5 Shocking Facts About Paramore's "Misery Business" Lyrics And Its Controversial Comeback In 2025
Paramore's "Misery Business" remains one of the most iconic and debated rock anthems of the 21st century. As of late 2024 and heading into 2025, the song has experienced a major resurgence, not just in streaming numbers but, more significantly, on the band's live setlists, marking the end of a controversial self-imposed ban. This track, the breakthrough single from their 2007 album Riot!, is a raw, high-energy pop-punk masterpiece, yet its core message and a specific, highly criticized lyric led to years of introspection and public discussion by the band, particularly frontwoman Hayley Williams.
The decision to retire the song from live play in 2018—and the subsequent choice to bring it back for major tours like their 2024 European dates and The Eras Tour—reflects a complex evolution in Paramore’s identity, feminism, and maturity. To truly understand the song's legacy, one must examine its full, unedited lyrics and the context of its creation, its cancellation, and its powerful return to the stage.
Paramore: The Current Lineup and Biographical Profile
Paramore is an American rock band formed in Franklin, Tennessee, in 2003. The group has seen several lineup changes over its two-decade career, but its core creative force and current formation remain strong, consisting of three primary members.
- Hayley Williams (Lead Vocals, Keyboards): Born December 27, 1988, in Meridian, Mississippi. Williams is a founding member and the band's principal lyricist and frontwoman. She is celebrated for her powerful mezzo-soprano voice and her evolution as a feminist and artist, which directly influenced the "Misery Business" controversy.
- Taylor York (Guitar, Keyboards): Born December 17, 1989. York joined officially in 2007 and has become a crucial songwriter and instrumentalist, contributing to the band's shift into alternative rock and new wave sounds.
- Zac Farro (Drums, Percussion): Born June 4, 1990. A founding member, Farro left the band in 2010 but returned in 2017. His dynamic drumming style is integral to Paramore's signature sound, especially on albums like Riot! and This Is Why.
The band's current era, following the release of their 2023 album This Is Why, is characterized by a mature reflection on their past work, which paved the way for the nuanced re-introduction of their most famous, yet most problematic, hit song.
The Complete "Misery Business" Lyrics and the Controversial Line
Released in 2007, "Misery Business" is a blistering breakup anthem that captures the raw, competitive emotions of teenage love and jealousy. The lyrics, written by Hayley Williams when she was just 17, tell the story of a girl who successfully "saves" a boy from a manipulative ex-girlfriend, but in doing so, employs language that the band later deemed misogynistic and contradictory to their values.
The full lyrics are below, with the most infamous section highlighted:
Verse 1
I'm in the business of misery, let's take it from the top
She's got a body like an hourglass, it's tickin' like a clock
It's a matter of time before we all run out
When I thought I saw you there, you started to frown
I'm not gonna ask you to apologize, I'm not gonna ask you to lie
Chorus
But you stole my heart and you stole my show
Watch my heart break, you made it look so easy
So tell yourself whatever you need to hear
'Cause you can keep the silence, you can keep the stare
All I ask is if you ever try to go back
Don't come around at all
Verse 2
Well, I looked up to you but now I look through you
'Cause you're not the same, and I'm not the same
I waited eight long months, she finally set him free
I told him I couldn't be his friend until he was single again
Oh, did you think I was too young to notice?
Well, I'm the one who grew up in a small town
And I know all about your secrets
Bridge (The Controversial Section)
Once a whore, you're nothing more
I'm sorry that'll never change
And there's a million other girls who do it just like you
Looking as innocent as possible
Well, you stole my heart and you stole my show
Watch my heart break, you made it look so easy
This specific line, "Once a whore, you're nothing more, I'm sorry that'll never change," became the focal point of the controversy. Hayley Williams publicly expressed regret, noting that the lyric reflected a "narrow-minded" and "anti-feminist" perspective she held as a teenager, driven by internalized misogyny and a sense of "girl-on-girl crime."
The Retirement, The Apology, and The Return to the Setlist
The journey of "Misery Business" from global hit to controversial relic is a case study in modern media accountability and artistic growth. This evolution can be broken down into key phases that define its current status in 2025:
1. The 2018 Retirement: A Moral Decision
In 2018, during a concert in Nashville, Hayley Williams made an emotional announcement: "Misery Business" was officially being retired from Paramore’s live setlist. The decision was a direct response to the ongoing backlash over the misogynistic lyric. Williams felt the band could no longer stand by the message of shaming another woman. The song was shelved indefinitely, a move that shocked fans but was praised by critics who saw it as a sign of the band's maturity and commitment to feminist principles.
2. The 2022 Re-Emergence: A Nuanced Re-evaluation
After a four-year hiatus, Paramore began to re-introduce the song. The turning point came when they performed it at the When We Were Young festival. The band acknowledged the song’s problematic past but chose to reclaim it, often inviting a fan on stage to sing the final, cathartic chorus. This act of shared performance transformed the song from a source of shame into a moment of collective experience and discussion.
3. The 2024/2025 Status: An Unapologetic Staple
The most current update confirms that "Misery Business" is now a regular, staple inclusion in Paramore's setlists for their 2024 and 2025 tours, including their high-profile appearances supporting Taylor Swift on The Eras Tour. This signifies a major shift: the song is no longer a footnote but a centerpiece. Hayley Williams has explained that while her feelings on the lyric haven't changed—she still finds it problematic—the band has reached a point of comfort where they can perform the song without it defining their current identity.
The performance is now framed not as an endorsement of the lyric, but as a recognition of their history and the song’s undeniable importance to their fans and the pop-punk genre. For many in 2025, the song is less about the controversial line and more about the shared nostalgia, the raw energy, and the powerful experience of a band embracing its entire, complicated catalog.
Topical Authority and Key Entities
The enduring legacy of "Misery Business" is built on its connection to several key entities and themes:
- Riot! Album: The 2007 album that launched Paramore into the mainstream, also featuring hits like "That's What You Get" and "Hallelujah."
- Internalized Misogyny: The core theme Williams referenced when apologizing for the "girl-on-girl crime" competitive nature of the lyrics.
- Fueled by Ramen: The iconic record label that released Riot!, a hub for many major pop-punk and emo bands.
- Alternative Rock / Pop-Punk: The genres where "Misery Business" is considered a defining anthem of the late 2000s.
- David Bendeth: The producer of the Riot! album, who helped craft the song’s explosive sound.
- The Eras Tour: Paramore’s 2024 support slot for Taylor Swift, which gave "Misery Business" massive new exposure to a global audience.
- Nashville: The city where the band announced the song's retirement in 2018, adding a layer of personal significance.
- Feminism and Growth: The overarching narrative of the band's decision-making, showcasing artistic evolution in the face of public scrutiny.
The story of "Misery Business" is a powerful reminder that art, especially when created by young artists, is a snapshot in time. Its continued presence in the 2025 concert circuit is a testament to its musical power and the band’s ability to navigate a complex, changing cultural landscape while honoring their past.
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