Hayley Williams opens up about emotional meaning behind her Simmer lyrics
23 January 2020, 13:12
'Simmer' is Hayley William's first official solo single outside of Paramore and fans think it's about her ex Chad Gilbert.
Hayley Williams fans think 'Simmer' is about her ex-husband Chad Gilbert and the lyrics are some of her most personal yet.
Last year (28 Dec), Hayley Williams surprised Paramore fans by announcing that she would be releasing solo music in 2020. Taking to social media, she explained: "30 was a very important year. 31 will be too. I'm putting out some music next year. With the help of some of my closest friends, I made something I'm going to call my own." Now, the first taste is here.
'Simmer' is the lead single from Hayley's upcoming solo album Petals for Armor which is scheduled to come out May 8. Fans are already living for the raw emotion of 'Simmer' and now she's opened up about the meaning behind it.
Discussing 'Simmer' in an Annie Mac interview, Hayley said: "This song has helped but has also surprised me 'cause what I thought was just gonna be a simpler sort of heavy song about anger turned into the very specific trigger points for me." She then specified: "I think that's where the second verse really comes in and…like…that was a tough one to record."
In 'Simmer' Hayley sings about controlling her rage: "Gotta simmer, simmer, simmer, simmer, simmer down / Control." Then in the second verse, she gets more explicit: "If I had seen my reflection / As something more precious. He would've never / Mmm, and if my child needed protection / From a fucker like that man / I'd sooner gut him."
Hayley Williams - Simmer [Official Music Video]
Fans think that the "fucker" Hayley is singing about in the song is her ex-husband Chad Gilbert. Hayley and Chad were in a relationship between 2008 and 2017. One fan tweeted: "listening to hayley williams new single ... what the fuck did chad gilbert DO i wanna kill him [sic]."
Another wrote: "Hayley Williams calling Chad Gilbert a fucker with her whole ass chest in her new song is EVERYTHING."
Honestly Hayley Williams calling her ex husband a ‘fucker’ and saying that she’d gut him is musical content I didn’t know I needed
— Andrew (@andrewgvnn) January 22, 2020
Hayley Williams calling Chad Gilbert a fucker with her whole ass chest in her new song is EVERYTHING
— The (Soy)Boy Who Destroyed The World (@coffeexbreath) January 23, 2020
anyone going to the vigil for Chad Gilbert tonight? can’t believe Hayley Williams murdered him today with the release of her first solo single, Simmer
— Brian Capps (@bcapps) January 23, 2020
-to happen i feel like she wouldn’t have used that wording. She’s knows we know he fucked up and now she’s just confirming it even more
— jayde🌺 (@subwaypige0n) January 23, 2020
listening to hayley williams new single ... what the fuck did chad gilbert DO i wanna kill him
— Anti-Soup Julia (@babyyodagay) January 22, 2020
As it stands, Hayley hasn't confirmed if 'Simmer' is about Chad specifically. We shall update you if she does.
Hayley Williams - 'Simmer' lyrics
VERSE 1
Rage is a quiet thing
Ooh, you think that you've tamed it
But it's just lying in wait
Rage, is it in our veins?
Feel it in my face when
When I least expect it
REFRAIN
Give in
CHORUS
Control
There's so many ways to give in
Eyes closed
Another way to make it to ten
Oh, how to draw the line between wrath and mercy?
Gotta simmer, simmer, simmer, simmer, simmer down
Control
There's so many ways to give in
Eyes closed
Another way to make it to ten
Oh, how to draw the line between wrath and mercy?
Gotta simmer, simmer, simmer, simmer, simmer down
VERSE 2
If I had seen my reflection
As something more precious
He would've never
Mmm, and if my child needed protection
From a fucker like that man
I'd sooner gut him
'Cause nothing cuts like a mother
REFRAIN
Give in
CHORUS
Control
There's so many ways to give in
Eyes closed
Another way to make it to ten
Oh, how to draw the line between wrath and mercy?
Simmer, simmer, simmer, simmer, simmer down
Control
There's so many ways to give in
Eyes closed
Another way to make it to ten
Oh, how to draw the line between wrath and mercy?
(Simmer, simmer, simmer, simmer, simmer, simmer)
Gotta simmer, simmer, simmer, simmer, simmer down
BRIDGE
(Simmer, simmer, simmer, simmer)
(Simmer, simmer, simmer, simmer, simmer)
Wrap yourself in petals (Yourself)
Wrap yourself in petals (Control, yourself)
Wrap yourself in petals for armor (Control, control)
(Simmer, simmer, simmer, simmer, simmer, simmer)
Petals
(Simmer, simmer, simmer, simmer, simmer)
For armor
(Simmer, simmer, simmer, simmer, simmer, simmer)
(Simmer, simmer, simmer)
REFRAIN
Give in
CHORUS
Control
There's so many ways to give in
Eyes closed
Another way to make it to ten
Oh, how to draw the line between wrath and mercy?
Gotta simmer, simmer, simmer, simmer, simmer down
Control
There's so many ways to give in
Eyes closed
Another way to make it to ten
Oh, how to draw the line between wrath and mercy?
Gotta simmer, simmer, simmer
