temporary
♪♫Paramore Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I used to be so quick, so clever
I used to know myself much better
Anyone can see that this is only permanent
Temporary, it never hurts to try

And it's all a game
I know we'll stay the same
But repetition ends in failure
And every time I see it in your eyes
When repetition ends, we'll start over

Now I'm a walking contradiction
So tell me what's wrong with this picture
Cause anyone can see that this is only permanent
Temporary, so don't hurt me this time

And it's all a game
I know we'll stay the same
But repetition ends in failure
And every time I see it in your eyes
When repetition ends, we'll start over

So give it up, just give up
Give it up, give up
So give it up, just give up
Give it up, give up

And it's all a game
I know we'll stay the same
But repetition ends in failure
And every time I see it in your eyes
When repetition ends, well start over





We'll start over

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Temporary" by Paramore explore the themes of self-discovery, change, and the temporary nature of life. The lead singer, Hayley Williams, sings about how she used to be quick and clever and how she knew herself better in the past. However, she recognizes that everything is only temporary, and it never hurts to try. She also discusses the repercussions of repetition, saying that it ultimately leads to failure.


Williams describes a sense of contradiction within herself, asking what's wrong with the picture. She acknowledges that everything is temporary and pleads for others to not hurt her this time. The repeated phrase "give it up" represents the idea of surrendering to the temporary nature of life and starting over when repetition ends in failure.


Overall, the song reinforces the importance of change and growth, and the idea that nothing in life is permanent.


Line by Line Meaning

I used to be so quick, so clever
I used to possess a sharp mind and excellent skills


I used to know myself much better
I had a clear understanding of who I am


Anyone can see that this is only permanent
It's obvious that this situation is not permanent, but temporary


Temporary, it never hurts to try
Even though this situation is temporary, it's always worth taking a chance


And it's all a game
Life is like a game


I know we'll stay the same
I'm aware that we won't change


But repetition ends in failure
Repeated actions without change ultimately lead to failure


And every time I see it in your eyes
Every time I notice it in your expression


When repetition ends, we'll start over
Once we stop repeating our mistakes, we can start fresh


Now I'm a walking contradiction
I now behave in ways that contradict who I used to be


So tell me what's wrong with this picture
Please point out what's not right in this situation


Temporary, so don't hurt me this time
This is only a temporary situation, so please don't cause me harm


So give it up, just give up
Let it go, surrender


And every time I see it in your eyes
Whenever I perceive it in your gaze


When repetition ends, well start over
Once we break the cycle, we can begin anew




Contributed by Aria O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions