Inspiration Behind Pressure:
As an adult, every day can be like being in a pressure cooker. Paramore wanted to capture this image within a song to help individuals struggling and suffocated by the pressure of time. The man and woman in Pressure’s music video each face emotional stress and societal strain. The young man is being micromanaged at a local fast-food restaurant while the other is a model with agents always watching their figure and weight. The lyrics convey a message of self-discovery where 2 people realize leaving a career or job would be better off for their future sanity and success.
Biblical Application:
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything, James 1:2-4.
Exegesis of Pressure:
Well, tell me where our time went
And if it was time well spent
Just don’t let me fall asleep
Feelin’ empty again
From the time you wake up, to the time you go to sleep, you are on the clock. Whether it’s a day off or you are working, Hayley Williams doesn’t want to get stuck in an endless cycle of feeling empty.
‘Cause I fear I might break
And I fear I can’t take it
Tonight I’ll lie awake, feeling empty
The pressure inside is mounting on the verge of emotionally breaking. This is what Hayley is thinking about which leads to emptiness.
I can feel the pressure, it’s getting closer now
We’re better off without you
I can feel the pressure, it’s getting closer now
We’re better off without you
Sometimes employers can treat people like robots instead of human beings. Hayley gets the sense that she is replaceable.
(Now that I’m losing hope)
(And there’s nothing else to show)
(For all of the days that we spent)
(Carried away from home)
Countless individuals strive to live the American dream, but never to obtain it. This couple is living paycheck to paycheck, trying their best to stay out of debt. Yet working is keeping them from spending time together.
Some things I’ll never know
‘Cause I had to let them go
Well, I’m sitting all alone, feeling empty
Hayley is either referring to managers having to let workers go or breaking up with a boyfriend. Either way, this act results in loneliness.
I can feel the pressure, it’s getting closer now
We’re better off without you
I can feel the pressure, it’s getting closer now
We’re better off without you
Come on!
Without you
The pressure to perform can lead to exhaustion. Hayley appears to be about to make a decision about a job or person. She comes to the realization that she’ll be better off without this job or person.
Well, some things I’ll never know
And I had to let them go, go, go, go
Well, some things I’ll never know
‘Cause I had to let them go
Well, I’m sitting all alone, feeling empty
It’s hard to be the one in charge, to make the difficult decisions.
Set it off!
Perhaps this is referring to the music video where the emergency sprinklers are triggered.
Feel the pressure, it’s getting closer now
We’re better off without you
The pressure, well, it’s getting closer now
We’re better off without me
Tough decisions have to be made daily. Some are put off, but when you finally make a decision, you are better off in the future.
Final Thoughts:
No one likes to be the bad guy by enforcing the rules or telling someone no. Without clear and defined boundaries, chaos will reign. Instead of waiting around for someone else to lead, take a stand now by putting out some fires today so that they don’t ignite into social wildfires tomorrow.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 