Said I was gonna take some flowers to my neighbor, but I
Ran out of time
Didn't wanna show up to the party empty-handed, but I
Ran out of time
Said I'd walk the dog a little further than the driveway tonight
The extra mile
Thought I'd send a card with my condolences, but, damn, I
Just ran out of time
[Pre-Chorus]
Intentions only get you so far
What if I'm just a selfish prick? No regard, ah
[Chorus]
I'm always running out of time
I'm always running out of time
[Verse 2]
Never mind, I hit the snooze on my alarm twenty times
But I was just so tired
There was traffic, spilled my coffee, crashed my car, otherwise
Woulda been here on time
Shoulda, coulda, wouldn't matter, ultimate alibi
You know it's a lie
There was a fire (Metaphorically)
Be there in five (Hyperbolically)
Intentions only get you so far
(It was on my list, I swear I meant to get to it)
A harsh reality to discover, ah
[Chorus]
I'm always running out of time
(She's always running out of time)
I'm always running out of time
[Bridge]
Why we gotta be in a rush?
My watch is just for decoration, mm
Look, I showed up early for once
Now that's a new sensation, mm
[Chorus]
We're always running out of time
(She's always running out of time)
I'm always running out of time
I'm always running out of time
(She's always running out of time, out of time)
I'm always running out of time
About
In “Running Out of Time,” Hayley Williams pokes fun at her poor time management skills. The song shares sonic and lyrical similarities with the following track, “C’est Comme Ça,” as both detail her frustration with not being in control of things and her resistance to change.
Hayley Williams revealed in an interview with Apple Music that the song was inspired by her friendship with Taylor Swift, describing an interaction the two artists had when they were nineteen:
The first time that I went over, and we were looking around her place, and she was like, “Oh, this is my little closet where I keep gifts and things that if I randomly am just like, I’m going to send them something, or I did something and they hosted me and I want to thank them. And I was like, "Oh my God, my life is so not together.”
I can barely remember to send someone a card or flowers. There are still Christmas gifts at my house that I have not sent to my friends, just sitting there in the back of my closet. [I] got out here and two of the people I was supposed to give a gift to, I was like, “Sorry, I forgot to put in my suitcase so you still don’t get a gift.”I wish that I was the person that just felt like I had all my shit together and was like, “Oh, I had some extra time, so I’m just popping by with some flowers.” That kind of a thing, that is my idealized self.
Paramore debuted the song live during their album release show on February 6 at Grand Ole Opry’s Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Before playing the song, Williams explained that its meaning wasn’t that deep, but it could be if fans wanted to.
Exclusive flexi discs featuring “Running Out of Time” were given to fans who attended This Is Why listening events in the United States on February 7.
A week before its release, Paramore shared with Sam Yung, musician and fan of the band, sheet music notes to the first twenty seconds of the song. He later shared a clip of him playing them on piano.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
This was pretty early on in writing the album. And I got the music for the chorus first. I was like, I have to write the coolest shit ever to it because this is the best shit, so I have to make good. I was like, “Oh, it’d be really funny to roast myself for how disorganized I am and how it impacts my everyday life. Every day, I run out of time.
— Hayley Williams via Genius ‘Verified’
- 1.This Is Why
- 2.The News
- 3.Running Out Of Time
- 6.You First
- 7.Figure 8
- 8.Liar
- 9.Crave
- 10.Thick Skull