Reading Log #3

Reading log #3
Title: Ode to sleep
Text type: Song Lyrics
Artist: Twenty one pilots

The song “Ode to Sleep”  is a deep and meaningful song that masterfully bends the rules music with combinations of electronic, indie rock and rap. Tyler Joseph portrays a struggle between voices of darkness and trying to overcome this darkness.The alternation of light and dark tones of the instrumentals representing the night and day. The verses are a reflection of nights where one's thoughts can be more pessimistic and filled with doubt. Then once the chorus hits with a more buoyant tune representing the day where Tyler tries to fight the demons in which are haunting him.

The theme of the song “Ode to Sleep” takes a self-destructive path toward hopelessness and giving up. Some lyrics also seem to indicated that he may be struggling with guilt over his hypocritical thoughts and actions that betray his faith and beliefs. Tyler contemplates on the failure of living his life the way he wants to, and pleads for answers as he continues to fight off the darkness pulling him down and telling him to give up. Tyler is upset as he knows he’s not living in the freedom that is meant for him, and asks “is this living free?”

One of the lyrics that really stands out to me is "I'll stay awake 'cause the dark's not taking prisoners tonight." This phrase can be interpreted in many ways, but I see it as choosing to stay alive and not allowing your doubts to take your life. To stay awake against your struggles and not being “asleep” to the evil in the world. Tyler then writes about the voices of the demons that were speaking "crazy words" into his brain, telling him he "was gone” that his life is hopeless, and he might as well give up. He invokes the demons on why they continue to torment him, as he believes that he has no significance to God and that his life will not threaten the plans of the enemy. He clearly states that his testimony for God is absent because he is afraid to tell others who he adores. “I'm afraid to tell you who I adore, won't tell you who I'm singing towards,
Metaphorically I'm a whore, and that's denial number four.”

The demons lies make Tyler believe that he is insignificant to this world, which is part of the struggle he is fighting against. The lyrics "I will set my soul on fire" portrays that he is so deep in the darkness of his thoughts that he wishes to destroy his life. In all this deception and denial of faith he asks "what have I become?" Even though Tyler's beautifully written lyrics have a deep spiritual meaning, they can be interpreted in many different ways, making it engaging to anyone struggling with their lives. I really enjoy listening to the honesty of the lyrics that deal with his real problems which are relatable to so many, and are not really talked about enough in everyday life.