"Playing God" is the third track and fifth and final single from their third album, brand new eyes. It was the alternative follow up to Careful, and the pop radio follows up to The Only Exception. Although, it failed to chart on the US Pop Songs or US Alternative songs. It also missed the Hot 100 peaking at number one on the bubbling under the Hot 100 (101 on the Hot 100). It also reached number five on the UK Rock chart.
Background[]
"The mainline in the chorus, ‘If you point the finger, I might have to bend it back and break it off’ is about people who place blame and how they should look at themselves first. It’s something I’ve dealt with since I was young. The song, at its core, is very angry. I’m ripping at self-righteous people, ripping at my own bandmates, and anyone who ever made me feel not good enough. All five of us met up at Zac [Farro, drums] and Josh’s house and sat around their living room with two acoustic guitars and [bassist] Jeremy Davis’ bass. Josh and Taylor [York, guitar] started playing these two picking guitar lines–it felt very Jimmy Eat World-ish. Naturally, we were all into it. I had all kinds of lyrics on my old Sidekick (R.I.P.) and the ones used in this song used to be a completely different song, in my head. I had it all fast and rude sounding. But for some reason, I really wanted to reuse them for the JEW sounding song. I changed the melody around and added more once Josh came up with music for the chorus. What I love about the song is the contrast between the subject matter and the melody. The song, at its core, is very angry. I’m ripping at self-righteous people, ripping at my own bandmates and anyone who ever made me feel not good enough. But the overall tone of the song is completely different. It’s laid back and really fun. By the time we’d gotten to the studio, the song still needed a bridge. So I sat down at a piano and wrote the parts. It’s one of my favorite bridges on the record–I love the call and response vocal that Josh and I did. I feel like this song is one of those that we’ve been waiting to write for a long time." - Hayley Williams
Music Video[]
The music video is the last including Josh Farro and Zac Farro (Until Zac returned in 2016), who left the band not very long afterward. It was filmed entirely in Hayley's home in Franklin, Tennessee. It was directed by Brandon Chesbro and features Jeremy Davis 's girlfriend, past band member Hunter Lamb, new touring member Jon Howard, and Brandon Chesbro's wife. Production and cinematography were done by Aaron Schnobrich, who played Hayley's sleeping boyfriend in the video for "The Only Exception".
In the video, Hayley plays as a 'housewife/hostess' figure, who has guests over and begins to remember the moment when she drugged the other four members of the band, who now sit in the basement. This video is a sequel to Ignorance in which the band members tie up Hayley.
Audio[]
Playing God
Lyrics[]
Can't make my own decisions
Or make any with precision
Well maybe you should tie me up
So I don't go where you don't want me
You say that I've been changing
That I'm not just simply aging
Yeah how could that be logical?
Just keep on cramming ideas down my throat
You don't have to believe me
But the way I, way I see it
Next time you point a finger
I might have to bend it back
Or break it, break it off
Next time you point a finger
I'll point you to the mirror
If God's the game that you're playing
Well we must get more acquainted
Because it has to be so lonely
To be the only one who's holy
It's just my humble opinion
But it's one that I believe in
You don't deserve a point of view
If the only thing you see is you
You don't have to believe me
But the way I, way I see it
Next time you point a finger
I might have to bend it back
Or break it, break it off
Next time you point a finger
I'll point you to the mirror
This is the last second chance
(I'll point you to the mirror)
I'm half as good as it gets
(I'll point you to the mirror)
I'm on both sides of the fence
(I'll point you to the mirror)
Without a hint of regret
I'll hold you to it
I know you don't believe me
But the way I, way I see it
Next time you point a finger
I might have to bend it back
Or break it, break it off
Next time you point a finger
I'll point you to the mirror
I know you won't believe me
But the way I, way I see it
Next time you point a finger
I might have to bend it back
Or break it, break it off
Next time you point a finger
I'll point you to the mirror
Streaming[]
Brand New Eyes
|
"Ignorance" | "Playing God" | "Brick By Boring Brick" | 
|
  |
Brand New Eyes |
|---|---|
| Songs | Careful • Ignorance • Playing God • Brick By Boring Brick • Turn It Off • The Only Exception • Feeling Sorry • Looking Up • Where the Lines Overlap • Misguided Ghosts • All I Wanted |
| Bonus Tracks | Decode • Ignorance (Acoustic Version) • Where the Lines Overlap (Acoustic Version) • Brick By Boring Brick (Acoustic Version) • Turn It Off (Acoustic) |
| Members | Hayley Williams • Josh Farro • Taylor York • Jeremy Davis • Zac Farro |
