Paper Bag

"Paper Bag" is a song by American singer-songwriter Fiona Apple, released as the third single from her second studio album, When the Pawn... (1999). The song earned Apple a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance for the 43rd Grammy Awards (2001). Apple wrote "Paper Bag" following an experience in which she mistook a paper bag for a dove. The event took place in Los Angeles following recording sessions for her previous studio album, Tidal (1996); Apple, reportedly upset at the time, was a passenger in a car being driven by her father. Allmusic's Matthew Greenwald described "Paper Bag" as having a "loose, almost ragtime" melody and rhythm pattern, with an "up and down" chord pattern creating a "funky, looping feel". The Record noted the "infectious" song includes "Beatlesesque horns". The Boston Globe classified it as a "piano ditty" that "owes equally to Kurt Weill and Paul McCartney," while The Buffalo News noted that it "provides a more contemporary hip hop sound" than other songs on her album. Paul Thomas Anderson directed the music video for "Paper Bag", which features a blue-and-red palette. Anderson and Apple were in a romantic relationship at the time.

[Verse 1] I was staring at the sky, just looking for a star To pray on, or wish on, or something like that I was having a sweet fix of a daydream of a boy Whose reality I knew, was a-hopeless to be had But then the dove of hope began its downward slope And I believed for a moment that my chances Were approaching to be grabbed But as it came down near, so did a weary tear I thought it was a bird, but it was just a paper bag [Chorus] Hunger hurts, and I want him so bad, oh it kills 'Cause I know I'm a mess he don't wanna clean up I got to fold cause these hands are too shaky to hold Hunger hurts, but starving works, when it costs too much to love [Verse 2] And I went crazy again today Looking for a strand to climb, looking for a little hope Baby said he couldn't stay Wouldn't put his lips to mine and a fail to kiss is a fail to cope I said, "Honey, I don't feel so good, don't feel justified Come on put a little love here in my void," He said "It's all in your head," And I said, "So's everything" but he didn't get it I thought he was a man but he was just a little boy [Chorus] Hunger hurts, and I want him so bad, oh it kills 'Cause I know I'm a mess he don't wanna clean up I got to fold cause these hands are too shaky to hold Hunger hurts, but starving works When it costs too much to love Hunger hurts but I want him so bad, oh it kills 'Cause I know I'm a mess that he don't wanna clean up I got to fold because these hands are just too shaky to hold Hunger hurts, but starving works me When it costs too much to love Oh, hunger hurts but I want him so bad, oh it kills 'Cause I know I'm a mess that he don't wanna clean up I got to fold because these hands are just too shaky to hold Hunger hurts, but starving, it works When it costs too much to love, hmm hmm