“Don’t nobody tell me / That God don’t have a sense of humor…” Wow, those are some truly thought-provoking lyrics that commence the Hayley Williams song, “Leave it Alone.” We certainly don’t characterize God with humor, so, unsurprisingly, there is a bit of a ‘pity party’ soon to commence. “Leave it Alone” appears on Williams’ 2020 album, Petals for Armor. Beyond those opening lyrics, she goes on to sing, “‘Cause now that I want to live / Well everybody around me is dying…” Clearly Williams seeks to atone for loss. Also, she seeks to atone for grief itself. Later, on the moving song, she sings, “If you know love / You best prepare to grieve.”
Hayley Williams gets more specific about the loss that’s devastating her. She cites the example of a family member who, doesn’t “Remember my name somedays / Or that we’re related / It triggers my worry.” In the same verse, she continues, asking, “Who else am I gonna lose before I am ready? / And who’s gonna lose me?” It’s definitely heavy and quite depressing, but valid questions by all means. Losing family, friends, and anyone you care for, whether it’s death or figurative death is a tough pill to swallow.
Beyond the heaviness of the lyrics, the music supporting “Leave it Alone” is more restrained, leaving ample room for Williams’ grief-laden vocals. The relatively spare instrumental conveys a similar sentiment and vibe, matching the reflective, perturbed vocalist. Even though there’s a sense of unsettledness, the music is quite beautiful.
Putting a cap on this particular record, it is the chorus that sums up perhaps the deadliest observation any human being can make: “The truth’s a killer / But I can’t leave it alone…” True, as the scripture goes, “The truth will set you free.” Though, you need not be a Bible thumper to understand how powerful the truth is, especially when it can be utterly devastating.
You can learn more about Hayley Williams here:
About The Curator - Brent Faulkner
Slightly eccentric with interests that seem to know no ends, restless ‘Renaissance Man’ is the best way to characterize Brent Faulkner, a native of Kentucky. A certified music educator, multi-instrumentalist, and composer known for his incredibly sharp ear, he lives and breathes music of a variety of styles. In addition to passion for educating, performing, and writing music, he’s equally passionate blogging and writing about it, managing his own site, The Musical Hype (https://themusicalhype.com). When he’s not intensely analyzing music, you can find him reading or watching a movie, reality television or some sporting event.