I think the song represents humanity itself and the conscience to avoid how futile our reasoning can be. We don't want to believe that the world can move on without us, but it absolutely can. We spend all our efforts being competitive and shutting other humans down, but that's not the objective. It's survival. Unless people don't care? Because if we're going to live forever, how are we going to kill each other? And if we're going to kill each other, how are we going to live forever? It's not about the survival of the few, that just reduces our...
I think the song represents humanity itself and the conscience to avoid how futile our reasoning can be. We don't want to believe that the world can move on without us, but it absolutely can. We spend all our efforts being competitive and shutting other humans down, but that's not the objective. It's survival. Unless people don't care? Because if we're going to live forever, how are we going to kill each other? And if we're going to kill each other, how are we going to live forever? It's not about the survival of the few, that just reduces our odds. But the sun will still move on.
OK, so I heard Tyler say in an interview that this song IS Twenty One Pilots. That it summarizes who they are. I thought… hmm… really? And after looking at they lyrics, I'm going to take a guess at why he said that...
OK, so I heard Tyler say in an interview that this song IS Twenty One Pilots. That it summarizes who they are. I thought… hmm… really? And after looking at they lyrics, I'm going to take a guess at why he said that...
As anyone who knows their lyrics has figured out, Tyler has been tormented by negative thoughts and even thoughts of suicide. In Christian imagery, and several of their songs, these "evil thoughts" are represented by demons (whether you believe them to be true demons or just psychological attacks from a darkness within). And in Christian belief, demons...
As anyone who knows their lyrics has figured out, Tyler has been tormented by negative thoughts and even thoughts of suicide. In Christian imagery, and several of their songs, these "evil thoughts" are represented by demons (whether you believe them to be true demons or just psychological attacks from a darkness within). And in Christian belief, demons attack those that they see as a threat.
This song is basically saying - hey, maybe Tyler is being attacked because he is a threat - because he has the capacity/means to be an instrument of good (through his pen / the band's music). There's a purpose for him on this earth.
And in the song, he's crying out to a higher power (God) saying, "Aaaah!! Why? I don't want this on my shoulders! I don't want this purpose! I don't want this pen! Tell the demons you have no plans for me! I don't want to do this! This isn't the freedom you promised!"
And in the end, he tells God that he's "sorry." He realizes the plans that God has for him, to be a mouthpiece of hope - to encourage young people to think, and to survive, and to live. And that's why this song is so important to Twenty One Pilots.
(And as others have said, the three denials (echoing the story of Peter) and the fourth denial about "not telling" whom he's singing toward (God/higher power) is something with which he struggles. He doesn't want to sing and write songs and perform for money and fame ("whore") - he wants to fulfill his purpose.)
That's my interpretation. Not sure I got it right, but if I'm even close (and I think I am), then it's just another reason to love this band.
A bit of a revised interpretation 2 years later from my previous one.
A bit of a revised interpretation 2 years later from my previous one.
Its about loving someone who doesnt even see you as more than a day-to-day event, someone they'll just look over and completely forget about until the next occurrence. Maybe it's about loving someone who already has their own love, or maybe they're just chasing after something else instead of you. It touches on the sense of love so deep for someone who will never care for you.
Its about loving someone who doesnt even see you as more than a day-to-day event, someone they'll just look over and completely forget about until the next occurrence. Maybe it's about loving someone who already has their own love, or maybe they're just chasing after something else instead of you. It touches on the sense of love so deep for someone who will never care for you.
Beautiful song.
Beautiful song.
I think this song is about growth change death rebirth and a literal song to God (crying for freedom from myself and from the land) I think selling clothes to the state is a reference to starting a new and being naked to the world and very much shedding old thing. He reflects in the song throughout the song I’ve made a lot of mistakes in reference to his past very much leading to selling clothes to the state starting a new physically and mentally. I think this song is and homage to God the process of life and the...
I think this song is about growth change death rebirth and a literal song to God (crying for freedom from myself and from the land) I think selling clothes to the state is a reference to starting a new and being naked to the world and very much shedding old thing. He reflects in the song throughout the song I’ve made a lot of mistakes in reference to his past very much leading to selling clothes to the state starting a new physically and mentally. I think this song is and homage to God the process of life and the complexities of letting go and letting grow and letting go. And growing and dying!!! God I love this song so much it’s such a beautiful and grounding song!!
To me this song can be read as being about heroin rather than a relationship. A lot of the imagery fits addiction almost too perfectly. “Turned blue like New Orleans” can refer to bruising at injection sites, while also nodding to the blues tradition that came out of pain and suffering. “I still feel you beneath my skin” feels literal; the drug stays inside you, physically and mentally. The repeated idea of being “tempted to throw my senses in” echoes the urge to go all in again. And “it’s easier to fly” works as a metaphor for getting high to...
To me this song can be read as being about heroin rather than a relationship. A lot of the imagery fits addiction almost too perfectly. “Turned blue like New Orleans” can refer to bruising at injection sites, while also nodding to the blues tradition that came out of pain and suffering. “I still feel you beneath my skin” feels literal; the drug stays inside you, physically and mentally. The repeated idea of being “tempted to throw my senses in” echoes the urge to go all in again. And “it’s easier to fly” works as a metaphor for getting high to escape reality, instead of enduring the harsh “southern sun,” which could represent withdrawal or just the weight of everyday life. Lines like “you last like a song” and “I’m deflated” describe the temporary high followed by the inevitable crash. When seen this way, the whole song becomes a cycle of craving, escape, collapse, and the haunting presence of the drug.