Part II

It's pretty well known by now that this is a sequel song to "Let The Flames Begin" and of course, the opening lyrics mirror that of LTFB "What a shame we all became such fragile broken things", this begins with "What a shame, what a shame we all remain such fragile broken things".

That was a song about triumph, standing tall together to fight for what we believe in, and for hope, uniting together to hold onto our freedom ("This is how we'll dance, when they try to take us down"). 'Part II' is a reflection on that. In a situation where everyone else has stopped "dancing", this person is now fighting alone in a broken World.

When I listen to the lyrics, I picture a post-apocolyptic World. This one young warrior standing alone, bearing dirt and scars, praying for survival.

As a sequel to "Let the Flames Begin" on "Riot," "Part II" takes the subtle Christian subtext of the former song and makes it even more explicit. "Dancing all alone to the sound of an enemy's song// I'll be lost until you find me" reflects on the seductive nature of the secular world, and the deliverance from it which only comes from submitting to God's call and allowing him into the singer's life.

The song may be referring to a specific event in the lives of a band member or member(s,) but the important subtext is that it's a prayer for God's intercession in the singer's life. It's hard to ignore that in any song that talks of brokenness, glory, mercy and forgiveness. "What a mess, what a mystery we've made// Of love and other simple things// Learning to forgive// Even when it wasn't our mistake." That's the heart of Jesus's message on how to live our lives: unconditional love and forgiveness.

I believe this song has two interpretations.

The first interpretation the user nanders has already deciphered:

“When I listen to the lyrics, I picture a post-apocolyptic World. This one young warrior standing alone, bearing dirt and scars, praying for survival.”

As far as the second interpretation, let me start off by saying the Hayley has said that the band’s songs have always been honest about whatever drama was going on between them.

That being said, I believe this song is about Hayley and Josh Farro’s past relationship, and her moving on to Chad Gilbert.

First off, the song starts off with a rephrasing of a lyric from Let The Flames Begin, which signifies the aftermath of the fighting spirit in that song.

“What a shame, what a shame we all remain Such fragile, broken few”

From the very beginning keeping Paramore alive has been a constant battle. This lyric is saying that it’s a shame that after all this time, they still haven’t become strong enough to not have any issues with keeping everyone happy. Also, since its “broken FEW” this song takes place after two of the band members Josh and Zac have left, leaving only three band members. That leads into the next lyric:

“A beauty half betrayed”

Since two of the four longest members of the band (not counting Taylor who wasn’t in the band as long) have left, that leaves half of the beauty of Paramore gone. This line also serves to indicate the song is about Hayley and Josh’s romantic relationship. It takes two people to form a relationship, so if one person betrays the relationship, it is cut in half.

“Butterflies with punctured wings”

This line references the cover of their previous album Brand New Eyes that has a picture of a butterfly with its wings punctured. When Paramore started, they had high hopes. The feeling a person can get when they are excited is similar to the feeling of being in love, and it feels like there are butterflies in their stomach. This is also how Hayley felt about Josh. However since the butterfly’s wings are punctured, it’s most likely on the verge of death, symbolizing the dying moral of the band, as well as Hayley and Josh’s ended relationship.

“Still there are darkened places Deep in my heart Where once was blazing light Now there's a tiny spark”

In these lines of the song she is talking about how her passion for the band, and her love for Josh had once been strong [Let The Flames Begin], but now has dimmed to just a tiny spark. The fact that she called it a spark signifies that she believes that something could still ignite that spark back into a flame. This leads into the bridge:

“Oh glory Come and find me Oh glory Come and find me”

Chad Gilbert is a member in the band New Found Glory. This bridge is a play on that name. She is begging him to love her, to bring her out the darkness of depression, and reignite the flame. She also is begging for happiness to find her and band to come back into success.

“Dancing all alone to the sound of an enemy's song I'll be lost until you find me”

Josh Farro created much of the backing tracks to Brand New Eyes and other Paramore albums, so whenever she is dancing and singing to a song he made, she is dancing and singing to the sound of her betrayed love, and it’s a reminder of the past she can’t escape.

“Fighting on my own in a war that's already been won I'll be lost until you come and find me here, oh glory”

She feels like she is stuck in the past, even though her relationship with Josh has already ended, and the band already split. What’s done is done, but she can’t let go. Similar to soldiers who come home from war, and still have post traumatic episodes where they believe they are still fighting. And just like a soldier she will keep having these episodes until something (or someone) brings her into the next life (or next love). The word glory is used in a lot of Christian songs that are about heaven or eternal happiness.

“What a mess, what a mystery we've made Of love and other simple things Learning to forgive Even when it wasn't our mistake”

Drama tends to take simple concepts like two people loving each other, or friends in a band together, and complicates them. Sometimes when in an argument a person has to apologize, even when they don’t think they did anything wrong. They also have to learn to forgive even when they don’t want to forgive. There is a whole confusing legal history with the major label Hayley is signed to that eventually made the band split, which complicated matters in their band.

“I question every human Who won't look in my eyes Scars left on my heart Formed patterns in my mind”

Now her heart is guarded, making it hard for her to love, or let anyone into her life. She is having trouble trusting people and it has affecting her way of thinking and form bad habits when dealing with people.

“Oh glory You will find me”

She has hope that happiness will find her eventually.

“Like the moon we borrow our light I am nothing but a shadow in the night If you let me, I will catch fire To let your glory and mercy shine”

The moon doesn’t have any light of its own, it just reflects the suns light, and she feels that she is the same way. She is a just a depressed soul, that blends in with her surroundings instead of being outgoing and runs on the energy of others. However, she is borrowing Chad’s light like the moon borrows the sun’s light to reignite her enthusiasm for life.

"I once was lost, but now am found." - Amazing Grace

the lyrics are wrong it's "what a shame, what a shame we all remain such fragile broken THINGS, beauty have BETRAYED BUTTERFLIES WITH PUNCTURED WINGS, STILL THERE ARE DARKENED PLACES, WHERE once was blazing light, now there's a tiny SPARK, and then ..."what a mistery we've made What a mess, what a mystery we’ve made OF LOVE AND OTHER SIMPLE THINGS, LEARNING to forgive, even when it wasN'T A mistake" and "scars left on my heart for PATTERS IN MY MIND" it's called part II because is the second part of the song "LET THE FLAMES BEGIN" (from Riot!) by paramore too and i think (according what they said about this song) is a song about hope and still fighting, even though it's hard

i was the first person to put these lyrics up and i don't know what kind of idiot has edited them, but they obviously don't even speak English properly because this is bloody giberish. it won't even let me edit it back to how it was because there's a copyright claim on the lyrics and editing apparently may not be approved. < that in itself is ridiculous. people should be able to post lyrics online without record companies taking ownership over the post.

Second part of Let The Flames begin, it's a lot more personal this time. It's about looking back at your life and seeing that things are still going wrong and needing strength. I think that Hayley is asking God for help with this song, as there are a lot of Christian messages in Paramore's music. "I'll be lost until you find me fighting on my own" could express her need for God's love at this time and letting him into her heart again in a new way.

Firstly, I would like to say as well, that the lyrics are totally wrong. If you check out the band's official website you will find the (which I've submitted here and are awaiting approval) correct lyrics.

"What a shame, what a shame we all remain Such fragile broken things A beauty half betrayed Butterflies with punctured wings"

As it is Part II to Let the Flames Begin, I see that they were warring then and they felt so promising, they had 'Brand New Eyes' (butterfly cover of the last album) and were ready to take flight, however their wings were punctured (beauty half betrayed= 2 members leaving, injuring the wings), and now "what once was blazing light, there's a tiny spark" meaning there is hope to get over it all, turning their eyes to God, so they can just continue as a band and reach lives with their music.

Honestly if you pick apart certain lines, different aspects of the band's struggle pop out at you.There are references to the band's war between members, the failed relationship, broken friendship, new relationship (yes I think the words 'Glory' and 'enemy's song' highlights him) and their religious preference. It really all comes out for me in the second verse:

"What a mess, what a mystery we’ve made of love and other simple things"

I like to think it's a song of multiple meanings that tells the band's story. Everyone can take something from the song as well and apply it to their lives. Doesn't have to be religious. That's what I like about Paramore, they may be 'religious' but their music has a more secular take on life.

Sounds to me like it's crying out to god. We made a mess of things, we danced to the enemy's song, and now we're trying to fight a war against it that's already been one and it's calling out to God to let us show his glory .(like the moon reflects the son)

Here are the lyrics I've corrected:

"What a shame, what a shame we all remain Such fragile broken things A beauty half betrayed Butterflies with punctured wings Still there are darkened places deep in my heart What once was blazing Right now there's a tiny spark"

"What a mess, what a mystery we’ve made Of love and other simple things Learning to forgive Even when it wasn't our mistake I question every human Who won’t look in my eyes Scars left on my heart formed patterns in my mind"

I'm pretty sure those are the right lyrics, I have absolutely no idea why the copyright owners cough their record label cough have to approve the lyrics before posting them when no other artist's songs have to go through this process, and why they've allowed inaccurate lyrics to remain posted if they're so concerned with the integrity of the song.

Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings, edited by diiianeee, randomocity27, laugam, Rubedo, parawh0re, Caolan, nadylarash, brendanwe, friedmax, spoidus, Setheral, pombtree, craz4life, coopergang, Pmorefan, LivingInAStateOfDreaming, Mralexa, Skoobasteve24

YTF did it take like 20 people to get the lyrics right... assuming they are even right now... ???