Paper Bag

"Paper Bag" is the third and final single from Fiona Apple's second studio album, When the Pawn.... Communicated through the metaphor of the paper bag, the song shows how hope can lead to disappointment. The inspiration for the song came from a mostly true story from her own life, although the titular bag was in fact plastic rather than paper. The song earned Apple a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance for the 43rd Grammy Awards (2001).

[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 Because I know that 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