Paramore, as a quartet, released their debut studio album, All We Know Is Falling, in 2005. The band rose to prominence in 2007 after the release of the hit single Misery Business from their second studio album Riot!. Crushcrushcrush and That's What You Get were released as the following singles experiencing commercial success. The band was nominated for "Best New Artist" at the 2008 Grammy Awards. The band announced the official line-up addition of Taylor York in June 2009 prior to the release of Brand New Eyes due later the same year. Josh Farro (guitar) and his brother Zac Farro left the band the following year, resulting in Paramore to continue as a trio.
From 2013 to 2014, Paramore released several singles from the self-titled album, including the singles Still Into You and Ain't It Fun. The latter became the band's highest-peaking single as well as their first Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and earned the band their first Grammy award for "Best Rock Song" the following year. At the end of 2015, it was reported Jeremy Davis (bass guitar) left the band.
In 2017, Zac Farro officially rejoined the band, prior to the release of their fifth studio album, "After Laughter".
Love Is Not A Competition
Paramore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To disappoint you anymore
And I know I've said all this
So that you heard it all before
The trick is getting you to think
That all this was your idea
And that this is everything
Love's not a competition
But I'm winning
I'm not sure
What's truly altruistic anymore
'Cause every good thing that I do is listed
And you're keeping score
Love's not a competition
But I'm winning
Love's not a competition
But I'm winning
Or at least I thought I was
But there's no way of knowing
At least I thought I was
But there's no way of knowing
You know what it's like
When you're new to the game
But I'm not
Well, I won't be the one
To disappoint you
Well, I won't be the one
To disappoint you anymore
Well, I won't be the one
To disappoint you anymore
(Love's not a competition but I'm winning)
Well, I won't be the one
To disappoint you anymore
(Love's not a competition but I'm winning)
I won't be the one
To disappoint you anymore
The first line of the lyric, "Well, I won't be the one to disappoint you anymore," is a declaration of the singer's determination to please their partner, perhaps after a prior experience of letting them down. They acknowledge that they have made similar promises before, but it hasn't made a difference. Then, the following lines reveal that the singer is attempting to manipulate their partner by making it feel like it was their idea, and that everything they want is here. The singer is aware of their partner's reception of the romantic gesture and considers it wrong to keep score of their activities.
In the chorus, the singer repeats the line "Love's not a competition, but I'm winning." It suggests that they feel as though they are leading ahead of their partner in the game of love. However, in the following line, they admit to being uncertain of what is genuinely selfless anymore, implying that their efforts may not be wholly rooted in love but rather in winning the relationship marathon.
The final lines of the song imply a change in perspective for the singer. They admit that they are not new to the relationship game, and the line is a subtle hint to a potential lover from the past. They conclude by saying that they will not be the one to disappoint their lover anymore, but it is unclear if they succeed in their quest for the partner's happiness. The song addresses the complexities and challenges of modern-day relationships while exploring the idea of competition and manipulation.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I won't be the one
I will not be the cause of your dissatisfaction anymore.
To disappoint you anymore
I won't do anything that will displease you from now on.
And I know I've said all this
I have talked about this before.
So that you heard it all before
Just so you know, I've mentioned this to you previously.
The trick is getting you to think
The point is to make you believe something.
That all this was your idea
To make you think that this was your plan or decision.
And that this is everything
To make you believe that this is all you desire.
You ever wanted, out of here
This is everything that you want in life right now and you don't go away from it.
Love's not a competition
Being in love is not a competition.
But I'm winning
But I am currently ahead.
I'm not sure
I am uncertain.
What's truly altruistic anymore
It is difficult to discern what is genuinely selfless.
'Cause every good thing that I do is listed
Every positive action I take is being documented.
And you're keeping score
And you're keeping track of everything I do.
Or at least I thought I was
I used to think I was doing well.
But there's no way of knowing
But there is no way to be certain.
You know what it's like
You understand what I'm going through.
When you're new to the game
When you're inexperienced.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDREW ROBERT WHITE, CHARLES RICHARD WILSON, JAMES RIX, NICHOLAS BAINES, NICHOLAS HODGSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind