Kyle Riabko (born September 29, 1987) is a pop singer and guitarist who was… Read Full Bio ↴Kyle Riabko (born September 29, 1987) is a pop singer and guitarist who was born in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.

He has been performing since the age of 10 and began his music career during his junior year of high school when he toured with John Mayer, Buddy Guy, and Jason Mraz, among others. He was signed to Aware/Columbia Records in 2003.

His full-length album, "Before I Speak", was released April 19, 2005, just a few months before his high school graduation.

More recently, Kyle released the album "The Parkdale Sessions".

Kyle also is an "honorary member" of Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers.

He recently played Melchior in the National Tour of Spring Awakening. He joins the touring cast after his Broadway debut for the same role.

He will soon be seen playing Claude in the revival of Hair on Broadway.

Paranoid
Kyle Riabko Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

It takes me an hour
To finish a shower
My mornings are long
I know, it's freaky baby

And when I am speaking
My stomach is leaping
I'm scared of myself

You probably think I'm crazy

Frantic
Shifty eyes
Worried mind
It's a problem

I'm paranoid
Paranoid
My life is a twister
So bear with me sister
I'm paranoid

I keep myself busy
But my mind is so dizzy
I feel like the world is counting on me baby

Must be in regression
You think I'd learn my lesson

But more manic depression
Controls me

Overall Meaning

The song "Paranoid" by Kyle Riabko is a powerful exposition on anxiety and mental health. The opening lines of the song, "It takes me an hour, to finish a shower, my mornings are long," drive home the slow-moving, paralyzing effect that anxiety can have on a person's daily routine. The singer is self-aware of their condition as they confess, "I know, it's freaky baby", conveying the fear and the stigma that people with anxiety feel when sharing their struggles with others. The second verse highlights the physical impact of anxiety, as the singer's stomach is "leaping" every time they speak, illustrating the unease they feel in social situations. This leads them to believe that others might think they are crazy, adding another layer of insecurity to their already fraught state of mind.

The chorus of the song is where the title comes into play: "I'm paranoid, paranoid / My life is a twister / So bear with me sister / I'm paranoid". The repetition of the word "paranoid" reinforces the persistent and ingrained nature of anxiety, while the plea for understanding from a sister-like figure in the singer's life is a poignant cry for help. The song culminates in the bridge, where the singer acknowledges the cyclic nature of their condition, with "Must be in regression / You think I'd learn my lesson / But more manic depression / Controls me." This line conjures up the ebb and flow of anxiety, and the uphill battle one must face in order to stay ahead of it.

Line by Line Meaning

It takes me an hour
I take an hour to finish a shower, I am slow and anxious.

To finish a shower
I have a difficult time completing even simple tasks.

My mornings are long
I have a lot of anxiety in the morning.

I know, it's freaky baby
I am aware of my strange behavior.

And when I am speaking
I get nervous when talking to people.

My stomach is leaping
I have physical symptoms of anxiety when speaking.

I'm scared of myself
I am afraid of my own thoughts and behavior.

You probably think I'm crazy
I am worried that people think I am insane.

Frantic
I am frantic and not calm.

Shifty eyes
I am anxious and can't seem to focus.

Worried mind
I constantly worry and can't get a break from it.