, no, no
'Cause nobody's perfect, no
Lyrics submitted by -_Rebs_-, edited by paulakate
Nobody's Perfect Lyrics as written by Andre Brissett Jessica Cornish
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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I can't believe nobody's commented on this song, it's such a powerful song, and it's powerful because it's honest and it's real. There's no pretence whatsoever, she's just telling it like it is. It sums up just right how you feel when you let somebody you care about down.
Even though I think the lyrics are kind of simple they are straightforward and honest and the fact that she has a great voice makes this song great.
Personally, I think this is applied to anyone that she loves and that she is saying she has a nervous babbling tendency and therefore doesn't think before she speaks. She betrays someone's trust because she told other people what should've been just between them, whether it was a fight they had and she was badmouthing that person, or if it was a secret they shared and she told the whole world. This song also isn't just directed to that one mistake of talking when your not supposed to, its basically for anytime you make a mistake that you know hurt someone that you loved, and you know they are disappointed in you.
She's saying that she knows she made a mistake, and that the fact that the person is disappointed in her is eating her from the inside out. She regrets her mistake and if it means continuing to have that person in her life and being in that person's life she's willing to change because she knows that its a harmful tendency and that the person she loves is more important than anything.
I just had one of these kind of situations in my life so this really relates to me right now.
"the person she loves is more important than anything." That deserves an AMEN! And a big high five for your entire post...very good work, although I'm horrible at interpreting songs so sadly that may not be much of a compliment. I meant it as a compliment, though:)
She didn't want this song to be made into something it wasn't. It is a very straight to the point honest song.
It is about she basically told someone, someone elses' secret and it got back to that person. She said "Everyone has someone they trust, then that person has someone they trust, and it goes on and on" and thats what the song is about :)
It's about letting down someone you love, but also trying to make the person that you hurt realise that there is flaws in everyone and well... nobody's perfect. I feel like this song is like a plea and desperate measure to keep what you have close. This song is so powerful, raw and everyone can relate to it. I know I can.
I am nervous I really can't shut the fuck and will tell anyone that will listen to me about my fear disregarding anything that can happen by blabbing. I did that with a situation when I was seeing a guy. Karma came back around for me, and it it ended up horrible. I did learn from the whole thing is that I was gonna have to change my ways if I ever wanted to keep anyone around after that. This song really did hit home after it everything happened. I've been obsessed with it since.
Most relatable song ever.
theres only 2 comments on this! wow. since song is PERFECT for my situation. its about making mistakes and being able to accept them hoping that everyone else does to. i feel like this whole song is me. when someone listens to me i feel like they care and that i can trust them when most of the time there just being noisy and couldnt give a care in the world. jessie j is an amazing artist (L)
this song is about messing uo big and hurting someone you were close to. you feel horrible about it but they wont ever understand that you didnt mean to do it you didnt mean to break their trust but things happen. Everyone deserves to be forgiven.
I have had an experience like this recently. I suffer from anxiety and depression and a few other things, and I was once feeling very upset and irritated because my best best best best friend Taj and I had some inside jokes (Like all best friends do) and another close friend of mine, pretty much my best friend kept saying them to him acting like they were her inside jokes! I got really aanmoyed and said to Taj, "She's being a selfish b**ch" and someone nearby (who was also my close friend) told her and now shes being really mean to me and i want to die and yeah
That is something we forget when we elect politicians to run our country. We forget that they're not perfect, and neither are we. We use their flaws against them and think they are unable to run a country with these supposed weaknesses.