I'm Still Breathing

"I'm Still Breathing" is a song written by Katy Perry and David Stewart for Perry's album, fingerprints

Writing and inspiration[]

Katy Perry recorded the song in London, England. She worked with David Stewart, who is said to excel at penning songs with a melancholy atmosphere. He uses "I'm Still Breathing" as an example in an interview with Songfacts.com. He said "If you go to Katy Perry's album, the one really sad and melancholy song on it is 'I'm Still Breathing.' It's talking about a relationship, but it's putting it into a strange context. It has lines like, 'I'm still breathing, but we've been dead for a while.' You know, 'I think we're losing grip, let's abandon ship,' and all that kind of funny imagery mixed together."

This song is about an ex-boyfriend who is also the subject in "Thinking of You".

Live performances[]

The song was performed in select shows on the Hello Katy Tour.

Lyrics[]

I leave the gas on
Walk the allies in the dark
Sleep with candles burning
I leave the door unlocked
I'm weaving a rope and
Running all the red lights
Did I get your attention
'Cause I'm sending
All the signs that

The clock is ticking
And I'll be giving my two weeks
Pick your favorite shade of black
You'd best prepare a speech
Say something funny
Say something sweet
But don't say that you loved me

(Chorus)
I'm still breathing
But we've been dead for awhile
This sickness has no cure
We're going down for sure
Already lost our grip
Best abandon ship...

Maybe I was too pale
Maybe I was too fat
Maybe you had better
Better luck in the sack
No formal education
And I swore way too much
But I swear you didn't care
'Cause we were in love

So as I write this letter
And she'd my last tear
Know it's all for the better
That we end this here
Let's close this chapter
Say one last prayer
But don't say that you loved me

(Chorus)
I'm still breathing
But we've been dead for awhile
This sickness has no cure
We're going down for sure
Oh we've been diagnosed
So let's give up the ghost

'Cause I'm still breathing
But we've been dead for a while
This sickness has no cure
We're going down for sure
Already lost our grip
Best abandon ship

Oh I'm still breathing
Oh I'm still breathing

Credits[]

Personnel

Piano — Katy Perry
Programming — Ned Douglas
Additional programming — Jeff Bova
Guitar and all other instruments — Dave Stewart
Recorded — Ned Douglas at Unstable Studios, Guillham's Farm Haslemere (Surrey UK) and Bill Malina at Aerowave Studio (Encino, CA)
Aerowave coordinator — Stephanie Kubaik
Mixed — Joe Zook at Aus Studios (Studio City, CA)

Publishing