I got my head but my head is unraveling
Can't keep control can't keep track of where it's traveling
I got my heart but my heart's no good
You're the only one that's understood
I come along but I don't know where you're taking me
I shouldn't go but you reaching back and shaking me
Turn off the sun pull the stars from the sky
The more I give to you the more I die
And I want you
You are the perfect drug the perfect drug
The perfect drug, the perfect drug
You make me hard when I'm all soft inside
I see the truth when I'm all stupid-eyed
The arrow goes straight through my heart
Without you everything just falls apart
My blood just wants to say hello to you
My soul is so afraid to realize
How every little bit is left of me
And I want you
You are the perfect drug the perfect drug the perfect drug
Take me with you
Without you everything just falls apart
It's not as much fun to pick up the pieces



Lyrics submitted by TwiggysFuckDoll, edited by NINja94

Track duration: 05:15

"The Perfect Drug" as written by Chris Alan Vrenna, Charles Clouser, Daniel Patrick Lohner, Trent Reznor

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


The Perfect Drug song meanings
Add your thoughts

158 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    Song Meaning:This song is, at its core, a very tragic song about addiction in all its forms.
    The depersonalization that occurs when someone is addicted to a person or drugs is thrown about a lot.. The line "my blood wants to say hello to you" is actually the most telling as he is literally referring to drugs being absorbed into the bloodstream. Specifically Trent is referring to actual drugs, as he was once himself an addict, but he does draw parallels between romantic relationships and addictive personalities in general. The loss of identity and the inability to cope with everyday life when the drug/person is absent are common themes as well. I can see why Trent does not like this song anymore. Its a grim reminder of his addictive personality: something that all us addicts have trouble confronting. It feels very shameful to admit that you were too weak to let go
    Flag MCReedon February 12, 2013   Link
  • 0
    Lyric Correction:It's not "reaching back and shaking me." The correct lyrics are "I shouldn't go but you're wrenching, dragging, shaking me."
    Flag truthbringeron October 24, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song, to me, makes me think of my boyfriend... he's my everything and I'm addicted to him.... he's my perfect drug.
    Flag Luna666on June 01, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:the song is about when someone starts to realize that there substance abuse is becoming a problem, the first half is when its starting to become a problem, when the drum/synth solo starts it symbolizes staying out at clubs or anywhere and the fast pacing of the effects of the substance and the type of music at raves, when that finishes the song becomes a different tempo and is when the person has accepted his addiction, "its not as much fun to pick up the pieces''
    Flag mrselfdestruct94on May 27, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Such an incredible song. He's released several remixes - 2 of which are simply mind blowing.

    By the way absinthe is no longer illegal in the US. I have a bottle. You either better like licorice or have a chaser ready to drown out the licorice taste. But it's definitely not like regular alcohol.
    Flag Systemicon March 08, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:IT'S ABOUT BEING IN LOVE WITH SOMEONE SO MUCH, YOU'RE ALSO SCARED OF LOSING THEM.
    Flag dark_eyez_666on January 03, 2012   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:this song could be about one of two things really. first you've got the literal translation of it actually being about a drug/substance,i.e; "You make me hard when I'm all soft inside", when someone is addicted to any form of substance it can have the effect of making them feel more empowered/stronger or even 'hard inside'.

    second you've got the symbolic meaning of the 'drug' in this case being a woman, i.e; the same quote but put into the context of being in love or having been in love, "You make me hard when I'm all soft inside", you make me feel stronger when I'm feeling weak inside,you give me strength, and "I see the truth when I'm all stupid eyed", someone who is love struck or infatuated with someone else sees the truth when they're in the middle of it.

    or there could be a third meaning, of a substance problem coming between the couple, "Without you everything falls apart, Without you, it's not as much fun to pick up the pieces...", with out his object of affecion there, it's not as much trying to piece his life back together after having the issues with the substance.

    now, the child in the video could possibly represent the child like innocence one seems to lose while using/after having a substance problem. the person using is often left with no naivety about them, hence "I got my heart but my heart is no good", he'e become colder.

    all in all, it's a pretty great song and it really is open to the listeners interpretation, just thought I'd throw my two cents worth in.

    Flag vermiciousxxxon June 10, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is about Heroin. I belive trent became a heroin addict after the downward spiral was released and thats why he went into a kind of anti social hiding for a while. Heroin is the perfect drug for a user of it and with out everything does fall apart. Trent kept using heroin until sometime after the fragile release when he OD'd in london.
    Flag Scottyccon May 11, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This is about God/Jesus/The Gospel and about a girl.
    Flagged upfromtheasheson December 10, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song to me means the end of a relationship and a person wanting them back unable to get them back and is being depress

    also to forgottenlanguage go fuck yourself the thing about songs is they can mean many things from love to power to money to drugs anything just cause one person doesnt see it the way you do doesnt mean they are untrue to a band and this is one the reasons the worlds in such a bind people cant just accept other views without critisizing them so fuck all the biggots worlds better off without em
    Flag raptrason October 21, 2010   Link

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!

Back to top
explain