Twenty One Pilots Tuesday: Holding on to You EXPLAINED
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 มิ.ย. 2024
- 🚨Songwriters, don't forget the How to Write Lyrics Like Twenty One Pilots Course!
how-to-write-lyrics-like-twen...
➡️ Beat writer's block and actually get your lyrics out there!
➡️ Learn how to come up with non-cheesy ideas
➡️ Write raps like Tyler Joseph
➡️ Learn to be true to your ideas
➡️ Learn how to connect with listeners!
This has got to be one of my favorite Twenty One Pilots songs of all time. "Holding on to You" has a deep meaning and deep lyrics. The song is a little confusing though, so I made this video to help explain it to you, and I want you to know that I really appreciate you guys who watch my explanation videos. The fact that people care means a lot to me.
Please enjoy my song lyric explanation of the meaning of "Holding on to You" by Twenty One Pilots! And don't forget to comment on and upvote next week's TOP song to explain!
My Patreon: / thepopsongprofessor
My website: www.popsongprofessor.com
The Pop Song Classroom: www.popsongprofessor.com/pop-...
My Podcast: songmeanings.libsyn.com/
My Instagram: / cliffordstumme
My Twitter: / cliffordstumme
Disclaimer: The content of this educational video is covered by fair use. My explanations are transformative and add interpretation and analysis to the original work much as happens when I teach poetry in a university classroom. When I explain songs, I use only the lyrics or short clips of the original song or music video and thus have not hurt this song’s salability or provided a market substitute. All copyright claims will be disputed and appealed. Please see me as your ally in my attempt to use a literary perspective to enable fans to better understand and enjoy your wonderful and interesting piece of music.
![twenty one pilots: Holding On To You [OFFICIAL VIDEO]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ktBMxkLUIwY/mqdefault.jpg)
🚨Songwriters, don't forget the How to Write Lyrics Like Twenty One Pilots Course!
how-to-write-lyrics-like-twenty-one-pilots.teachery.co/sign-up-now
➡️ Beat writer's block and actually get your lyrics out there!
➡️ Learn how to come up with non-cheesy ideas
➡️ Write raps like Tyler Joseph
➡️ Learn to be true to your ideas
➡️ Learn how to connect with listeners!
The Pop Song Professor I’m only 12(ish) and I love music and I hope one day to play a instrument or sing but
I have kinda of a voice thing that I have where my voice sounds all weird when I speak up more clearly and I’ve always wanted to sing it’s been a dream of mine which one would u do
I always thought of this song less about God and more about depression. These are the lines I thought differently on:
-"I'm open a moment and close when you show it before you know it I'm lost at sea" one day you're feeling good and open but the next day you're closed and you're lost
-"You are surrounding all my surroundings sounding down the mountain range of my left side brain" Depressing thoughts can be all-consuming, making it hard to listen to any type of logic.
-"Twisting the kaleidoscope behind both of my eyes." Instead of God making you see things differently, I always thought it was depression making you see everything differently.
But this whole theory falls with the lines "And I'll be holding onto you" and "Entertain my faith."
Well I had a really similar take to the song, for me the holding on to you part is like this struggle you have when you're trying to recover from a depressive episode or battling it in general, you come to a point where you logically know that you can change your thoughts but staying in depression mode has become so routine and comfortable you kind of try to hold on to it cuz it feels safe (Listen to lithium by evanescence, it explores the same concept).
Entertain my faith is kind of a step beyond that, where hes pleading with his mind to just give his faith in recovering a shot before accepting or resigning himself to a life of depression, like hes kind of trying to throw himself a bone.
I agree with you 100% that he is singing to his depression and inner demons in this song, not to God. It makes sense to me for him to say "I'll be holding on to you" because a lot of people find a strange comfort in being depressed because they are used to it and they don't want to or know how to let go of it. And it makes sense for him to say "entertain my faith" because i think he is saying that his demons and depression make him question his faith in God and in life in general.
I believe it means what it means to you
So... I am like 2 years late so you might not even see this BUT I 100% agree that it's about depression. I used to think he was talking about God, but I was just watchkng the HOTY music video and something clicked. Tyler looked like he was in pain and all the people that were surrounding him were wearing black and dressed kind of like skeletons (skeletons could represent death? Or at least something negative...) and so I thought "well, God is good and this thing that he's singing about is bad". Now, you say that the actual "holding on to you" part doesn't make sense but I think it does... Tyler starts by saying that he's taking over his body and he's back in control. He also says at one point to "tell it you belong to me" and to "tie a noose around your mind...this ain't a noose this is a leash and I have news for you, you must obey me" and I think that goes along with this... I think he's holding on to his mind (he did say to put a leash on it for a reason) and it's a way to show authority and say that he's in control now. As for the whole "entertain my faith" part, I'm not really sure since up until about 10 minutes ago I thought this song was about God... Maybe this part could be him calling out to God and asking for help so that he can control his thoughts? Just because the entire song isn't religious doesn't mean that one part can't be, right?
Now that I think about it I tend to get migraines on my more depressed days and they always happen on the left
I've been suggesting Forest for three weeks. Please do Forest.
Yes do Forest please!
First Last T-E-R-R-I-F-I-E-D
First Last yes, please!!
First Last Yes please, I want Forest. :)
I'll ask for it until it happens.☺
How about Ode to Sleep for next TØP Tuesday?
That would be great!
The Pop Song Professor whats your view on Blasphemy
I listen to it so infrequently that I feel under qualified. But if I were to explain it, I'd definitely put some time into it.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on Air Catcher!!
That's, honestly, one of the most confusing--that, Pantaloon, and Glowing eyes.
I know it is, so I will understand completely if you decide not to try it. The message of the song has always just been so fascinating, almost appealing to me. Even though I don't get it word for word, you can kind of piece the meaning together based on the feel of the lyrics, but I've always wondered what you might have to say about it. I really appreciate hearing some of tøp's songs examined from a Christian perspective, so thank you for doing this channel! :)
Oh, don't mistake me. A confusing song doesn't frighten me. ;) But, I know what you mean. Hopefully one of those songs will get upvoted by everyone soon!
So sorry this is a day late! We're still busy moving, so I was only able to start editing this video last night. After this week of painting, cleaning, and moving, things should get back to a regular schedule. :)
The Pop Song Professor that’s ok
Well I'll suggest Addict with a pen since it's one of my favorite songs.
Be concerned
Fake you out
Screen
YES, PLEASE DO FAKE YOU OUT!
Katie K
Where'd ya go, huh?
They all think they know, Ya!
GVN Rehmana it’s so hard to motivate me to devote a single inch of me to something I can’t see
BE CONCERNED YES
I'd also like to get your take on "Hometown".
This song means so much to me. As soon as I turn 18 I'm planning on getting a tattoo of its lyrics. I know that it may be about god and I'm actually agnostic but this is what I love about twenty one pilots, their songs become special for you adjusting to your life and the context that surrounds you. Back to the tattoo I want to get "Entertain my faith" tattooed on my leg really small and really girly but I just want it to be there in my skin to remind me about its meaning forever. Faith for me is not about god, it's about hope, about believing in someone or something so much that it helps you just go through all the shit that's going on through your life
Tyler once answered a tweet asking him how his faith is entertain, he answered "Proof"
Interesting!
My theory on how the second bridge is that it is connected to the rest of the song.
First, there is a purposeful change in the person Tyler is speaking in. Throughout the whole song, it is a “conversation” between God and Tyler. He uses the words “I” and “you”. To me it gives an impression of privacy and ignorance. However, in the second bridge, Tyler switches to “we.” I think this means that Tyler is now talking to his audience. I think that he is revealing the revelation that he has found in his pursuit of God. I’ve always seen that bridge as the central thesis of Twenty-One Pilots, mainly due to their upbeat lyrics mixed with dark lyrics.
Second, the second bridge is the culmination of a theme that is present throughout the song: body parts. The very first line he says is “Taking over my body back,” I think this sets the tone for the rest of the song, as he mentions very symbolic body parts. He also uses the present participle, meaning he is doing the action, not that he has done it. He then mentions his brain, which is very important and the center of his dark thoughts, almost a ground zero in a way. The idea of God is what takes it back for him. He then mentions his eyes. He can now see the world that God wants him to see, not what, for lack of a better word, the demons, want him to see. Skipping to the second bridge. He mentions two body parts, feet and a heart. Feet are symbolic of motion, and Tyler emphasizes this so I think he’s saying we should move forward. And I think it is highly significant that he mentions a heart last. A heart is always been symbolic of one’s soul. By saying “it’s our hearts that make the beat” he’s saying that we should follow our hearts.
So basically, I think that the final bridge is a resolution to the things he has learned in the song, and now he's telling it to his audience, whether it be the clique or the whole world.
Sorry for the long comment lol. Love the explanation vids!
This is awesome
Friend: "What days do you listen to Twenty One Pilots?"
Me: "Every single day, I love them."
Friend:" What songs would you suggest to me?"
Me: "Every single one, they are all amazing."
I'd like to hear the Pantaloon!
Tangential thought: I like to hear the “entertain my faith” lyric as an invitation to listeners - Tyler asking the people who turn to his music for help to realize *why* his music has such a redemptive message and consider turning to the Source of that redemption.
omg Holding On To You is also my favorite song!!💕
I love how you genuinely love twenty one pilots and make videos about their songs because you love them and not just because it's what is wanted by your viewers. Thank you very much for all you do.
You're so welcome!
Also, THANKS FOR THE SHOUTOUT!!!!!
Dude, thanks for the suggestion! You made this happen! Well, you and like 200 other people. But you were the leader. :)
Jared Weeks gratz
Hey man. I really appreciate your professional and Christian take on lyrics. You've never covered music by Thrice, but I wish you would. Their 2011 Major/Minor album challenged me as a Christian and really affected my walk. I only mention it because I think the profundity and depth of that album are on par with anything Twenty One Pilots puts out.
please do KITCHEN SINK next
just do it plz
btw every one should give kitchen sink a try it's an amazing song
Ysf Gondorianer33 Many, MANY, people have given Kitchen Sink more than a chance, it's the reason several people are still alive today
Scoot The Thing I know just saying that there will never be enough people that have listend to it
Ysf Gondorianer33 Oh ok, I didn't understand what you were saying I guess
Scoot The Thing it's ok I am not a native English speaker sometimes I can't say what I want to say
this chorus is probably one of my favorite lyrics by TØP just because of how beautifully he words this concept of unconditional love and blind faith and idk it just makes me feel happy.
(side note: I subscribed to your page at like 2am my time, it's now 6:34am and I've been watching the whole TØP Tuesday playlist and tbh it's worth the sleeplessness lol)
I love this song because I relate to it soooo much. With the night thing, its not really a twenty one pilots thing, I think it's a depression thing in general. I have depression and it's the weirdest thing, cuz during the day I'm literally the happiest person in the world but when night hits I just fall apart full on panic attacks all night.
Please do Clear!!!!
Jared Weeks Yesss its one of my favourites
Jared Weeks clear is a Great suggestion!! Hopefully your comment gets enough up votes so next TØP Tuesday we can have clear explain
Estrella Mendoza that would be awesome to get shouted out again:) I got the vote on this video
I honestly think that the song holding onto you is an alternative ending to blurryface. I know that this song was released in the previous album to blurryface, but just listen to this
'I'm taking over my body, back in control no more shotty.'
Maybe that's blurry talking in Tyler's voice. Then the next line is Tyler actually speaking.
'I bet a lot of me was lost'
IDK what do you think?
This song never really got much love and appreciation but I've been dying for you to explain lovely that song has meant a lot to me...I feel that this is one of those fight songs that try to tell the listener that they are worth it and that really means a lot to me
Lovely is awesome.
Thank you so much for your channel and how you explain what the 21pilots are trying to say with their lyrics,
Air Catcher would be lovely to see you explain.
Polarize please!
That was the best explanation of 'Holding onto you ' that I've ever heard / read , Thank you :) its by far my favorite song
I really like your explanation videos keep up the good work , and i think you should put the lyrics of the song you are explaining in to the description for us to check it out while or after watching the video !
Cool ! I think Holding on to you is one of the favorite songs of T.O.P fans.
Please, can you make a video about Ruby! (I want to have explanations ^^)
I really want to do Ruby!
This is absolutely one of my favorite songs from them too! SO GOOD.
Yayyyy! I've been waiting for this!
YESSS I've been waiting for this!
Really enjoyed this one- especially how you linked it back to car radio and your thoughts on bridge b. Thanks for the video bro!
i've been watching your videos for hours. you're my new favorite channel for suuure.
i love your videos!! I've kinda been binging your song explanation videos and i really enjoy listening to your thoughts. keep making videos!! always great :-)
Thanks, Aurora! I appreciate it. :)
Great insight, i decided to look this up from singing this favourite song of mine to see in more depth and you were spot on!
Thanks Man :D
Yeaaaaaaaah!!! I was waiting for this so much!!! Tanks man!!!
Thanks for watching!
I just watched this video and it’s awesome,
Thank you for explaining the lyrics
My all time favorite aspect of Twenty One Pilots is how they express their faith and their struggles through their music. Great explanation of the song :)
Hi there, great explanation. But to someone who didn't consider the 21 pilots being a Christian band when I heard this song for the first time (me), I think I relate to it differently. I think when he says "you are surrounding all my surroundings", he means that his THOUGHTS surround him(the song video seems to suggest his "metaphorical thought humans" surrounding him). "sounding down the mountain range on my left side brain" - left side of the brain,we think using that part. "twisting the kaleidoscope behind both my eyes" - his thoughts make him see everything around him differently(?)
And when he says "I'll be holding onto you", I think he talks about his thoughts. He's holding onto the possibility of some rational thoughts crossing his mind.
Since he's talking about life and our how our minds are directly affected or altered by life, I think he talks about LIFE in bridge 2.
"lean with our, rock with it" - go with life's flow (metaphorically talking about life,saying it's a song?)
"when we going to stop" -when are we going to understand life and stop living life as life makes us live.
"is it time to move our feet to an introspective beat" - shall we move on to the part of our thinking and the part of life that is understandable? (I think it fits when we think of the metaphorical relating he does with life and a song)
"lyrics that mean nothing we are gifted with thought" - life being the song and thoughts being the lyrics, "meaningless lyrics" could mean meaningless thoughts(and this seems relevant to me, since he talks about thoughts all of the song)
And when he says they it's our hearts that make the beat, I think he wants to believe that life and thoughts are what we make of them(on a positive note).
I'm a big fan, professor! And your explanations are really great. I hope you see this sometime.
Your videos are so interesting, I'm really impressed, you deserve more views
You nailed it bro. You nailed it!!! Love this song dearly. I'd love to take it a step deeper too, when Tyler says, "Tie it to a tree, tell it you belong to me."
That tree I believe is a very specific tree. If ya catch my vibe :)
What do you think the tree represents?
Yes! This is exactly how I interpreted this song! ❤
Man tyler must of had amazing grades in writting eseys
I love your videos! Keep up the great work!
Thanks!
I love this song and I've always thought it was about suicide and getting through depression :-:
You should do some of the songs from Tyler Joseph's No Phun Intended!
it's really cool to see someone say what I've been thinking about the meanings of his songs
Ruby please!!!!
Bekaheartsyou Ruby is amazing!!
i know, such a good and interesting song! :) glad You agree
Great ti hear your thoughts, love this song also
THANK YOU for this video!!
You're welcome.
I like your explanation of one of my favorite songs.
Thank you, good sir, for explaining this amazing song!
Quite welcome, quite.
can I just say I have so much respect and appreciation for you man thank you
Aw, you're too kind. Thank you for watching and being part of this community.
tear in my heart
Pls do ode to sleep
great video Cliff!!!
Thanks!
You need to see what Tyler says before his performance of holding on to you with SiriusXM which found place just some daya ago, and uploaded on youtube yesterday! I love your interpretation of the song, and I think youre absolutely right as well. It also makes sense with the lyrics "when I write and think about it" because he were going through his journals at that time. But I now really start to concider that maybe Holding on to you also could mean holding on to the music.
8:00 Amen! People are given thoughts and they should start using them and not just obey whatever is being given to them.
My favorite song from the Blurry Face album is Hometown, and it's confusing to me, so I would love if you explained that one.
I think this is my new favorite. It's also kinda become my catchphrase 'Ill be holding on to you
Love this SONG, and now i love it even more because I know what it means!!! Thank you Senpai!!! LOL
i love this
Thanks!
ode to sleep or forest please !! also this video was great :)
THIS IS MY FAVORITE SONG!!!!!
Very nice video :) I agree with most of what you said. However, I think when he said "I'll be holding on to you" He means that when he gets these bad thoughts and when times get rough he'll be holding on to God to give him strength and keep him alive.
lovely
holding on to u is my favorite song
kitchen sink is a goood one. can u do that one next?
i agree. verse 2 is easily one of the bestin tøp history
Like it is for you, TwentyOne Pilots Tuesday is definitely one of my favorite reasons to watch TH-cam!!! Thanks.
Glad to hear it, and thanks for the email too!
glowing eyesss!!!
I think the lyrics. "It ain't the speakers that bump hearts,but are hearts that make the beat" means that it's not just the music that brings hope. But the hope is coming from inside us just awakened by the music
What a song
O god
Entertain my faith.......,.........
What about any of these; clear, drown, or two?
holding on to you is twenty-one pilots masterpiece
The pantaloon please :), btw Love ur videos
Okay it's Monday and I saw this last Wednesday like right after you posted it but I didn't get to it and idk I have no excuse :/ The good thing is that seeing it tonight means that maybe I'll get one tomorrow :P loved your explanation, and kinda wanted to add that maybe "bridge B" isn't so far out in left field? I think I've always sort of connected it with the whole "taking control of your own mind" theme of the song, that you can take real meaning from this song rather than just bop around to it cause it's pretty catchy. While it does callout other songs, I think it also calls out people's tendency to not try to think deeper into songs either, and they should look deeper in TOP's music to find exactly what- or who - Tyler is holding on to. Thanks for the videos, they give me a bright spot in my week :)
Glad you enjoy them!
Do Lovely please!
*_-amazeen-_*
I was thinking you could explain taken by sleep
Does sleep actually mean death?
Glowing eyes
Forest or Ode to Sleep
Mesha I like forest so much I even made lyrics video of it. Check it out and feel free to leave feedbacks. Thanks
Please please please do ode to sleep!
I Know this is late, but if you uncross a "t" it creates a | And if you undot a letter "i" it also creates a |
| is part of
|-/
What could it mean?
Oh my God I'm new now I'm even more stressed out
The Run and Go. please!!!
I always thought 'entertain my faith' was tyler saying 'test my faith'. your interpretation seems to fit better though
BE CONCERNED PLEASE
Cliff Have you watched the behind the scenes for this music video? When recording footage for verse 2 where he has the noose around his neck Tyler has to take a break. He is visibly shaken by acting out the meaning of this song. It's heartbreaking but also powerful to really see what these lyrics mean to him.
I haven't. Sounds like I need to though!
Oh mY god this video was released on my birthday and guess what? Holding on to you is my favourite!
Finally found an Indian twenty one pilots fan.
Clear
You are amazing, Pop Song Professor. Have anice day |-/
Thanks. You too!
Ok, Thank you. ( And Ode to sleep too)
You should do Air Catcher! I love that song, but I don't really know the meaning.
I love Twenty One Pilots and their music. I think it's cool that there are songs like theirs that mean something and makes you think. On the flip side of that I have to disagree with Tyler about every song having to mean something. Music is subjective and lots of people can use music as a form of escape because life can be a hot steaming pile of shit. Sometimes it's just nice to listen to a song and it just be mindless fun. Not every song has to have meaningful lyrics because some songs don't exist for that reason. It just exists to dance or sing along to. I'm grateful that there are meaningful songs with lyrics that have a message and songs with lyrics that don't
The second stanza of Holding on to You is my favorite stanza of all time. It has saved me from suicide before. Stay alive frens |-/
can you please do a video about the song Goner???
I read someone's article (to them) "Entertain my Faith" could be interpreted as entertainment (books, movies, tv, music, etc.) that was productive or good for their relationship with the Lord. If you look at it this way it connects with the "lean with it, rock with it" part because Tyler is saying he wants to fill his life with music that's pleasing to God. He doesn't want things that aren't honoring God.