Misery Business – English Lyrics

• By: Paramore
• Album: RIOT!

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Paramore's electrifying pop-punk anthem, "Misery Business"! This song is a raw, energetic journey through teenage emotions like jealousy and triumph, offering a perfect window into understanding authentic English expression. Its powerful vocals and catchy riffs make it not only a cultural touchstone of the 2000s but also a compelling way to connect with the language through relatable, fiery storytelling.

[English]

I'm in the business of misery

Let's take it from the top

She's got a body like an hourglass, it's ticking like a clock

It's a matter of time before we all run out

When I thought he was mine, she caught him by the mouth

I waited eight long months, she finally set him free

I told him I couldn't lie, he was the only one for me

Two weeks and we had caught on fire

She's got it out for me, but I wear the biggest smile

Whoa, I never meant to brag

But I got him where I want him now

Whoa, it was never my intention to brag

To steal it all away from you now

But God, does it feel so good

'Cause I got him where I want him now

And if you could, then you know you would

'Cause God it just feels so

It just feels so good

Second chances they don't ever matter, people never change

Once a whore, you're nothing more

I'm sorry, that'll never change

And about forgiveness, we're both supposed to have exchanged

I'm sorry, honey, but I passed it up, now look this way

Well, there's a million other girls who do it just like you

Looking as innocent as possible to get to who

They want and what they want, it's easy if you do it right

Well I refuse, I refuse, I refuse

Whoa, I never meant to brag

But I got him where I want him now

Whoa, it was never my intention to brag

To steal it all away from you now

But God, does it feel so good

'Cause I got him where I want him right now

And if you could, then you know you would

'Cause God, it just feels so

It just feels so good

I watched his wildest dreams come true

Not one of them involving you

Just watch my wildest dreams come true

Not one of them involving

...

Whoa, I never meant to brag

But I got him where I want him now

Whoa, I never meant to brag

But I got him where I want him now

Whoa, it was never my intention to brag

To steal it all away from you now

But God, does it feel so good

'Cause I got him where I want him now

And if you could then you know you would

'Cause God, it just feels so

...

It just feels so good

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
misery /ˈmɪzəri/ B2	noun - a state of great unhappiness or suffering
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole
run /rʌn/ A1	verb - to move at a speed faster than a walk
caught /kɔːt/ A2	verb - past tense of catch; to seize or capture
wait /weɪt/ A1	verb - to stay where one is or delay action until a particular time or event
free /friː/ A2	adjective - not under the control or power of someone else verb - to release from captivity or restraint
lie /laɪ/ A2	verb - to not tell the truth
fire /ˈfaɪər/ A1	noun - a state, process, or instance of combustion in which fuel or other material is ignited and combined with oxygen, giving off light, heat, and flame
wear /wer/ A1	verb - to have clothing on one's body
smile /smaɪl/ A1	noun - an expression of happiness or amusement verb - to have an expression of happiness
brag /bræɡ/ B2	verb - to say something in a boastful manner
steal /stiːl/ B1	verb - to take (another person's property) without permission or legal right and without intending to return it
good /ɡʊd/ A1	adjective - to be desired or approved of
matter /ˈmætər/ A2	verb - to be important or significant noun - a subject or situation under consideration
change /tʃeɪndʒ/ A1	verb - to make or become different noun - the act or instance of making or becoming different
sorry /ˈsɒri/ A1	adjective - feeling regret or penitence
innocent /ˈɪnəsnt/ B1	adjective - not guilty of a crime or offense
dream /driːm/ A2	noun - a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep verb - to indulge in a daydream or fantasy

Key Grammar Structures

• I'm in the business of misery

  ➔ Prepositional phrase 'in the business of'

  ➔ This phrase means that someone is involved or engaged in a particular activity or area of work, often with a connotation of it being a primary focus or concern. Here, it's a metaphorical business.

• She's got a body like an hourglass, it's ticking like a clock

  ➔ Simile (using 'like') to compare the body to an hourglass and the passage of time to a ticking clock.

  ➔ The use of "like" creates a direct comparison. The hourglass highlights a traditional desirable female figure and the ticking clock indicates a perceived pressure of time and aging.

• When I thought he was mine, she caught him by the mouth

  ➔ Past simple tense ('thought', 'caught') to describe past events.

  ➔ This line uses simple past tense to narrate what happened in the past. "Caught him by the mouth" is a metaphor for seduction.

• Two weeks and we had caught on fire

  ➔ Past perfect tense ('had caught') to indicate an action completed before another point in the past (presumably implied).

  ➔ Implies that after two weeks, their relationship quickly and intensely developed. "Caught on fire" is a metaphor for passion and intensity.

• It was never my intention to brag To steal it all away from you now

  ➔ Infinitive of purpose ('to brag', 'to steal') explains the reason for doing something (or, in this case, *not* the reason).

  ➔ The infinitive form is used to describe what the intention wasn't. It highlights the speaker's seeming innocence, while simultaneously boasting.

• Second chances they don't ever matter, people never change

  ➔ Absolute phrase or nominative absolute ( 'Second chances they'). This phrase stands apart from the sentence, providing additional information or context.

  ➔ The phrase is grammatically independent and adds a strong, declarative statement about second chances.

• Once a whore, you're nothing more

  ➔ Ellipsis: omission of words ('Once you *are* a whore'). This is used to create a more informal and impactful statement.

  ➔ The implied verb 'are' creates a quicker, harsher judgement.

• Looking as innocent as possible to get to who They want and what they want, it's easy if you do it right

  ➔ Adjective clause modifying a noun (as innocent as possible)

  ➔ "As...as possible" is a common construction to express achieving the maximum degree of a quality. This construction modifies "looking" describing how someone acts. "it's easy if you do it right" Uses an implied "to" for purpose; to get what they want is easy if you do it the correct way