“Hard Times” describes the depression that lead singer Hayley Williams had in 2016 due to personal issues in the band as well as confronting themes of growing up. She told The New York Times:
"You can run on the fumes of being a teenager for as long as you want, but eventually life hits you real hard."
The playful ‘80s vibe of the song is also contrasted with Hayley’s new look; she dyed her trademark bright hair a dull white as a kind of “blank slate.”
Hard Times
Paramore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is to wake up fine
Tell me that I'm alright
That I ain't gonna die
All that I want
Is a hole in the ground
You can tell me when it's alright
For me to come out
(Hard times) gonna make you wonder why you even try
(Hard times) gonna take you down and laugh when you cry
(These lives) and I still don't know how I even survive
(Hard times)
(Hard times)
And I gotta get to rock bottom
Walking around
With my little rain cloud
Hanging over my head
And it ain't coming down
Where do I go?
Gimme some sort of sign
You hit me with lightning
Maybe I'll come alive
(Hard times) gonna make you wonder why you even try
(Hard times) gonna take you down and laugh when you cry
(These lives) and I still don't know how I even survive
(Hard times)
(Hard times)
And I gotta hit rock bottom
Tell my friends I'm coming down
We'll kick it when I hit the ground
Tell my friends I'm coming down
We'll kick it when I hit the ground
When I hit the ground
When I hit the ground
When I hit the ground
When I hit the ground
(Hard times) gonna make you wonder why you even try
(Hard times) gonna take you down and laugh when you cry
(These lives) and I still don't know how I even survive
(Hard times) (hard times)
(Hard times) (hard times)
(Hard times) gonna make you wonder why you even try
(Hard times) gonna take you down and laugh when you cry
(These lives) and I still don't know how I even survive
(Hard times) (hard times)
(Hard times)
(Hard times)
(Makes you wonder why you even try)
(Makes you wonder why you even try)
(Makes you wonder why you even try)
(Makes you wonder)
(Hard times)
(Still don't know how I even survive)
(Still don't know how I even survive)
(Still don't know how I even survive)
(Still don't know how, I survive)
And I gotta get to rock bottom
The lyrics to Paramore's Hard Times showcase the struggling mindset of an individual who is going through a tough time in their life. The song starts with the lead singer wishing for a painless day and the assurance that they will not perish. The lyrics then talk about how the individual feels like they are walking around with a dark cloud over their head that will not go away. They are in search of a sign to show them the way, hoping to be hit by lightning so that they can come alive.
The chorus of the song expresses how hard times make a person doubt themselves, re-evaluate their efforts, and question their survival. The repetition of the phrase hard times leads to the realization that the only way for the individual to feel better is for them to hit rock bottom. At the end of the song, it shows how the individual is willing to hit rock bottom and rise again, telling friends about the experience so they can join them later.
Overall, the song's message is about how individuals should embrace failure and hit rock bottom so that they can start making progress again. Hard times may make one feel lost, but pushing through the lows and going through the pains is necessary to reach the ultimate goal of feeling, once again, like they're alive.
Line by Line Meaning
All that I want
Is to wake up fine
Tell me that I'm alright
That I ain't gonna die
All that I want
Is a hole in the ground
You can tell me when it's alright
For me to come out
The singer wants to start each day in a good frame of mind, and she needs reassurance that everything will be alright. She also wishes to have a place to hide while she is feeling low and wait to come out when it is safe to do so.
(Hard times) gonna make you wonder why you even try
(Hard times) gonna take you down and laugh when you cry
(These lives) and I still don't know how I even survive
(Hard times)
(Hard times)
And I gotta get to rock bottom
The hard times will make you question your efforts and discourage you from moving on. The difficulties will also break you down and make others joyful when they watch you suffer. Despite surviving so long, the singer has no idea how she managed to do so. She wants to hit rock bottom and come out the other side.
Walking around
With my little rain cloud
Hanging over my head
And it ain't coming down
Where do I go?
Gimme some sort of sign
You hit me with lightning
Maybe I'll come alive
The singer feels melancholy and believes negative thoughts continually cloud her mind, leaving her no peace. She does not know what direction to take and seeks guidance. But, rather than a typical sign like a warning, she wants an electrical shock to bring her back to life.
Tell my friends I'm coming down
We'll kick it when I hit the ground
Tell my friends I'm coming down
We'll kick it when I hit the ground
When I hit the ground
When I hit the ground
When I hit the ground
When I hit the ground
The singer informs her colleagues that she's not doing well and says they'll get together once she's hit her lowest point. She repeats herself, indicating that collapsing could occur at any moment.
(Hard times) gonna make you wonder why you even try
(Hard times) gonna take you down and laugh when you cry
(These lives) and I still don't know how I even survive
(Hard times) (hard times)
(Hard times) (hard times)
The pain of hard times will cause uncertainty about why you keep fighting, and others will take pleasure in your misery. The singer is still perplexed on how she has managed to survive so far, and she repeats the chorus twice more to emphasize that the hard times are ongoing.
(Hard times)
(Makes you wonder why you even try)
(Makes you wonder why you even try)
(Makes you wonder why you even try)
(Makes you wonder)
(Hard times)
(Still don't know how I even survive)
(Still don't know how I even survive)
(Still don't know how I even survive)
(Still don't know how, I survive)
The singer repeats the chorus once again, and this indicates that the hard times still persist. The repetition reinforces the idea that the harsh conditions cause thoughts of doubt and confusion, and the singer still has no idea how she has managed to keep going.
And I gotta get to rock bottom
The singer's focus throughout the song is to move towards rock bottom, as she believes it is the only place she can begin to rebuild her life and gain strength from the experience.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Hayley Nichole Williams, Taylor York
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@stevethea5250
[Intro]
One, two
[Verse 1]
All that I want
Is to wake up fine
Tell me that I'm alright
That I ain't gonna die
All that I want
Is a hole in the ground
You can tell me when it's alright
For me to come out
[Chorus]
Hard times
Gonna make you wonder why you even try
Hard times
Gonna take you down and laugh when you cry
These lives
And I still don't know how I even survive
Hard times, hard times
And I gotta get to rock bottom (Uh)
[Verse 2]
Walking around
With my little rain cloud
Hangin' over my head
And it ain't coming down
Where do I go?
Give me some sort of sign
You hit me with lightning
Maybe I'll come alive
[Chorus]
Hard times
Gonna make you wonder why you even try
Hard times
Gonna take you down and laugh when you cry
These lives
And I still don't know how I even survive
Hard times, hard times
And I gotta hit rock bottom (Uh)
[Bridge]
Tell my friends I'm coming down
We'll kick it when I hit the ground
Tell my friends I'm coming down
We'll kick it when I hit the ground
When I hit the ground
When I hit the ground
When I hit the ground
When I hit the ground
[Chorus]
Hard times
Gonna make you wonder why you even try
Hard times
Gonna take you down and laugh when you cry
These lives
And I still don't know how I even survive
Hard times (Hard times), hard times (Hard times)
Hard times
Gonna make you wonder why you even try
Hard times
Gonna take you down and laugh when you cry
These lives
And I still don't know how I even survive
Hard times (Hard times), hard times
[Outro]
Hard times
Makes you wonder why you even try
Makes you wonder why you even try
Makes you wonder why you even try
Makes you wonder
Hard times
Still don't know how I even survive
Still don't know how I even survive
Still don't know how I even survive
Still don't know how I survive
And I gotta get to rock bottom (Uh)
@alliara289
All that I want
Is to wake up fine
Tell me that I'm alright
That I ain't gonna die
All that I want
Is a hole in the ground
You can tell me when it's alright
For me to come out
gonna make you wonder why you even try
(Hard times) gonna take you down and laugh when you cry
(These lives) and I still don't know how I even survive
(Hard times)
(Hard times)
And I gotta get to rock bottom
Walking around
With my little rain cloud
Hanging over my head
And it ain't coming down
Where do I go?
Gimme some sort of sign
You hit me with lightning
Maybe I'll come alive
gonna make you wonder why you even try
(Hard times) gonna take you down and laugh when you cry
(These lives) and I still don't know how I even survive
(Hard times)
(Hard times)
And I gotta hit rock bottom
Tell my friends I'm coming down
We'll kick it when I hit the ground
Tell my friends I'm coming down
We'll kick it when I hit the ground
When I hit the ground
When I hit the ground
When I hit the ground
When I hit the ground
gonna make you wonder why you even try
(Hard times) gonna take you down and laugh when you cry
(These lives) and I still don't know how I even survive
(Hard times) (hard times)
(Hard times) (hard times)
gonna make you wonder why you even try
(Hard times) gonna take you down and laugh when you cry
(These lives) and I still don't know how I even survive
(Hard times) (hard times)
(Hard times)
And I gotta get to rock bottom
@jessiepaege
I can't stop playing this HELPPP
@jibii
jessiepaege bc it's so good
@chantelcydny6299
AYEEE SAME
@Geraldpuppyshell
same, i actually found this from your snap story xD it's 🔥
@caitlynandemilygranger7405
dude I'm at like 75 plays helpppp! hahahah
@psysya
you're gonna have a hard times to stop listening to this song for sure
@lizziej7723
I love how every single Paramore song has these three qualities
- absolutely slap
- age like a fine cheese
- have a banging music video
@stefantownson7359
Exactly like a beautifully well crafted block a cheese
@mikaasav1193
Me thinking cheese doesn’t age well: 🤨
@vasilikikakara3092
@Mika Asav Cheese ages pretty well under certain conditions. This is why we have different types of cheese