Fake You Out by Twenty One Pilots Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Struggle with Inner Demons
Lyrics
In the night, headlights call my name
I, I’ll never be, be what you see inside
You say I’m not alone, but I am petrified
You say that you are close, is close the closest star?
You just feel twice as far, you just feel twice as far
And I’ll fall
And I’ll break
And I’ll fake
All I wanna
And I’ll fall down
And I’ll break down
And I’ll fake you out
All I wanna
I’m so afraid
Of what you have to say
‘Cause I am quiet now
And silence gives you space
I’ll never be, be what you see inside
You say I’m not alone, but I am petrified
You say that you are close, is close the closest star?
You just feel twice as far, you just feel twice as far
And I’ll fall
And I’ll break
And I’ll fake
All I wanna
And I’ll fall down
And I’ll break down
And I’ll fake you out
All I wanna
It’s the same game today as it always is
I don’t give these places fake my name explaining this
And the wrists of my mind have the bleeding lines
That remind me of all the times
I have committed
Dirty, dirty crimes that are perfectly form-fitted
To what I’ve done and what I’m doing
I’m brewing and losing and spewing infusing
And believe me that’s what all the kids are doing
What kids are doing are killing themselves
They feel they have no control of their prisoner’s cell
And if you’re one of them then you’re one of me
And you would do almost anything just to feel free
Am I right, of course I am
Convince me otherwise would take all night
Before you walk away, there’s one more thing I want to say
Our brains are sick but that’s okay
(I’ll fake you out)
(I’ll fake you out)
(I’ll fake you out)
(And I’ll break down)
(I’ll fake you out)
And I’ll fall (I’ll fake you out)
And I’ll break (I’ll fake you out)
And I’ll fake (I’ll fake you out)
All I wanna
(Fake you out)
(I’ll fake you out)
(I’ll fake you out)
(And I’ll break down)
(I’ll fake you out)
(I’ll fake you out)
(I’ll fake you out)
(And I’ll break down)
All I wanna
Yeah, and I’ll fall down
And I’ll break down
And I’ll fake you out
All I wanna
Yeah, and I’ll fall down
And I’ll break down
And I’ll fake you out
All I wanna
I’m so afraid
Of what you have to say
‘Cause I am quiet now
And silence gives you space
Twenty One Pilots, the duo known for their poetic divergence and their genre-blurring music, have once again captured the hearts and minds of their fans with ‘Fake You Out.’ The song – a cocktail of emotion staged over a canvas of dynamic beats – is a testament to their unique alchemy of indie pop and lyrical depth.
But beneath the surface of its catchy rhythm and the theatrical performance lies a profound exploration of fear, self-doubt, and the internal battle that defines the human condition. Let’s dissect the elements that ‘Fake You Out’ compels listeners to confront, with a magnifying glass on its most poignant lyrics.
Chasing the Night: A Quest for Escapism
The opening lines introduce a desperate yearning to ‘drive away in the night,’ painting a scenario imbued with escapism. The ‘headlights’ that call the name of the narrator stand as beacons, illuminating the path towards anonymity and release from the clutches of expectation and societal norms.
The concept of fleeing under the cloak of darkness echoes the universal urge to move away from places, thoughts or emotions that are too painful to face in the cold light of day. It’s a metaphor for the internal drive to hide one’s true self from the piercing eyes of judgment.
The Haunting Fear of Exposure
The chorus’s repetition of ‘I’ll fall’, ‘I’ll break’, and ‘I’ll fake’ hits the listener with a triad of vulnerability, collapse, and deception. There’s a raw acknowledgment here that the speaker will do whatever it takes, including ‘fake you out,’ to maintain control over how they are perceived by others.
In an era where authenticity is both sought after and feared, ‘Fake You Out’ captures the paradox of wanting to be seen and understood, yet dreading the consequences of revealing one’s true self. The duplicity of ‘faking’ is a defense mechanism, a shield brandished against potential rejection or hurt.
An Intimate Confession: It’s Okay to Not Be Okay
Perhaps the most gripping moment of the song is the candid confession: ‘Our brains are sick but that’s okay.’ It’s an embrace of imperfection and an armistice with one’s own troubled psyche. This line resonates with anyone struggling with mental health, assuring them that they are not alone in their fight.
This moment of solidarity extends an empathetic hand to listeners. It’s a call to recognize and accept the flaws in our mental makeup without attaching stigma or shame. Twenty One Pilots dares to address the often unspoken truth that everyone, at some point, wrestles with their mental health.
Behind the Metaphor: The Star That Feels Twice as Far
When Tyler Joseph introspectively sings, ‘You say that you are close, is close the closest star? You just feel twice as far,’ he’s dealing with a complex layer of distance and intimacy. In these lines, closeness is a star – seemingly near when glanced upon in the night sky, yet in truth, incredibly distant.
The implied hidden meaning is that emotional proximity can sometimes be as deceptive as the apparent nearness of stars. Someone could be physically close or say the right things, and yet the emotional chasm remains vast and difficult to bridge. The song confronts this dissonance head-on, exploring the loneliness that accompanies it.
The Anthem of Rebel Hearts: Memorable Lines That Resonate
‘I don’t give these places fake my name explaining this. And the wrists of my mind have the bleeding lines that remind me of all the times I have committed.’ These words encapsulate a resistance to conformity while acknowledging the self-inflicted wounds of past mistakes and internal struggles.
‘Fake You Out’ is not only a critique of societal pressures but a personal manifesto of resilience and irreverence towards a system that often values appearances over authenticity. These memorable lines strike a chord by rejecting superficial validation in favor of genuine self-understanding.
