Paranoid

The song 'Paranoid' explores the depth of emotional pain and the sense of loss after the end of a significant relationship. The lyrics begin with a desperate plea to his mother, symbolizing a return to vulnerability and the need for comfort. The image of lying on the sofa as if 'six feet under' suggests a sense of emotional death, a state of paralysis caused by the pain of separation.

The repetition of the question 'Am I being paranoid?' reflects the lyrical self's internal struggle to distinguish between reality and paranoia. He sees his beloved's face everywhere, which indicates an obsession and an inability to move on. The metaphor of 'tiptoeing along the edge of a cliff' illustrates the precarious and unstable state of his mind, always on the verge of emotional collapse.

This emotional collapse is also seen in Jão's attitudes and body: "Drinking something with an empty stomach" and "If the pain is real, then why can't I find the cure?" show that the symptoms of a psychological crisis are also visible in his behaviour and thus somatized in his body.

The lyrics also address the attempt to deal with pain through self-destructive behavior, such as drinking on an empty stomach. The incessant search for a 'cure' for emotional pain is a central theme, highlighting the difficulty of finding relief and the feeling of being trapped in a cycle of suffering. The song ends with a reflection on the impossibility of being recognized by the person you love and the persistent question about the reality of pain and the search for answers.