Paramore – Playing God

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  General Comment:I believe Haley is suffering from a superiority complex (i.e. narcissism), which I find highly interesting. You see it in the fact that both Farro brothers have now left the band and going to Paramore concerts at this point feels like going to a sports game (brought to you by [insert corporate sponsor here]) Very disappointing, a band can't sell out any more than this. She's accusing people in this song of "playing God", but it's truly a baseless claim since she, herself, is God (in her mind). So much for Christianity...that tattoo should be burning painfully at this point. The line "you say I've been changing, that I'm not simply aging" is particularly damning: it was almost certainly the Farro brothers that pointed this out to her, and instead of acknowledging it she says they're "cramming ideas down her throat". No, honey: pointing out your own weaknesses can never be called "cramming" Hopefully her bandmates will remain with her as Paramore dwindles into obscurity (which has already begun).

  Flagged bernlin2000on January 17, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:Catchy beat. Ambiguous lyrics. I'm going to discuss it on my blog. themeaningsofsongs.wordpress.com if anyone wants further discussion :)

  Flag musicalgenius1on December 02, 2011   Link

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  General Comment:I think the song is about her being unsure of truth. She is constantly being bombarded by other people's opinions and cannot think. She is not being given a chance to have a logical opinion of her own. Moreso, she seems to be venting about some experience, a fight maybe, where she had to let another person know that she was entitled to her own views regardless of what theirs was. She is basically saying she can think too. And in Hayley's words (lol), that's just my humble opinion.

  Flag musicalgenius1on December 02, 2011   Link

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  General Comment:Good band. Good tune. Perfect for tonight when some skinny arsed dude has been attempting to keep me in line. The only problem is slavery ended long ago!

  Flag TurnMeOnon November 07, 2011   Link

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    Sorry, but I'm a scrapper. Have always been since growing up on a street with ALL boys who used to attempt to beat me up every time I ran my big mouth or demanded equality....trust me, it was often ;)

    Flag TurnMeOnon November 07, 2011  

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    Relate to my big mouth...I make no apologizes, but I do need to sign off because I feel the anger growing...

    Flag TurnMeOnon November 07, 2011  
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  General Comment:Im pretty sure this song is about her not knowing what to do when she has someone who is trying to tell her, saying that sh'es something she's not ( next time you point a finger, i'll point you to a mirror)
  
  It's really a good song with a good beat :)

  Flag paigerjason February 28, 2011   Link

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  General Comment:Hayley's insight into this song: "I'm ripping at self-righteous people, ripping at my own bandmates and anyone who ever made me feel not good enough.", "If you point the finger, I might have to bend it back and break it off' is about people who place blame and how they should look at themselves first. It's something I've dealt with since I was young"
  
  having high self-esteem (but psychs diagnose it as narcissism) of my character and integrity, i can definitely relate to this. nobody is perfect, everyone has room for improvement. HOWEVER, those that are broken and in denial about it, that's another story.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  Flag gradxon February 23, 2011   Link

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  General Comment:To me Playing God is simply about people using god and not realising how important god is, i think personaly hayley probably felt that people were taking advantage of her and god. 'Next time you point the finger, i'll point you to the mirror' i think that's hayley saying that no ones perfect and look at yourself before you judge me :)

  Flag PaRaMoReMaDon February 10, 2011   Link

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• +1
  General Comment:Specifically it seems to address a tendency on the part of people who identify as religious to use their religion to justify their own opinions and actions - in extreme cases, "It's what God would want" (meaning "It's what I want") or "The Bible/Torah/Koran says so" (meaning "That's how I interpret it").
  
  I'm not saying for definite one way or the other, but it does seem like a very pointed swipe at an ex-partner who used religion to try to get their own way.

  Flag turricanedon January 18, 2011   Link

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  General Comment:You all see? its about Josh! Hayley said that in the mtv Paramore Last word interview

  Flag Vickyyon January 07, 2011   Link

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  Song Meaning:Quote directly from Josh Farro on his blog...
  
  "Listening to playing god makes me mad because the lyrics are so hurtful and unnecessary."
  
  joshnfarro.blogspot.com/2010/12/…
  
  So, it's about Josh.

  Flag SportsByDallason December 26, 2010   Link

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    Its not about Josh. It was a song written about the entire band, and how they all have faith, but all of their personalities were clashing at the time, and Hayley felt isolated, and how she felt that all of the band members were being hypocritical. "next time you point a finger I'll point you to the mirror"
    
    Josh was angry at Hayley, Jeremy and Taylor at the time so I guess he interpreted it wrong, and just took it to mean him

    Flag heathermcnabon October 12, 2011  

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