Bandito

XD This is probably a stupid idea but this song reminds me of two characters from a video game I really like. I’m not telling you what it is, but maybe you can guess if you happen to know about this game.

WARNING: This interpretation contains some dark and depressing themes. I don’t recommend you read it if you are sensitive to that sort of thing or are currently experiencing depression or any other “down in the dumps” feelings. Stay safe and stay alive.

“I could take the high road/But I know that I'm going low”

The first character (I’ll call him 1) wants to make good decisions to make the other character (2) happy, but it doesn’t matter if he does make good choices because he will always eventually be pushed in the wrong direction and ruin both their lives. The “bandito” part has no bearing on this meaning, however. I think it could just be naming the characters from the TOP lore, or maybe the word “bandito” does hold some meaning in this song besides that. Obviously I don’t know.

“This is the sound we make/When in between two places”

These two characters (2 especially) often find themselves in painful, broken, and lonely situations, desperate to get out and find peace.

“Where we used to bleed/And where our blood needs to be”

The first line could represent past mistakes and/or those horrible situations they find themselves in, and the second meaning the peace they are striving for but can never fully achieve.

“In city, I feel my spirit is contained/Like neon inside the glass, they form my brain”

2 lives in a world where everything should go his way. He lives a simple life doing a job he cares about. He has no reason to be scared, sad, or angry about his situation. Until…

“But I recently discovered it’s a heatless fire”

During the story, 2 discovers the truth behind his world, and the ego and destructive tendencies of the people around him: how they sink their teeth into anything they dislike and tear it apart. He used to think people appreciated his work, but now they’ve done it to him, and he has lost that sense of importance and renown.

“Like nicknames they give themselves to uninspire”

These critics are also extremely unoriginal and think they’re cooler than they actually are, hence the uninspiring nicknames. They don’t try to do anything new or creative, they don’t care about it. 2, meanwhile, believes that if you don’t do anything original in life, your existence is meaningless, so the whole situation is leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.

“Begin with bullet, now add fire to the proof”

Insult is added to 2’s injury; as he discovers more and more of the truth behind the people around him and his own life, things only seem to get worse.

“But I’m still not sure if fear’s a rival or a close relative to truth”

After everything that’s happened, 2 is now wondering if there is still hope for a better future for him and 1, or if he should just accept that they live in a crapsack reality of eternal torture, loneliness, and regret and will never get what they want. It makes sense in context.

“Either way it helps to hear these words bounce off of you/The softest echo could be enough for me to make it through”

There is a part of the story where 2 is locked in a room with 1, but 1 is frozen in time and basically isn’t even there, leaving 2 alone by his own free will. Despite this, 2 still misses his friend, and is so desperate to be heard that he talks to 1 despite knowing he is practically talking to himself. Although, there are moments where 1 breaks out of the freeze and CAN listen to 2, despite not being able to verbally respond (1 is a Voiceless Player Character). 2 thinks that as long as he can still talk to 1, he just might be able to make it through this hell and start over.

“Sahlo Folina”

This phrase is Somali and translates to “easy and simple”, referencing how easy it could be for 2 to destroy everything he’s built. This is based on later lyrics.

“I created this world/To feel some control”

(based on lore from one ending of the game) 2 used to be completely alone, and desperately wanted a home and a friend, so he created the world we play in during the game. He even created 1 himself to make choices and go on adventures with. 2 didn’t choose to be all alone in the beginning, so he created everything so he could feel like he had some control over his existence, despite knowing deep down that EVERYTHING could easily be ripped away from him by his creators at any time.

“Destroy it if I want”

Again, 2 is pained by his existence and not really being able to control anything that happens to him; he toys with the idea of burning it all down, despite knowing he’d be alone again. However, his creators are the ones who allowed him to do all this in the first place, so in reality, everything is up to them. So 2 is just playing pretend here so he doesn’t have to think about that fact.

There is a reprise of these lines, starting with “sahlo folina”, at the end of the song. If I ever made an AMV for this song about the video game, at this part, I would recreate an ending from the game where 2 decides to stop running around and making so many choices, and thinks it would be better for him and 1 to stop and just enjoy life as it is. When they do, 2 finally feels happy for the first time in his life, but the player ultimately decides to ruin it for him by forcing 1 to jump off a flight of stairs until he dies, resetting the story, as well as 2’s memories of what he’s learned. 2 begs 1 to stop, knowing if 1 dies, he’ll lose everything, but not knowing 1 isn’t doing this of his own accord. He eventually loses hope and lets him go, deciding there’s nothing he can do to stop him, and that 1 hates him so much he’s willing to die just to be rid of him and the world he’s created.

Well, that’s it. I really like character-driven stories, which is probably what made this game so enjoyable for me. I should note that the story bits I described here are probably the darkest in the whole game, and that this game is mainly a meta comedy game with more funnies and happy moments than these darker parts. If you do know what game I’m talking about here, I hope you enjoyed hearing my take ;) But even if you don’t, I hope you enjoyed reading this. Thank you!