“Perfect” (2003) Simple Plan

Hey dad look at me
Think back and talk to me
Did I grow up according to plan?
And do you think I'm wasting my time doing things I wanna do?
But it hurts when you disapprove all along
And now I try hard to make it

I just want to make you proud
I'm never gonna be good enough for you
I can't pretend that I'm alright
And you can't change me

'Cuz we lost it all
Nothing lasts forever
I'm sorry
I can't be perfect
Now it's just too late and
We can't go back
I'm sorry
I can't be perfect

I try not to think
About the pain I feel inside
Did you know you used to be my hero?
All the days you spent with me
Now seem so far away
And it feels like you don't care anymore

And now I try hard to make it
I just want to make you proud
I'm never gonna be good enough for you
I can't stand another fight….and nothing's alright

'Cuz we lost it all
Nothing lasts forever
I'm sorry
I can't be perfect
Now it's just too late and
We can't go back
I'm sorry
I can't be perfect

Nothing's gonna change the things that you said
Nothing's gonna make this right again
Please don't turn your back
I can't believe it's hard
Just to talk to you
But you don't understand

'Cuz we lost it all
Nothing lasts forever
I'm sorry
I can't be perfect
Now it's just too late and
We can't go back
I'm sorry
I can't be perfect



Have you ever felt pressured to be “perfect”? As if such a thing exists, right? Really it’s just another word like “normal” that was created to give us a baseline, an idea against which to measure ourselves. As long as sin exists in this world, there will never be a “perfect” person.

So why are we so hard on ourselves? On our friends, family, children? Why do we expect so much from others when deep down we know even our best day, we couldn’t live up to that expectation either? I don’t have the answers friends. I don’t think there are any. But maybe we can aim for a solution anyway.

Take a few minutes right now and think about two of your most significant and meaningful relationships; not ones from the past, ones that you’ve lost or let slide, but two that are present and active in your life right now. Can you name them? Now think about your expectations for those two people. Are they realistic? Do they push them to grow, to become better people, to find and live out positive changes? Is there anything about them that might hurt that person, or you?

We aren’t perfect, will never be perfect, and therefore shouldn’t expect anyone else to be perfect. It’s up to each one of us individually to encourage and grow each other. If you’re sitting there thinking “Well other people have unrealistic expectations of me, too,” then push it out of your head. That may be true, but it shouldn’t stop you from changing your own expectations of them; instead, it should make you even more determined to be the one to change. After all, we should be the change we want to see in the world, to lead by example. You’ll be amazed at how many of your loved ones will follow when you start walking the right path.