“You First” by Paramore

The title of this song (“You First”), as expressed in the chorus, is premised on the vocalist noting that “everyone is a bad guy”. That is to say, more simply put, that we all have our faults, which is sorta the concept the verses speak to, i.e. Hayley’s own moral shortcomings. 

Therefore, according to the law of the universe if you will, “karma is going to come for all of us”. But that noted, she also expresses a desire that it “comes for you first”, with that sentiment being relayed to an unspecified addressee(s).

Comprehensively, these lyrics do not necessarily belie how Williams has described “You First” in her own words. According to the songstress, the sentiment that led to the creation of this piece was her coming to realize, after apparently criticizing some young fan for getting into a fight at a Paramore concert, that she too has anger management issues and therefore was a hypocrite in doing so. 

Along the way, she also came to understand that maybe those individuals are dealing with more-serious issues than the ones she is facing, which then compel them to behave in such a manner. Or put more simply, after initially being angry Hayley later flipped the script and empathized with those combatants.

But again, the problem is that sentiment doesn’t really come through in the lyrics. As for the verses, they are based on Williams coming to the realization that she does have her own internal issues, ones that she “keep(s) feeding”, according to the pre-chorus. But as for the title/chorus, they read as if, despite such an acknowledgement, she is hoping for whatever reason that the related negative consequences befall the addressee, a fellow sinner so to speak, before herself.

“Everyone is a bad guy
And there’s no way, no way to know
Who’s the worst
Karma’s gonna come for all of us
And I hope, but I hope, I just hope
She comes, comes for you first, oh”

Credits

Hayley Williams wrote this song with her Paramore bandmate, Taylor York, who serves as the band’s guitarist. 

Release of “You First”

this track was released through Atlantic Records on 10 February 2023 as part of “This Is Why”, Paramore’s sixth studio album.