"Last Hope" by Paramore, Sunday, October 16, 2022

Fleetwood Mac might be the most turbulent rock bands in terms of member changes, feuds, and internal relationships going awry because of infidelity. The conflict, lawyers, and affidavits surrounding Paramore, though, feels akin to the ‘70s rock band. In his series Deep Discog Dives, YouTuber Nick Canovas summarized the controversies surrounding Paramore. Perhaps the biggest rift in the band is between former lead guitarist Josh Farro and lead singer Haley Williams. After the band’s third record, Brand New Eyes, Farro publicly expressed his opposition to the lyrical direction Williams was taking the band.

I DON’T EVEN KNOW MYSELF AT ALL. Like many bands in the pop punk scene in the ‘00s, Paramore began their career with ties to the Christian Rock scene. Most of the band mates grew up Christian, and it seemed natural to integrate their beliefs into the band’s lyrics. But by the band’s breakthrough record, their sophomore Riot!, the lyrics shifted away from Christian themes. The band justified the lyrics on their biggest hit, prior to “Ain’t It Fun,” “Misery Business”: “God, doesn’t it feel so good” on top of an already risqué track about early adult sexuality with hints of sexism. With the success of “Misery Business” came a furor with Christian audiences. Christian audiences appreciated the publicity Paramore gave other Christian bands. The band brought Christian bands on tour with them. Williams contributed vocals to Christian Rock bands like The Chariot and mewithoutYou. But it was the lyric on Brand New Eyes, “The truth never set me free” in the song “Ignorance” that caused guitarist Josh Farro and brother, drummer Zac Farro to quit the band, though Zac eventually rejoined. Upon quitting Paramore, Josh posted a blog post stating of the members of Paramore, “We fought her about how [Hayley's] lyrics misrepresented our band and what we stood for, but in the end she got her way." He also proliferated the rumor that Williams’ direction was due to manipulation from the band’s manager and the label.

GOTTA LET IT HAPPEN. The “salt in the wound” from losing the band’s guitarist has been the subject of many Paramore songs. “Last Hope” is probably partly about Josh, but also about keeping faith when everything seems seems so transitory. In 2010, Williams wrote in the band’s live journal about what keeps her grounded. She writes
        [S]ometimes you get run down. sometimes life throws dirt in your eyes and it stings
        and you can't see for a few minutes. even after you get it out your eyes are all red and
        your vision is shitty... but eventually, whether through tears or maybe just time...  you
        start to see even clearer than before. life is not always good. which is why music exists.
        why i believe God exists. and why there's always a pint of coconut milk ice cream in my
        freezer. 
It’s near impossible to agree on a vision. And with Williams and Paramore’s current guitarist Taylor York starting a relationship, it’s hard to say that the next Paramore episode will be drama free. “Last Hope” reminds us to keep an eye out for any spark of hope when it feels like we’ve lost our way. In the end it will be okay.



Live performance:
Official Audio:












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