Cinnamon

Album: Petals for Armor (2020)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Cinnamon" is a sweet, cheery song about Hayley Williams' acceptance of her solitude. It starts off with still-life vignettes of her home life as we learn that she talks to her dog and her house "smells like citrus and cinnamon."

    Throughout the song, Williams keeps singing about how wonderful it is to be alone. Near the end, she warns a love interest that if he came to stay, he would never want to leave her homely residence.
  • Warren Fu (Paramore, The 1975, The Strokes) directed the song's disturbing video. The clip depicts Williams relaxing at home when floral-patterned and wooden interiors come alive and start chasing her. it ends with Williams dancing with the creatures in a display of emotional liberation. "Her eyes snap open again, and she's almost unrecognizable from her former self," Fu explained to MTV News. "After the long build-up of pain and struggle, this is the release, the payoff."

    The visual continues the storyline of Williams' previous two visuals for "Simmer" and "Leave It Alone," both also directed by Fu. The director shot the video trilogy over the course of three days during a cold winter weekend in Tennessee.
  • The song started with a swing beat Williams played on a mini drum kit in producer Taylor York's studio. She embellished the beat by turning it into a new jack swing tune.

    Williams then found an old lyric she'd written for an acoustic guitar song that referenced her move to an empty cottage after splitting from her husband, New Found Glory guitarist Chad Gilbert. "It talked about a vision of my house when I first moved in and the walls were bare," she explained to Pitchfork. "Moving through my home felt like a new discovery all the time. I was discovering myself, really."
  • The track took on a new meaning as Williams moved on from her broken marriage and her new home took shape. "I'm very much living this song most authentically right now," she explained. "Having come from a relationship that was not healthy for many years, it was a big relief for me to wake up alone and be able to decide for myself what a morning in my house looks like. Every morning had this smell to it that was like lemon and hot water and herbs."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary Machine

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary MachineSong Writing

Fiona's highly-anticipated third album almost didn't make it. Here's how it finally came together after two years and a leak.

Brian Kehew: The Man Behind The Remasters

Brian Kehew: The Man Behind The RemastersSong Writing

Brian has unearthed outtakes by Fleetwood Mac, Aretha Franklin, Elvis Costello and hundreds of other artists for reissues. Here's how he does it.

Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet Sprocket

Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet SprocketSongwriter Interviews

The "All I Want" singer went through a long depression, playing some shows when he didn't want to be alive.

Marvin Gaye

Marvin GayeFact or Fiction

Did Marvin try out with the Detroit Lions? Did he fake crazy to get out of military service? And what about the cross-dressing?

Steve Morse of Deep Purple

Steve Morse of Deep PurpleSongwriter Interviews

Deep Purple's guitarist since 1994, Steve talks about writing songs with the band and how he puts his own spin on "Smoke On The Water."

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s EditionMusic Quiz

You know the scenes - Tom Cruise in his own pants-off dance off, Molly Ringwald celebrating her birthday - but do you remember what song is playing?