Why is Hayley Williams revisiting Paramore's emotional hit? Frontwoman explains how 2013 song expressed her lowest moments

Hayley Williams is reflecting on Paramore's past and the power of music to heal.

Speaking on Good Hang with Amy Poehler on Monday, Dec. 1, the frontwoman revealed how writing Last Hope on the band's 2013 self-titled album captured the deep lows she experienced when founding members Josh and Zac Farro left.

"I remember writing it and thinking, 'This is so sad.' Unfortunately, it is how I feel. I've really struggled with my mental health and wanted to not be here plenty of times."

The Misery Business hitmaker added that the song "expressed that moment for me." Still, that low point in her life gave way to a high as she reunited with Zac and Taylor to perform Last Hope for fans in 2017.

"Having that moment at a Paramore show, and feeling like everyone in the room has survived so many different things. We're all here. Half of us will never see each other again. It really does something to those types of songs."

For Hayley Williams, the 2013 hit and others like it are become more meaningful when they are performed live.

"I wrote them in such isolation and now here I am having to not only be a witness but bear witness to all these other experiences that have coalesced."

This is not the first time Hayley Williams has opened up about her mental health struggles.

In October 2024, she honored World Mental Health Day on her Instagram page, accompanied by a heartfelt message and a call for access to resources.

"In 2018, after years of struggling with my mind and some frustrating health issues, I finally got diagnosed with depression and a specific kind of PTSD. Admittedly, l'd been very ignorant about mental illness and just how all-consuming it can be. I didn't realize it could affect your physical wellbeing too."

The All I Wanted songstress — who confirmed her relationship with bandmate Taylor in 2022 — also revealed in her post how depression affected her body.

"I'd been told prior by my doctor that I had chronic fatigue. Still, I didn't appreciate how interconnected my mind and body really were. It can seem pretty impossible to thrive, holistically, in the modern world."

Hayley Williams to embark on first-ever solo tour in 2026

Meanwhile, Hayley Williams is gearing up for her first-ever solo tour, which is set to kick off in spring 2026.

The rock star is expected to have intimate shows in Atlanta, Boston, Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore, Silver Spring, Chicago, Nashville, Austin, Phoenix, Oakland, and Los Angeles.

Per a website, Hayley Williams' solo tour was six years in the making. It was first reported in 2020, alongside a solo album, Petals for Armor, but was disrupted by the pandemic.

Trending

Now, the Paramore frontwoman is embarking solo, which supports her 2025 album Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party. In her own words, Hayley Williams teased:

"This is a brand-new adventure. It's important to embark on something new every now and then just to show yourself that you can. I welcome the discomfort and the joy and I'm ready to be present for this."

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback