[Verse] She’s got a chrome-trim kitchen and a polka-dot smile, Sets the table just so in suburban style, Roast in the oven, wave at the door, Lipstick perfect on a linoleum floor. [Pre-Chorus] But the curtains twitch when the sun goes down, Phone rings twice on the edge of town, Perfume that isn’t hers in the hall, A shadow lingering on the wall. [Chorus] It’s a perfect life on a perfect street, With a perfect smile and a skipped heartbeat, Wave to the neighbours, neat and tight, Everything’s perfect every night. [Hook] Perfect life, perfect line, Hang it out on the washing line. [Instrumental: Bright slapback solo with fast descending licks, upright bass slapping, brushed snare shuffle tightening] [Verse] Kids slam doors, they shout and run, Muddy footprints, undone, Cat leaves gifts on the mat, She scrubs and sighs and deals with that. [Pre-Chorus] Whispers hum like a neon sign, About who steps over the parish line, They gather close when someone slips, Folded arms and tightened lips. [Chorus] It’s a perfect life in a perfect frame, Where everyone knows every name, Stand in the circle, don’t ask why, Smile real sweet and testify. [Refrain] Keep it clean, keep it bright, Don’t let them see you out of line. [Instrumental: Shuffle straightens into four-on-the-floor, upright bass fades to deep sub-bass, distorted synth arpeggio rising beneath twang] [Verse] Meeting down in the town square, Trading glances, trading prayers, If someone’s different, someone strays, There are rules about the proper ways. [Pre-Chorus] Light a candle, raise your hand, Do exactly what they demand, Fire’s warm when you’re inside, Colder on the other side. [Chorus] It’s a perfect life, don’t fall behind, Keep your doubts out of mind, March in step, keep time, keep face, No room here for out-of-place. [Hook] Perfect street, perfect flame, Nobody’s ever the one to blame. [Instrumental: Beat drops half-time, synth growl under tremolo-picked minor riff, kick growing heavier and darker] [Bridge] Lipstick cracks but the smile remains, Thunder humming in tidy lanes, Silver fences, sharpened stares, Sunday bells and folding chairs. [Refrain] Keep it clean, keep it bright, Stand together, wrong or right. [Instrumental: Double kick driving hard, distorted guitars chug in minor key, synth wall swelling to full intensity] [Chorus] It’s a perfect life, so they agree, Under lock and under key, Wave and smile, don’t question why, Ash falls soft from a spotless sky. [Big Finish] Perfect life. Perfect street. Perfect silence in the heat.

Perfect Life