Lou Reed - Perfect Day
Hello! Below you'll find my "Perfect Day" chords & lyrics chart as well as a tutorial video on how to play the piano accompaniment.
This song by Lou Reed is a stunning piece of songwriting, full of hope and devastation at the same time. It's based around a simple chord progression, though there are lots of little optional details that I go into in the video.
Enjoy!
Perfect Day Piano Tutorial
Here's a piano tutorial video for Perfect Day:
Perfect Day Chords & Lyrics
[Intro]
| F | Bbm | F | Bbm |
| F | Bbm | F | Bbm |
[Verse]
Bbm Eb
Just a perfect day
Ab Db
Drink Sangria in the park
Gb Ebm7 F
And then later, when it gets dark we go home
Bbm Eb
Just a perfect day
Ab Db
Feed animals in the zoo
Gb Ebm F
Then later, a movie, too, and then home
Bbm Eb
Just a perfect day
Ab Db
Drink Sangria in the park
Gb Ebm7 F
And then later, when it gets dark we go home
Bbm Eb
Just a perfect day
Ab Db
Feed animals in the zoo
Gb Ebm F
Then later, a movie, too, and then home
[Chorus]
Bb Eb
Oh it's such a perfect day
Dm Eb (Eb D C)
I'm glad I spent it with you
Bb F
Oh such a perfect day
Gm F Eb
You just keep me hanging on
Gm F Eb
You just keep me hanging on
Bb Eb
Oh it's such a perfect day
Dm Eb (Eb D C)
I'm glad I spent it with you
Bb F
Oh such a perfect day
Gm F Eb
You just keep me hanging on
Gm F Eb
You just keep me hanging on
[Verse]
Bbm Eb
Just a perfect day
Ab Db
Problems all left alone
Gb Ebm7 F
Weekenders on our own, it's such fun
Bbm Eb
Just a perfect day
Ab Db
Problems all left alone
Gb Ebm7 F
Weekenders on our own, it's such fun
Bbm Eb
Just a perfect day
Ab Db
You made me forget myself
Gb Ebm7 F
I thought I was someone else, someone good
Just a perfect day
Ab Db
You made me forget myself
Gb Ebm7 F
I thought I was someone else, someone good
[Chorus]
Bb Eb
Oh it's such a perfect day
Dm Eb (Eb D C)
I'm glad I spent it with you
Bb F
Oh such a perfect day
Gm F Eb
You just keep me hanging on
Gm F Eb
You just keep me hanging on
Bb Eb
Oh it's such a perfect day
Dm Eb (Eb D C)
I'm glad I spent it with you
Bb F
Oh such a perfect day
Gm F Eb
You just keep me hanging on
Gm F Eb
You just keep me hanging on
[Instrumental]
| Gm F | Eb | x3
| Gm F | Eb | x3
[Outro]
Dm/A Ab Eb (Eb D C) Bb
You're going to reap just what you sow
Dm/A Ab Eb (Eb D C) Bb
You're going to reap just what you sow
Dm/A Ab Eb (Eb D C) Bb
You're going to reap just what you sow
Dm/A Ab Eb (Eb D C) Bb
You're going to reap just what you sow
Dm/A Ab Eb (Eb D C) Bb
You're going to reap just what you sow
Dm/A Ab Eb (Eb D C) Bb
You're going to reap just what you sow
Dm/A Ab Eb (Eb D C) Bb
You're going to reap just what you sow
Dm/A Ab Eb (Eb D C) Bb
You're going to reap just what you sow
| Dm/A | Ab | Eb (Eb D C) | Bb | X2
This document is the author's own work and represents his interpretation of this song. It's intended solely for private study, scholarship or research.
This chord chart is here only to support online learning. We recommend buying official transcripts from a licensed and reputable publisher.
Perfect Day Piano Tips
1. Take It Slow: It's counterintuitive, but the quickest way to get comfortable and sound great playing a song is to practice it very slowly at first. Steady rhythm and counting are crucial to sounding like a pro, so let yourself get used to feeling the beat at a slow, easy tempo. Once you can nail "Perfect Day" slowly, *gradually* speed it up. You'll sound much better than if you jumped in at full speed!
2. Use The Pedal Wisely: Utilize the sustain pedal to connect the chords smoothly, timing your lifts with the arrival of a new chord. For help with sustain pedal timing, check out this video.
3. Simplify if need be: "Perfect Day" still sounds great even if you simply hold out the chords and ignore most of the rhythm patterns and extra details in the tutorial video. Feel free to keep it simple, especially if you sing while playing. As you get comfortable, you can always add the fancy stuff later.
