Released: 2023From the Grammy award winning album, “Running Out Of Time” by Paramore strikes a chord with the chronic procrastinators and the forever busy, delving into the relatable struggle of never having enough time to do everything you intend to. At its core, the song is an introspective confession about the gap between intentions and actions, coupled with the self-awareness of one’s failings and shortcomings.
From the get-go, the song presents a litany of unfulfilled commitments and good intentions that never come to fruition. The opening lines about delivering flowers to a neighbor serves as a metaphor for the small acts of kindness we plan to do, but often fall to the wayside due to our perceived lack of time. It’s that classic human dilemma of yearning to connect and do more, but being caught in the hamster wheel of everyday life.
As we dive into the chorus, there’s a heavy dose of self-reflection with Paramore’s lead singer Hayley Williams considering the possibility that maybe, just maybe, it’s not just about running out of time, but also about being inherently flawed. “What if I’m just a selfish prick?” she asks, cutting right to the quick with a raw self-assessment that maybe the problem isn’t external but internal—maybe it’s not about time management but about prioritizing oneself over others.
With each confessional verse, the band taps into the universal excuses we all know too well. The snoozed alarms, the spilled coffee, the exaggerated explanations that we hope will cover up our tardiness. There’s a playful acknowledgment of the lies we tell ourselves and others to mask our inability to keep up, like the humorously desperate “There was a fire! (metaphorically)” and the promise to “Be there in five! (hyperbolically).”
It’s not all a hopeless admission, though, as the song reaches a point of self-awareness with the line “My watch is just for decoration.” It’s an ironic nod to the insignificance we sometimes place on time until we realize we have none left. But then, a glimmer of hope, as Williams sings, “Look I showed up early for once.” It’s a subtle reminder that change is possible, and old habits can be broken. Still, the repetition of “We’re always running out of time” hammers home the song’s message: time is fleeting, and despite our best efforts, it often feels like we’re just barely keeping up with it.
In “Running Out Of Time,” Paramore isn’t just riffing on those everyday struggles; they’re blasting a wake-up call through our speakers. They’re singing what we’re all thinking but are too caught up in the rat race to stop and admit. It’s a raw, honest take on a truth that’s as old as time itself—we never seem to have enough of it, and perhaps, we need to look within to understand why.
