Paranoid Freak

Album: No Time for Later (2008)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The Trews lead singer Colin MacDonald refers to this as a "funny/scary song." It was inspired by signs he saw when the band was touring America in 2007 that warned of terrorist activity and asked, "If You See Something Say Something."

    "It's about that culture of fear and paranoia that was really prevalent in the mid-'00s," he told Songfacts. Everybody was terrified. It's still a relevant song because there's still that going on."
  • There is more than a touch of irony in this song, which is sung from the perspective of an "overly caffeinated, watchdog, conspiracy theorist kind of person." The work of Randy Newman was an inspiration for the lyric.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Supertramp founder Roger Hodgson

Supertramp founder Roger HodgsonSongwriter Interviews

Roger tells the stories behind some of his biggest hits, including "Give a Little Bit," "Take the Long Way Home" and "The Logical Song."

Yacht Rock!

Yacht Rock!Song Writing

A scholarly analysis of yacht rock favorites ("Steal Away," "Baker Street"...) with a member of the leading YR cover band.

Creedence Clearwater Revival

Creedence Clearwater RevivalFact or Fiction

Is "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" about Vietnam? Was John Fogerty really born on a Bayou? It's the CCR edition of Fact or Fiction.

Randy Newman

Randy NewmanSongwriting Legends

Newman makes it look easy these days, but in this 1974 interview, he reveals the paranoia and pressures that made him yearn for his old 9-5 job.

Famous Singers' First Films

Famous Singers' First FilmsSong Writing

A look at the good (Diana Ross, Eminem), the bad (Madonna, Bob Dylan) and the peculiar (David Bowie, Michael Jackson) film debuts of superstar singers.

dUg Pinnick of King's X

dUg Pinnick of King's XSongwriter Interviews

dUg dIgs into his King's X metal classics and his many side projects, including the one with Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam.