Ethnography - Paramore

I looked at Paramore's I Caught Myself since Anit referred to the song in our interview. He suggested that Paramore might be a more introverted band, that deals with personal issues of the self rather than simply instances and events in time that caused certain responses. The lyrics seem to suggest it is about turmoil, but it could be interpreted as a battle with the self over what the singer is thinking, wanting to say, and knowing what she wants. It could also be external - dealing with a friend, parent, lover, etc.

I Caught Myself :
Down to you
You're pushing and pulling me
Down to you
But I don't know what I

Now when I caught myself
I had to stop myself
From saying something that
I should have never thought

Now when I caught myself
I had to stop myself
From saying something that
I should have never thought

Of you, of you
You're pushing and pulling me
Down to you
But I don't know what I want
No, I don't know what I want

You got it, You got it
Some kind of magic
Hypnotic, Hypnotic
You're leaving me breathless
I hate this, I hate this
You're not the one I believe in
When God is my witness

Now when I caught myself
I had to stop myself
From saying something that
I should have never thought

Now when I caught myself
I had to stop myself
From saying something that
I should have never thought

Of you, of you
You're pushing and pulling me
Down to you
But I don't know what I want
No, I don't know what I want

Don't know what I want
But I know it's not you
Keep pushing and pulling me down
When I know in my heart it's not you

Now when I caught myself
I had to stop myself
From saying something that
I should have never thought

Now when I caught myself
I had to stop myself
From saying something that
I should have never thought

Of you, I knew
I know in my heart it's not you
I knew
But now I know what I want
I want
I want
Oh no, I should have never thought

Hayley Williams wrote the song Emergency about relationships and love, but it was based on her parents divorce:
"I remember actually walking out the door with my mom that night and standing in between my parents and screaming, 'Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" she recalls, adding that songs like "Emergency" from the band's first album were inspired by her parents' disintegrating relationship.” (http://altpress.com/features/168.htm)

It is interesting to find that her song about rocky relationships is external to her and is more observant about relationships and love in others.

Emergency :
I think we have an emergency
I think we have an emergency
If you thought I'd breathe then you were wrong
Because I won't stop holding on
So are you listening?
So are you watching me?
If you thought I'd breathe then you were wrong
Because I won't stop holding on
This is an emergency
So are you listening?
And I can't pretend that I don't see this
It's really not your fault

Chorus:
And no one cares to talk about it
To talk about it
Cause' I've seen love die way too many times
When it deserved to be alive
I've seen you cry way too many times
When you deserved to be alive
Alive...

So give up every chance you get
Just to feel new again
I think we have an emergency
I think we have an emergency
And you do your best to show me love
But you don't know what love is
So are you listening?
So are you watching me?
Well I can't pretend that I don't see this
It's really not your fault

And no one cares to talk about it
To talk about it
Cause' I've seen love die way too many times
When it deserved to be alive
I've seen you cry way too many times
When you deserved to be alive
Alive...

The scars they will not fade away

And no one cares to talk about it
To talk about it
Cause' I've seen love die way too many times
When it deserved to be alive
I've seen you cry way too many times
When you deserved to be alive
Alive...
Alive...

Hayley’s Live Journal article explaining the origins of Misery Business: http://paramoreband.livejournal.com/31376.html

Misery Business, as Anit pointed out, is a great example from a female fronted band about fighting over someone of the opposite gender. The girl wants to steal a boy back and has no qualms about the other girl. She's in the business of misery and thinks the other girl is acting like a whore, abusing the boy she will actually care for and make happy. It is different in that, rather than feeling backstabbed and dwelling on her pain, as in Brand New's Seventy Times 7, she takes action and sings about her triumph.

Misery Business:
I'm in the business of misery,
Let's take it from the top.
She's got a body like an hourglass that's ticking like a clock.
It's a matter of time before we all run out,
When I thought he was mine she caught him by the mouth.

I waited eight long months,
She finally set him free.
I told him I can't lie he was the only one for me.
Two weeks and we had caught on fire,
She's got it out for me,
But I wear the biggest smile.

[Chorus:]
Whoa, I never meant to brag
But, I got him where I want him now.
Whoa, it was never my intention to brag
To steal it all away from you now.
But god does it feel so good,
Cause I got him where I want him now.
And if you could then you know you would.

Cause god it just feels so...
It just feels so good.

Second chances they don't ever matter, people never change.
Once a whore you're nothing more, I'm sorry, that'll never change.
And about forgiveness, we're both supposed to have exchanged.
I'm sorry honey, but I'm passing up, now look this way.
Well there's a million other girls who do it just like you.
Looking as innocent as possible to get to who,
They want and what they like it's easy if you do it right.
Well I refuse, I refuse, I refuse!

Whoa, I never meant to brag
But, I got him where I want him now.
Whoa, it was never my intention to brag
To steal it all away from you now.
But god does it feel so good,
Cause I got him where I want him right now.
And if you could then you know you would.

Cause god it just feels so...
It just feels so good.

I watched his wildest dreams come true
Not one of them involving you
Just watch my wildest dreams come true
Not one of them involving.

Whoa, I never meant to brag, but I got him where I want him now.

Whoa, I never meant to brag
But, I got him where I want him now.
Whoa, it was never my intention to brag
To steal it all away from you now.
But god does it feel so good,
Cause I got him where I want him now.
And if you could then you know you would.

Cause god it just feels so...
It just feels so good.