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Implicit Demand For Proof: Difference between revisions
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The track evolves quickly into an angst-y piece that details [[Tyler Joseph]]’s struggle with his religious doubt, a theme the group would continue to explore further throughout their career. | The track evolves quickly into an angst-y piece that details [[Tyler Joseph]]’s struggle with his religious doubt, a theme the group would continue to explore further throughout their career. | ||
Tyler goes as far as to bait God, or “implicitly demands” proof of His existence. He questions his power and His presence, even if it means God strikes Joseph down in the process for his blasphemy<ref>https://genius.com/Twenty-one-pilots-implicit-demand-for-proof-lyrics</ref>. | Tyler goes as far as to bait God, or “implicitly demands” proof of His existence. He questions his power and His presence, even if it means God strikes Joseph down in the process for his blasphemy<ref name=":0">https://genius.com/Twenty-one-pilots-implicit-demand-for-proof-lyrics</ref>. | ||
== Versions == | == Versions == | ||
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A less literal analysis of this line is that God is | A less literal analysis of this line is that God is | ||
making him look away from any proof, forcing him to solely rely on his faith. | making him look away from any proof, forcing him to solely rely on his faith.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|«''Strike me down, I am calling Your lightning down from Your dark hiding place'' | |«''Strike me down, I am calling Your lightning down from Your dark hiding place'' | ||
''Go ahead and show me Your face»'' | ''Go ahead and show me Your face»'' | ||
|Tyler is taunting God, trying to draw Him out and make Him prove Himself. What Tyler doesn’t realize is that God isn’t hiding; Tyler simply hasn’t found Him of his own accord. He resorts to blasphemy, asking for his own self-destruction. What Tyler is asking for is comparable to what was described in either Job 36 or Job 37. | |Tyler is taunting God, trying to draw Him out and make Him prove Himself. What Tyler doesn’t realize is that God isn’t hiding; Tyler simply hasn’t found Him of his own accord. He resorts to blasphemy, asking for his own self-destruction. What Tyler is asking for is comparable to what was described in either Job 36 or Job 37. | ||
“Show me your face,” connects with the chorus and the previous demands for self destruction as well (“Strike me down”). It is quite likely an allusion to Exodus 33:20:<blockquote>‘But,’ he said, ‘you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.’</blockquote>Ironically, this line defies the meaning of an implicit demand. “Show me your face” is an ''explicit'' , or direct, demand, whereas an ''implicit'' demand would be indirect with only the implication of a demand. | “Show me your face,” connects with the chorus and the previous demands for self destruction as well (“Strike me down”). It is quite likely an allusion to Exodus 33:20:<blockquote>‘But,’ he said, ‘you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.’</blockquote>Ironically, this line defies the meaning of an implicit demand. “Show me your face” is an ''explicit'' , or direct, demand, whereas an ''implicit'' demand would be indirect with only the implication of a demand.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|«Reign down and destroy me | |«Reign down and destroy me | ||
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The word “reign” in these lines could have a double meaning, acting as a homophone for “rain.” Gods are usually seen as having control of the weather and the sky, bringing bad weather to punish people for things such as blasphemy. God is also known as the “King of kings,” and Tyler is asking God to actually “reign down” by doing something that only a king or a god could do to prove their existence. | The word “reign” in these lines could have a double meaning, acting as a homophone for “rain.” Gods are usually seen as having control of the weather and the sky, bringing bad weather to punish people for things such as blasphemy. God is also known as the “King of kings,” and Tyler is asking God to actually “reign down” by doing something that only a king or a god could do to prove their existence. | ||
This could also be a nod to Radiohead’s 1997 song “Paranoid Android” where it says:<blockquote>Rain down, rain down | This could also be a nod to Radiohead’s 1997 song “Paranoid Android” where it says:<ref name=":0" /><blockquote>Rain down, rain down | ||
Come on, rain down on me | Come on, rain down on me | ||
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''I am simply very perplexed by Your ways»'' | ''I am simply very perplexed by Your ways»'' | ||
|Sometimes following blindly in the words and ways of your superiors can be confusing and lead you to question their motives; not out of malice, but out of genuine curiosity. Nobody likes to be left in the dark. | |Sometimes following blindly in the words and ways of your superiors can be confusing and lead you to question their motives; not out of malice, but out of genuine curiosity. Nobody likes to be left in the dark. | ||
More specifically, Tyler strives to understand God Himself more thoroughly. This is seen more blatantly in Tyler’s song “Blasphemy” from his 2008 solo project, ''No Phun Intended''. He seems to possess some resentment towards God in this line, as many do after suffering some sort of trauma. He questions His methods, which is not acceptable behavior according to some Christian churches, but is common in those who feel hopeless. | More specifically, Tyler strives to understand God Himself more thoroughly. This is seen more blatantly in Tyler’s song “Blasphemy” from his 2008 solo project, ''No Phun Intended''. He seems to possess some resentment towards God in this line, as many do after suffering some sort of trauma. He questions His methods, which is not acceptable behavior according to some Christian churches, but is common in those who feel hopeless.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|«''Why would you let us use your name?»'' | |«''Why would you let us use your name?»'' | ||
|As many worshipers have expressed, Tyler is curious as to why God would create humans with the ability to sin. In biblical times, the true name of God was considered much too holy to be spoken aloud. This may also allude to the famous passage in the Book of Exodus in which speaking the Lord’s name in vain is made to be a crime:<blockquote>Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.</blockquote>It’s appropriate to note here that Tyler never directly says “God” in his songs (save for “A Car, A Torch, A Death”), even though many clearly contain religious allusions. As this article suggests, it almost seems as if this is done to draw people in, then let them figure it out for themselves. | |As many worshipers have expressed, Tyler is curious as to why God would create humans with the ability to sin. In biblical times, the true name of God was considered much too holy to be spoken aloud. This may also allude to the famous passage in the Book of Exodus in which speaking the Lord’s name in vain is made to be a crime:<blockquote>Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.</blockquote>It’s appropriate to note here that Tyler never directly says “God” in his songs (save for “A Car, A Torch, A Death”), even though many clearly contain religious allusions. As this article suggests, it almost seems as if this is done to draw people in, then let them figure it out for themselves.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
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| colspan="2" |all meanings of the lyrics are taken from the Genius website | |||
|} | |} | ||
''«I know You're not a liar and I know You could set fire this day'' | ''«I know You're not a liar and I know You could set fire this day'' | ||