#sometimesalien music | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

sometimesalien · 11 days ago

Text

in trench, i’m not alone: how the dema storyline displays mental health struggles and how they are overcome.

hello tumblr clique. started this essay whilst procrastinating and it kinda flew under the backseat for a few months and then i found it, blew the dust off it, and finished it. one pointer - it is written like an academic essay as that’s what i was procrastinating at the time. but it’s my interpretation and thoughts of the dema storyline (both explicitly stated by the band and those implied to be part of the storyline) and how they portray mental health struggles. it's 7790 words by the way. i’m gonna launch this out the car window and drive off into the distance. enjoy.

tw for mentions of suicide/suicidal behaviours

On the 17th of May 2015, Ohio based music group Twenty One Pilots released their fourth official studio album, Blurryface. This album kick started the creation of the Dema storyline, which has analysed issues such as mental health struggles and depression, as well as addiction, relapse and overcoming the worst aspects of yourself to become the true version of yourself. These issues were further discussed in the 2018 album Trench and the subsequent follow up album, 2021’s Scaled and Icy, with the whole storyline being concluded in 2024’s Clancy. The storyline that has its foundations in these albums follows the narrator Clancy, portrayed by Tyler Joseph, who is trying to escape a fictional dystopian city called Dema that is ruled over by nine Bishops, with a district for each. The Bishops have created their own religion called Vialism, which glorifies suicide and allows the Bishops to use the bodies for their own purpose.Josh Dun portrays the leader of the Banditos, Torchbearer, who has the power to guide Clancy, which will be further explained further down. The storyline, briefly summarised, is Clancy escaping Dema, being brought back to it, escaping again, being brought back, being forced to make propaganda, escaping again and is now going back in to bring it all down. This essay will be separated into four separate areas, designated by the four albums that are considered part of the storyline. In order, Blurryface, Trench, Scaled and Icy, and finally, Clancy.

Blurryface.

Whilst not confirmed officially until the ‘I Am Clancy’ video release, Blurryface starts off the Dema storyline subtly. With one song from the album, Heavydirtysoul officially on the YouTube playlist, it can be said that other songs from the album relate to the storyline, whilst not officially being part of the lore. The other songs include their smash hit Stressed Out, Doubt as well as the album closer, Goner.

Heavydirtysoul begins the whole Dema storyline. In the song, Clancy convinces Nico to take him outside the walls of Dema. This can be seen through the lyrics ‘can you save my heavydirtysoul’. These lyrics can be interpreted as the narrator dealing with mental health struggles and the phrase is acting as a cry for help or the startings of a discussion within themself to realise that is actually wrong. This can be seen throughout the music video for the song, where Clancy is in the car, being driven and he is pleading with Nico. Whilst this can be interpreted to have been a ruse by Clancy, the point still stands as Clancy is still trying to process his struggles and his relationship with Nico through pleading and asking for what is essentially forgiveness. The narrator is pleading with Nico to save them from the problems they are facing in any way possible. This can also be seen through the lyric, ‘it’s just right now I’ve got a crazy mind to clean’. This lyric can be interpreted as the narrator understanding they need to clear their mind and understand the root of their problem, but there is something in the way that is stopping them from doing it. This can also be discussed as the narrator’s last attempt at asking for help from the antagonist, as by saying they have a crazy mind, they are trying to evoke sympathy from the antagonist. By doing this, they are asking for help, which in turn might offer them forgiveness. It is difficult to place this within the story right now, as all the knowledge we have about it was given in the ‘I Am Clancy’ video, but this is open for interpretation from anyone.

Stressed Out is the most popular song by Twenty One Pilots, but the themes of it tie into mental health and more importantly, how vulnerable mental health issues make people. This can be seen in the lyric ‘My name’s Blurryface and I care what you think’. This can be interpreted as the narrator’s mental health declining and the side of them that they don’t want people to see (the side that is struggling vs the side that is on show) and how they can fall further into the issues by listening to them in turn. Blurryface is the personification of Tyler Joseph’s insecurities, so to have someone care about what the narrator is thinking, but it being the insecurities, further shows that personifying insecurities and giving them a name and a face can either develop into a coping mechanism, or it can cause further issues along the line as by personifying the issues, it can cause a harder time trying to fight them. Whilst this song isn’t directly in the Dema storyline, it is important to note that as revealed in the ‘I Am Clancy’ video, Blurryface is Nico. Therefore, Nico has had an influence in the storyline before the storyline was officially announced.

Doubt, whilst it can be interpreted in a religious sense, can also be interpreted in ways that relate to mental health. This song echoes the themes established earlier on in the album, where mental health can make someone feel vulnerable, no matter how far they have come from them. This can be seen in the lyric ‘want the markings made on my skin/to mean something to me again’. Whilst this can be interpreted in the literal sense, with Tyler Joseph performing shows since Blurryface with black paint on his neck and hands, but it can be interpreted in the way of self harm. Since the narrator wants the markings to mean something again, they may be at the stage of their recovery where they feel like the marks are insignificant, or they need to feel like how they felt when the markings happened. This relapse of feelings can happen when someone is desperate and in a bad place, which this song is almost synonymous for. In the storyline, the marks mean that the person has been smeared, which means they have been taken under the control of the Bishops. This is seen in the Jumpsuit music video for reference. With this in mind, it can be said that the narrator wants to be taken back under the Bishop’s control, back into the mental health struggles, because they find it hard to relate to anything outside of it.

The same remains true for the last song on the album, Goner. The themes introduced in this song are ones of defeating the personification of the insecurities and becoming free from them. This can be seen in the lyrics ‘the ghost of you is close to me’. These lyrics can be interpreted as the narrator, having defeated the insecurities, understanding how they are still around and will never be truly gone. The use of ‘ghost’ displays this, as ghosts are believed to haunt the living. This can be interpreted almost in a Jekyll and Hyde situation, with the voice always being there in the back of the mind but the narrator is actively choosing to ignore it and not be pressured by it anymore. The Jekyll and Hyde scenario can also be demonstrated through the lyrics, ‘I’ve got two faces, Blurry’s the one I’m not’. This can be interpreted as the narrator actively revolting against the personification of the mental health issues, almost pleading with whoever is listening to tell them to ignore the personification, that the personification isn’t the person they want to have on show. It could also be interpreted as the narrator pleading with themselves to not let the personification win, and understanding that it will always be there, but it is possible to live alongside them. This links with the storyline as Nico actively seeks out Clancy and marks him in the Jumpsuit video, and again in the Levitate video when Nico brings Clancy back to Dema again. The usage of the markings and having both Clancy and Nico appear in shots together parallels this lyric, it shows the viewer that Clancy and Nico are not the same person, even though Nico targets Clancy throughout.

Overall, even though it is only a small part of the Dema storyline, Blurryface remains the start point. It is important to note that Blurryface establishes the storyline. Mental health in this case is demonstrated through othering, personification and pleading with the listener to differentiate the two characters, which is something completed throughout someone dealing with mental health problems.

Trench

Trench started the second part of the storyline in July 2018. This section will focus on the three songs considered to be part of the story as seen in the YouTube playlist which are Jumpsuit, Levitate and Nico and the Niners, as well as three others that are significant, which are Neon Gravestones, Bandito and Leave the City. The songs within the playlist will be discussed in story order, which is Jumpsuit, Nico and the Niners and Levitate respectively.

Jumpsuit came about in July 2018. In terms of the storyline, Jumpsuit comes once Clancy has escaped Dema post Heavydirtysoul. Within the song, he escapes and gets recaptured and taken back to Dema. This is shown through the lyrics, ‘pressures of a new place roll my way’, showing that Clancy is in a new place that he has never been in before, which the listener interprets as Trench. This new place can be physical or as interpreted, mental. The narrator is in a new place mentally, and they are having to deal with the pressures of being in a mental state they are not used to being in, or one that they haven’t been in for a long time, as can be described as Clancy escaping Dema, or the narrator escaping the headspace they were in. This can be hard for someone to deal with, hence the use of ‘pressures’ to display this. Clancy’s capture can be represented through the lyrics, ‘I’ll be right there/But you’ll have to grab my throat and lift me in the air’, showing that Clancy is resisting some form of restraint and pleading for more time in this new foreign place he is in, but also demonstrating how the notion of being somewhere, with somewhere being interpreted as a good headspace, can feel so close, and the final hurdle being just too difficult to get to. This can be shown as the narrator understanding that their mental health struggles are returning, so they are pleading with them in a personified way to ask for more time in the good mental state they are in, or pleading to the support network in this ‘new’ place that they will be there at some point, they are close but not close enough. These can all be further shown in the music video. Within the video, it is shown that Clancy has escaped Dema, and gets recaptured under the eyes of the Banditos watching him. The Banditos will be discussed further when discussing Bandito. This song can be interpreted as the narrator having defeated some of their mental health struggles, and leaving the situation only to be dragged back to where they began. It can be interpreted as a cry for help almost, with the music video showing this. In the video, the Banditos shower Clancy with petals which shows that they recognise his struggle and they know of his existence, which is crucially important when someone is struggling with their mental health. This on its own is an important representation of mental health.

Nico and the Niners’ place in the storyline settles once Clancy is back in Dema. Within the song, Clancy escapes Dema again with the help of the Banditos led by Torchbearer, and is brought to their camp. This is shown within the lyrics, ‘what a beautiful day for making a break for it’ and ‘when Bishops come together they will know that/Dema don’t control us’. The first lyric displays a form of relief, as if the narrator is showing that the day they chose to ask for help is a beautiful day. This can be interpreted by the listener as the day where they ask for help with their own mental health struggles will be a beautiful day. The use of ‘making a break for it’ can be tied to the story in the same way it can be interpreted, as the person struggling can finally break free of their struggles and get away from them. This is all shown in the video, as Clancy is rescued from Dema by the Banditos while the Bishops are performing some form of ritual. The use of ‘making a break for it’ shows that the action has to be done quickly, so asking for help from the support system quickly, or in the storyline sense, running out of Dema through the tunnels. The second lyric ties the song into the story, with Dema being the fictional city ruled by the Bishops. The use of ‘don’t control us’ can be interpreted as the narrator realising, through the use of their support network, that the thoughts and issues that come with mental health struggles do not control them. It can also be shown through this that the narrator is trying to convince other people that they aren’t their mental health struggle, and that they too can overcome it. The music video shows that citizens of Dema closed their windows and hid from the Banditos, so whilst some people were ready, not everyone is ready all the time to try to make a break for it. Overall, this song can be interpreted as the family and friends helping the narrator escape from their mental health struggle, but also how people who are recovering can try to pull other people out alongside them.

Levitate concludes the storyline’s music videos from Trench. Within the song, Clancy establishes himself as one of the Banditos, finding his place and cutting his hair to signify a new start, until he gets taken back to Dema by Nico. This is shown within the lyrics ‘you can learn to levitate with a little help’ and ‘and sever all I knew, yeah sever all’. The first lyric establishes the need for a support system, with levitating being a metaphor for rising above all the mental health problems the narrator is facing. This shows that with the right people, anything is possible, and the ability to understand when you need help and be ready to accept that help shows the next stage of recovery has started. It’s a difficult thing to say that you are struggling and that you need help, but with help you can improve, like the narrator here. Within the video, it is shown that the Banditos are Clancy’s support system, having helped him escape from Dema again until he gets taken back to Dema by Nico. The emphasis on the use of ‘a little help’ shows that the narrator only needs a little help to get started on their journey back from where their mental health has declined from, and the help comes from their support network. It also demonstrates that sometimes you only need the smallest bit of help, however a similar line in Bandito provides a better explanation. The second lyric shows that the narrator is severing everything they used to know about the mental health struggle. This can be interpreted to show that the narrator is getting over their struggle, and by severing everything, it signifies a new start and a new chapter in their life. In the sense of the storyline, this can be seen in the Levitate music video where Clancy shaves his head once he is back in the Bandito camp. By severing, the fresh start is imminent and begins. However, the music video showing how fast Clancy gets dragged back to Dema shows how quickly the mental health struggle can consume and bring the person back to the point where they started, no matter how far into their recovery they were.

Neon Gravestones is the middle song on the album. Within the storyline, whenever someone commits an act of Vialism and becomes a Glorious Gone, they get buried with a neon gravestone, as seen in the music videos for Nico and the Niners, Overcompensate and Paladin Strait. Within the song however, the narrator doesn’t want to become a Glorious Gone. This can be seen through the lyrics ‘we glorify those even more when they…’. The glamourisation of suicide in this society is a problem, and the narrator in this sense is showing that they can’t even say the word, as everyone knows what could come next. This can be interpreted as the narrator explaining the concepts behind Vialism, but also how those who commit Vialism in the storyline are almost prophet-like and achieve special treatment (see: Saturday). The opposite is often what happens in society, but the person who commits suicide is often seen as a victim, and the victimisation is a problem. Suicide and mental health struggles have become more common talking points in society today, but the subjects still remain taboo and are often treated as gossip. The narrator fights this in the line ‘just pleading that it does not get glorified’. This line has the narrator pleading for if they end up committing suicide to become a Glorious Gone, that they don’t want their act to become glorified and instead to have suicide not be thought about whilst in a dark place, but also that they don’t want to be put on a pedestal and paraded around once they committed Vialism. This can be juxtaposed with the line ‘neon gravestones try to call for my bones’ where is is clear that the narrator has either had or is having thoughts of suicide, and the neon gravestones (the metaphor for the glorification of suicide in Dema) are wanting them to commit suicide so they can be glorified. This demonstration of glorification shows that the media likes to capitalise on the misfortune of others, and displays how they can often forget that there was once a person behind the body.

In Bandito, Clancy proudly proclaims that ‘I’m a Bandito’. Bandito in this context means a support system, and someone that is ready to begin helping others. Within the storyline, the Banditos are a group of former Dema citizens that have escaped and help others escape and assimilate into their culture. This can be interpreted as the narrator recovering from their struggle with their mental health and becoming ready to be the support system for the next person who is struggling. It could also be interpreted that the narrator is taking the moniker of Bandito and applying it in direct rebellion against the Dema regime, showing that whatever control they had over them is now non-existent. This shows that mental health struggles don’t define a person, only the person can define themselves. Within the storyline, the Banditos use tunnels to get into Dema, represented by the lyric ‘I could take the high road/But I know that I’m going low’. This can be interpreted as the narrator understanding that only someone who has experienced similar mental health issues can help others currently experiencing the same mental health issue. This interpretation can be seen in the music video for Nico and the Niners as well as the Clancy journals, where Clancy makes it out of Dema successfully with the Banditos by going through the tunnels under Dema instead of the other methods he used, for example getting Nico to drive him out of Dema in Heavydirtysoul. By going low, the narrator is getting revenge on Dema and the Bishops, which is simply escaping Dema. Escaping Dema means the offender gets marked as a ‘Failed Perimeter Escape’ or ‘FPE’ and is essentially shunned by the Dema society once back into Dema. Sometimes a small act of rebellion can evoke feelings and joy, so by escaping Dema, Clancy is coming to terms with his struggles and is growing as a person. For anyone struggling with mental health issues, having a support network is crucial. It can be as small as one person, or as large as needed. Knowing that someone is there to help you is so crucial for recovery, so what happens when that is taken away?

Leave the City concludes Trench, as well as the first part of the Dema storyline. Within the storyline, it takes place post Levitate, with Clancy now back inside the walls of Dema and under the eye of the Bishops once again. This is shown by the lyrics ‘I’m tired of tending to this fire’. This can be interpreted as the narrator becoming frustrated of the constant struggle to try to keep themselves from falling back into the issues they were facing, and they have given up the fight against the thoughts. With anyone freshly recovering from any mental health problem, it is all too easy to fall back again, but within the context of the song it is shown that there is no support system easily available, and the narrator is truly on their own, back in the place they started, with no sign of being able to get out. This can be shown by the lyrics ‘though I’m far from home/In Trench I’m not alone’. Within the context of the storyline, the Banditos reside in the continent of Trench which is outside of Dema, and therefore Clancy knows he is not alone as long as he makes it back to Trench. Since being taken back to Dema in Levitate, Clancy has not actually made it back to Trench, but he knows that the Banditos are out there in Trench and he can always get back to them, and back to his support system. The lyrics here can be interpreted as the narrator knowing they aren’t alone in the world anymore, however the support system is just out of reach to them. This can be a real struggle, and one that can be difficult to overcome. The song can be interpreted as one of hope, of knowledge that there is someone to help, but the fact they are just out of reach makes it harder to overcome the problems to ask for help once again.

Overall, Trench displays mental health struggles through the use of a support system, and how one small cry for help, or ‘sahlo folina’, can help the process of recovery begin. However, when it gets taken away or someone starts to slip back into the problems they were having, it can be difficult to reach out again and that is how the album ends.

Scaled and Icy

Scaled and Icy takes on a different aspect of mental health struggle. Scaled and Icy diverts from the sound that the band became known for, sounding more poppy and mainstream than their previous albums. With this in mind, the album was confirmed to be propaganda created by the Bishops in the ‘I Am Clancy’ video, where it was confirmed that Clancy had been forced to perform and create ‘for the benefit of Dema’ as a form of punishment for escaping. It can also be said that the narrator is pretending that everything is fine on the surface, but when you read in between the lines, they very much are not doing fine, as the poppy, mainstream sounding songs have some dark lyrics. Whilst almost every song off this album could be analysed, the ones relating to the storyline are Shy Away, Saturday and The Outside. The song not relating to the storyline but deserves to be mentioned is Redecorate.

Shy Away was the first song released for the album, and also the first song from Scaled and Icy to relate to the storyline. Within the storyline, there is no real story advancement, aside from the music video potentially showing Clancy for the first time since recapture, however this hasn’t been confirmed by the band and therefore should be treated like the other non related music videos. The song however plays a key part in the Livestream experience that was produced alongside the album. The Livestream experience was produced as a way for Tyler and Josh to perform the album until they could tour it due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but they tied it into the storyline, again revealed in the ‘I Am Clancy’ video. The live streamed version of Shy Away demonstrates how Clancy is being controlled by the Bishops, and how they are forcing him to perform the songs that he’s written for their enjoyment. This can be shown when Clancy screams one of the lyrics, when the original recording of the album does not have this in it. This can be interpreted as Clancy either showing his frustration with the situation he is in, or an act of rebellion. Whilst not explicitly mentioned, a line from Lane Boy should be considered here: ‘my creativity’s only free when I’m playing shows’. With this in mind, Clancy’s creativity has been stifled by the Bishops, and as he is finally being able to perform the songs he wrote, he can be more creative with how he performs them. Whilst the quote, ‘Shy Away scream’ has now become an aspect of each performance of the song, it shows that the Bishops weren’t letting Clancy show his creative freedoms. In turn, it also demonstrates how the narrator is frustratingly fighting with themself and turning away from everyone whilst maintaining this happy front, with them shying away from the problem at hand. This ‘performance’ as it were can often mirror how people feel when they are silently struggling with mental health issues and not wanting to worry anyone about it, and turning the fighting internally as to not worry others.

This point can be brought across to the second song released as part of the storyline, Saturday. Within the storyline, Clancy and Torchbearer are performing in a submarine as part of the Bishops Annual Assemblage of the Glorified and Keons, one of the Bishops, controls a dragon and causes an accident, leading Clancy and Torchbearer to escape. Whilst this may not immediately scream the fact that the narrator is dealing with mental health struggles, it is important to note the lyrics for this song. The lyrics that stand out the most are ‘lose my sense of time or two’ and ‘she said that I should change my clothes’. The first lyric can be interpreted with how depression feels, with the days and weeks flying by and the narrator feeling the same the whole time. This shows that the narrator is experiencing time blindness and by simply not knowing how much time has passed they feel like they will never fully be able to understand the time anymore. With this, it can be said that the storyline demonstrates this point, as Clancy revealed in one of his letters that he was held in a cell and only allowed to leave to create items ‘for the benefit of Dema’. Clancy mentions in the letters that he was there for an undetermined amount of time before the Bishops decided to make use of his writing ability, and they caused him to have sleep deprivation, which can cause people to feel like they’re in a dream-like state. This shows that knowing how time passes is important, and not realising it or having it stripped away makes it all so much harder to realise how long the struggles have consumed the narrator’s life for, and how isolating it can feel.The second lyric can be interpreted as how people may not understand and might believe the narrator is lazy. This is something that happens a lot in the media, with parents of depressed kids simply believing their children are lazy instead of suffering with a very real illness. The narrator is saying that someone else is telling them to get changed, however if we include the lyric discussed above, it shows that the narrator isn’t sure of the time anymore, and might not have the energy to change their clothes. The harmful stereotype can be demonstrated within the storyline during the Livestream experience, with Clancy changing clothes almost every single time the camera cuts. This can be interpreted as the Bishops trying to keep some variety, or the fact they keep changing what he is wearing so he cannot get comfy and refuse to change, also showing how they control his mental state and by forcing him to change, they’re trying to keep the mood happy and not let it show that Clancy is under their control. This can then be interpreted with the overall ‘sad songs but happy beat’ aspect of the album, as the narrator is clearly changing clothes to keep up with their appearance and pretending everything is fine, but only at other people’s discretion. However, not having the energy to change clothes when you should is a real issue that many people with depression face.

The final song in the storyline in Scaled and Icy is The Outside. Within the storyline, Clancy and Torchbearer have escaped to an island, Voldsoy, and Clancy gains the same power the Bishops have and he uses it to infiltrate Dema. This song can be interpreted as the narrator bringing themselves out of the mental health issues they are having, and getting ready to overcome it once and for all. Whilst this may seem like something out of a Hollywood movie, this can be seen throughout the lyric ‘or am I on the outside’. The lyric represents how the narrator feels now that they have broken free from their mental health problems, and are almost in disbelief of it. They are now on the outside of their mental health struggle, and looking back towards the inside, which is interpreted to represent the state they came from. However, they are also away from their support system and the people that help them. This can happen when the person suffering with poor mental health makes a breakthrough, but isn’t strong enough to ask for help or support and wants to wait until they are ready to. In the storyline, Clancy and Torchbearer are physically on the outside of Dema (the struggle) and Trench (the support system) by being on the island of Voldsoy, and by the end of the music video, Clancy realises he has the same power as the Bishops, and starts his return to Trench to get ready to take the Bishops down. Outside of the storyline, it demonstrates that the narrator is able to push past the point they were at and learn more about themselves, which is the inspiration to be able to ask for help. This can be tricky, as it leaves the narrator vulnerable but they know they can go back into the mental health issues via their support system and bring them down once and for all.

Redecorate closes the album, and is arguably the track that deals the most about mental health issues. This song can be said to be from the perspective of three people, all with the same conundrum. Should they tidy their room before they commit suicide or should they let it be redecorated? Or, should they make everything neat and tidy and pretend that everything is fine when it isn’t? This can be seen through the lyrics ‘I don’t want to go like this/At least let me clean my room’ and ‘put your ear up to the door, tell me, can you hear him saying?’. The first lyric can be interpreted as desperation from the narrator, almost regretting their decision to commit suicide but feeling like they have no other option. Suicide is often the last point people reach when suffering with very poor mental health, so this can be interpreted as a final call for help, along with asking whether they should clean their room or not. This begs the question, which one whoever is left behind would prefer to enter and see. Alternatively, it can be interpreted as the narrator delaying suicide, by doing something as simple as cleaning their room. By cleaning their room, they’re giving themselves time to think about it and sometimes just a few minutes can give someone a chance to want to seek help. The second lyric can be interpreted as someone from the support system either getting ready to enter before it is too late, or reminiscing on what used to happen behind the bedroom door before the narrator commits suicide. The importance of the verse this lyric comes from is evident throughout the Livestream performance. The songs debut performance was during the livestream, and Tyler Joseph only sang one verse of the song, during the Lane Boy/Redecorate/Chlorine section. This shows the importance of this verse, as well as how Clancy is feeling during the performance. Whilst the song has no ties to the storyline, to have this section here be the only section performed, it shows the relevance and how Clancy is feeling after being held captive by the Bishops. It shows that the Bishops are causing Clancy to feel isolated and alone, and how he feels almost embarrassed to still be in Dema after escaping twice. He’s asking the audience to the livestream whether they can hear what he’s saying, which is another callback to the ‘sad lyrics but happy beat’ aspect of the album, and is asking the audience to really listen to what he’s saying. Redecorate is an important song, and one that should be reflected on by everyone.

Overall, whilst being the most upbeat sounding album Twenty One Pilots have put out, Scaled and Icy is arguably the album with the most to talk about regarding mental health, both within the storyline and outside. The inclusion of the Livestream experience is important to the storyline, as it shows how the songs can be interpreted differently, but it gives an insight to how Clancy is feeling, but also demonstrating how sometimes it can feel like a performance towards people when mental health struggles are being had, and sometimes, you have to read between the lines to fully understand how someone is feeling.

Clancy

Clancy, the final album in the saga, presents the mental health struggle as a fight that will eventually get easier, but never truly ends. Within the storyline, it shows Clancy’s journey back to Trench from Voldsoy (Overcompensate), reuniting with the Banditos (Navigating) and going back to Dema to fight the Bishops and Nico (Paladin Strait). Outside of the storyline, the album focuses a lot on how the mental health struggle is never really over, and how some days may be harder than others, as well as reflecting on experiences that have been had and how they help grow and change. Each song discusses themes relating to mental health, however the song outside of the storyline that would be beneficial to be discussed the most would be Backslide.

Overcompensate was released on the 29th of February 2024, and began the conclusion to the narrative. Within the storyline, it shows how Clancy is using his newfound power of ‘seizing’ to educate citizens of Dema about the Bishops, all the while making his way back to Trench to reunite with the Banditos. The lyrics ‘so now you pick who you serve’ demonstrate how the narrator is helping others who were also having the same struggles decide who they serve, which can be implied to mean themselves or the struggles they are facing. Within the storyline, it’s Clancy telling the citizens of Dema that it’s their choice to either stay in Dema and serve the Bishops, or rebel like he has and join the Banditos in Trench to remove the Bishop’s power. The emphasis and repetition of ‘you’ shows that it’s a choice that you have to make, which shows the narrator is making the conscientious decision to help others and tell them that they’re in control of their body and emotions. Sometimes you need someone who has dealt with the same issues to turn around and say you need to get help when you’re paralysed with mental health struggles, so Clancy is not only giving agency to the citizens of Dema, the narrator is also showing the audience that the only person that can overcome their issues is themself.

Navigating is the next song in the storyline. Within the music video, it is revealed that Torchbearer throughout Scaled and Icy and Overcompensate was a projection and he was simply helping to guide Clancy around, away from Dema and back to the Banditos. This can represent someone willingly putting themself in danger to guide someone they love out of the place they were in, and then once they are back, showing them that it was in fact their doing the whole time. Which can be a positive thing, as it demonstrates how the narrator can do everything themself and has the mental strength and ability to do it, however it can make them feel even more isolated as a result and feel like the person could have done more to help them when they were struggling. This can also be demonstrated through the lyrics, and also showing how Clancy was feeling after the reveal. ‘I know you see me standing still’ provides the image of the person struggling knowing that someone is watching them and wants to help them, and the use of standing still shows that they are either not moving any further or are simply too scared to move any further. This can happen in recovery, where a point is reached and any point further just seems like it’s going to be too much work, and often knowing someone is there will make it easier to do. The line ‘I’m navigating, I'm navigating my head’ shows that a lot of the struggle is within the head, and the ability to navigate out of it requires a lot of work, and a lot of effort. It demonstrates how the person struggling often needs to navigate around the aspects of their head that caused them to be like this, and oftentimes they can get lost along the way without some sort of guide. Clancy in this sense has Torchbearer to guide him, however this can be anyone who demonstrates any sort of help to the person struggling. The music video demonstrates a small group of Banditos guiding Clancy and the projection of Torchbearer through Trench and back to the support system, which shows that the support system is often needed to bring the person back fully, but also relatives and associates of the support system can also guide and help get the person back to the people they love most.

The final song in the storyline, as of today, is Paladin Strait. This song concludes the album, and provides a conclusion. Within the music video Clancy, with the help of the Banditos, infiltrates Dema and fights the Glorious Gone, whilst Clancy goes inside the city and defeats 7 of the 8 remaining bishops, but gets stopped by Nico. The ending of the music video has left people confused, however it demonstrates how the root of the problems can always be gone back to, even after everything, and knowing that was the starting point and finally being able to face them in the eye means a lot for recovery. The first lyrics from this song that stand out the most are ‘I’m past the point of no return’. Within the storyline, this can be interpreted as Clancy getting to the point where he knows he cannot stop and go back to Trench and he has to fight Nico. The lyrics can be interpreted in the same way, with the person struggling knowing that once they get to a certain point in their recovery, they will have to confront the feelings they had and how they made them feel, and that point comes to everyone during their journey. The second line, ‘waiting, expectations that I’m going to make it’ demonstrates that the journey to recovery is one that the individual has to take. People can only do so much, and the individual has to take the journey alone, with the members of the support network only being able to watch and hope they come out the other side. This is a situation that everyone will be in, either the support network and the individual, and the expectation that they’re going to make it can be difficult, as the individual might not be ready to fight the issues head on, but the expectation they will and the fight will carry them through. There’s this expectation that the person is going to make it out on the other side, but the support system has to wait, which can feel excruciating and difficult. This can be seen in the music video as Torchbearer watches Clancy climb to the top of Nico’s tower, and bring all but Nico down, but Torchbearer stays on the ground, and doesn’t attempt to help, because Clancy, like every other person struggling with their mental health, has to finish the journey alone. The ending of this song shows that the demons will come back and attempt to pull them back, but by this time in the recovery, they’re not afraid anymore and will finally push through.

The non-storyline related song to be discussed is Backslide. Backslide, at its essence, is about not wanting to regress back into the behaviours once exhibited and doing anything you can to stop those behaviours coming back again. The lines in the song that stress this the most are ‘there’s no chance I can shake this again’ and, partially the reason this song was chosen, ‘kinda wishing that I never did Saturday’. The initial line mentioned brings questions, however it can be interpreted that the ‘this’ that is spoken about refers to Blurryface, and the reality that Blurryface has made an appearance in the narrator’s life again. In a similar vein, it can be interpreted as a relapse into addiction, as the narrator might have been able to shake it before, but the very thing they’re addicted to has come back and is making it harder for them to leave it behind. This in turn can affect the narrator and how they feel, and make the very idea of recovery seem like a fictional story, but can also be seen in the music video, as it shows Tyler cycling to buy burger buns and then going around in a cycle and ends up back where he started. The second line is more about the storyline, as it makes reference to Saturday, one of the title tracks off Scaled and Icy and subsequently the initial reaction is that it’s Clancy saying he regrets being forced to become the puppet for the Bishop’s propaganda, and as a result the message that the Bishops forced him to promote. This aspect of regret elevates the hatred that the Bishops have for Clancy and vice versa, as Clancy’s escape happened when they were at their most vulnerable, having sent him out on a submarine. To contrast this, it can also be interpreted that it’s actually the narrator, which is heavily implied at this moment to be Tyler, regretting making Saturday due to the backlash received when it first came out, due to the poppy nature of the song and how it’s so different to anything that they had put out before. This is no new thing to happen when a band moves from their typical sound to a more pop music like one, as seen with Paramore with After Laughter. This line consequently shows how damaging fan culture can be to people and their mental health, as this line would have never made its way into the song if Scaled and Icy never received the backlash it did. The impact of the line shows that previous regrets can stay around a long time after the regret has occurred, and can force itself back into the forefront when confronted about it.

Therefore, Clancy shows the development of the titular character and how he not only learns about himself but also inspired others to grow and change and rise above their struggle. The album touches on addiction and relapse, and whilst the end of Paladin Strait is up for interpretation, and fans aggressively try to decipher what else the band is hiding up their sleeve, the message is the same. Sometimes you have to face your demons head on by yourself to have a chance to defeat them, but there will always be your support system there to help you, and your influence is there to help other people in the same position you were once in.

Conclusion: To conclude, the Dema storyline is simply a reflection of the journey with mental health. It demonstrates that it’s never a straight line, and that setbacks will occur throughout. It also shows that there will always be a support system around, and whilst the support system will always be there to support you, you’re the one that has to reach out, or escape, first, and then they will be there to help you grow and flourish. You can get dragged back, and pretend that everything is fine and act like it’s all fine and dandy, but if the lines are read between it demonstrates how people often put on a front and pretend that everything is fine. The journey of self discovery happens, and then you bring yourself back to your support system and get ready to tackle the demons again. Your support system can help so much, but at the end of the day, you’re the one who has to fight them head on. Whilst this might seem like a journey that everyone takes at some point in their life, seeing the journey placed out in a medium that is not only accessible but also intriguing and fascinating and attention grabbing. When the band posted the ‘I Am Clancy’ video in February 2024, it brought attention back to the band and garnered attention simply because they were explaining it all and heading into the final conclusion. Which might not be the final conclusion. As the end of the Paladin Strait video ends on a cliffhanger, it’s up to interpretation what it means. Personally, Clancy is finally strong enough to face his biggest demon, and doesn’t show cowardice or submission anymore. Others may interpret in a different way. To bring it all together, the storyline takes the taboo subject of mental health and humanises it, pulling on aspects of pop culture and media to create a physical embodiment of the mental health struggle, and gives everyone a character to relate to, because if he can do it, so can you.

#essay #in this essay i will #sometimesalien essays #sometimesalien music #twenty one pilots #clancy #torchbearer #mental health #yes this is longer than a university dissertation #i got a bit carried away #blurryface #trench #scaled and icy

12 notes · View notes