Hard Times

Album: After Laughter (2017)
Charted: 34 90
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The lead single from After Laughter was not only Paramore's first new music since 2013's self-titled release, but also marked their first recording with original drummer Zac Farro in nearly seven years.
  • The song's lyrical content describes the "deep depression" that hang over lead singer Hayley Williams during the writing and recording process for After Laughter, stemming from relationship issues both personal and professional. This related in part to bassist Jeremy Davis leaving the band in December 2015 and his ensuing legal battle with Paramore over his eligibility to enjoy the benefits of a business partnership with Williams as a co-owner of the band.

    All that I want is a hole in the ground
    You can tell me when it's all right for me to come out


    "You can run on the fumes of being a teenager for as long as you want, but eventually life hits you really hard," Williams told The New York Times regarding the tumultuous period since Paramore last released an album. "I didn't even know if we were going to make another record. There was a moment when I didn't even want it to happen. Then it was like, I want it to happen, but I don't know how we're going to do it."
  • The '80s-influenced candy-colored video was directed by Andrew Joffe alongside his cousin Matt. It features Hayley Williams singing and dancing on a set decorated with trees and tiny thunderclouds, and slipping in and out of a colorful hand-drawn world.

    "Paramore are super-creative people, and they had it in their mind in the brief they gave us that they wanted to embody some kind of '80s vibe, but not do a total throwback video," Andrew Joffe told Billboard magazine "They sent us a bunch of good references - INXS videos, definitely A-Ha's 'Take On Me' and Peter Gabriel's 'Sledgehammer.' So we looked to the greats and said, 'How do we do something like this and not riff too hard?'"
  • The establishing shot shows Hayley Williams crashing a car and emerging on the technicolor set. "In the opening shot I just wanted to figure out a way to bring the audience into this dream world and use a lot of the visuals to represent different elements of Hayley's psyche in the song," Joffe explained. "I wanted to visualize some of the [lyrical] elements, specifically where she talks about having a rain cloud over her head... we didn't want to be afraid to be too literal."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Rush: Album by Album - A Conversation With Martin Popoff

Rush: Album by Album - A Conversation With Martin PopoffSong Writing

A talk with Martin Popoff about his latest book on Rush and how he assessed the thousands of albums he reviewed.

Dave Alvin - "4th Of July"

Dave Alvin - "4th Of July"They're Playing My Song

When Dave recorded the first version of the song with his group the Blasters, producer Nick Lowe gave him some life-changing advice.

Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues

Justin Hayward of The Moody BluesSongwriter Interviews

Justin wrote the classic "Nights In White Satin," but his fondest musical memories are from a different decade.

Artis the Spoonman

Artis the SpoonmanSong Writing

Even before Soundgarden wrote a song about him, Artis was the most famous spoon player of all time. So why has he always been broke?

Phil Hurtt ("I'll Be Around")

Phil Hurtt ("I'll Be Around")Songwriter Interviews

Phil was a songwriter, producer and voice behind many Philadelphia soul classics. When disco hit, he got an interesting project: The Village People.

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in Songs

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in SongsSong Writing

Elvis, Little Richard and Cheryl Cole have all sung about Teddy Bears, but there is also a terrifying Teddy song from 1932 and a touching trucker Teddy tune from 1976.