Lyric Analysis | a2mediaportfolio

All my friends are heathens. Take it slow
Wait for them to ask you who you know
Please don't make any sudden moves
You don't know the half of the abuse

All my friends are heathens. Take it slow
Wait for them to ask you who you know
Please don't make any sudden moves
You don't know the half of the abuse

Welcome to the room of people
Who have rooms of people that they loved one day
Docked away
Just because we check the guns at the door
Doesn't mean our brains will change from hand grenades

You'll never know the psychopath sitting next to you
You'll never know the murderer sitting next to you
You'll think, "How'd I get here, sitting next to you?"
But after all I've said
Please don't forget

All my friends are heathens. Take it slow
Wait for them to ask you who you know
Please don't make any sudden moves
You don't know the half of the abuse

We don't deal with outsiders very well
They say newcomers have a certain smell
You have trust issues, not to mention
They say they can smell your intentions

You'll never know the freakshow sitting next to you
You'll have some weird people sitting next to you
You'll think, "How'd I get here, sitting next to you?"
But after all I've said
Please don't forget
(Watch it, watch it)

All my friends are heathens. Take it slow
Wait for them to ask you who you know
Please don't make any sudden moves
You don't know the half of the abuse

All my friends are heathens. Take it slow
(Watch it)
Wait for them to ask you who you know
(Watch it)
Please, all my friends are heathens. Take it slow
(Watch it)
Wait for them to ask you who you know

Why'd you come? You knew you should have stayed
(It's blasphemy)
I tried to warn you just to stay away
(Away)
And now they're outside ready to bust
(To bust)
It looks like you might be one of us

Lyric Analysis:

What does "Heathens" mean?

These lyrics have sparked massive debates between Twenty One Pilot fans and critics as to what the meaning of them is.

The word 'Heathens' usually has a religious context and indicates someone who does not belong to a major religious sector and who does not follow common religious practices.

Twenty One Pilots use the meaning of this word to give the song a universal feel and refer to something closer to home such as 'outsiders' or 'rejects'.

Many fans feel that in this song they are referring to the the new fans joining the 'Skeleton' fandom and that Tyler the singer is asking existing fans to welcome them in and not make snap judgements about one another.

However it is also thought that this song links in with Tylers Christian faith. The word 'Heathens' has been used to describe his friends who are not Christians and do not know Jesus. Tyler addresses his faith in contrast to the varied beliefs of his audience and asks that fellow Christians be tolerant of those who don't share the same views.

In this piece I think the underlying message is to be sensitive to others as everyone has hidden issues. It could also refer to the band and their mental illnesses and how this makes them feel isolated and alone from the rest of society.

Taking a closer look at the lyrics:

The line ‘Wait for them to ask you who you know’ could be seen to have a religious connotation and be referring to Tyler and his Christian faith and how he would prefer to wait for people to ask him about his beliefs ('wait for them to ask you who you know') rather than going straight at it and 'make any sudden moves'.

Tyler wants people to realise that they never know what a person is going through and 'don't know the half of the abuse' these people have suffered. He is calling for us to not judge one another but instead accept one anothers differences in society. This also makes sense in the context of the first verse where Tyler sings, “You’ll never know the psychopath sitting next to you.”

He worries that society don’t really “get” his friends. In addition to this in the second verse the line “We don’t deal with outsiders very well,” and “They say they can smell your intentions.” could infer that his 'Heathen' friends do not open up to people and are very suspicious of people that are unlike them.

The message gets deeper as the lyrics go on to say, “Why’d you come? You knew you should have stayed.” This could be addressing a Christian who wants to get to know the heathens better and what they are about. The lyrics try to “warn you just to stay away / And now they’re outside ready to bust,” meaning that getting to know someone new can be difficult when they start to open up about emotional aspects of their life.

The 'They' that is frequently referenced in the song could be referring to those who don't get the heathens but could also refer to difficulties that these people have faced alongside the heathens.

The song is finished by Tyler singing 'It looks like you might be one of us' suggesting that now the Christian or person has integrated themselves into the group.

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Lyric Analysis:

What does "Heathens" mean?

These lyrics have sparked massive debates between Twenty One Pilot fans and critics as to what the meaning of them is.

The word 'Heathens' usually has a religious context and indicates someone who does not belong to a major religious sector and who does not follow common religious practices.

Twenty One Pilots use the meaning of this word to give the song a universal feel and refer to something closer to home such as 'outsiders' or 'rejects'.

Many fans feel that in this song they are referring to the the new fans joining the 'Skeleton' fandom and that Tyler the singer is asking existing fans to welcome them in and not make snap judgements about one another.

In this piece I think the underlying message is to be sensitive to others as everyone has hidden issues. It could also refer to the band and their mental illnesses and how this makes them feel isolated and alone from the rest of society.

Taking a closer look at the lyrics:

The 'They' that is frequently referenced in the song could be referring to those who don't get the heathens but could also refer to difficulties that these people have faced alongside the heathens.

The song is finished by Tyler singing 'It looks like you might be one of us' suggesting that now the Christian or person has integrated themselves into the group.

Advance Portfolio

A2 Media

Lyric Analysis:

What does "Heathens" mean?

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These lyrics have sparked massive debates between Twenty One Pilot fans and critics as to what the meaning of them is.

​

​

The word 'Heathens' usually has a religious context and indicates someone who does not belong to a major religious sector and who does not follow common religious practices.

​

​

Twenty One Pilots use the meaning of this word to give the song a universal feel and refer to something closer to home such as 'outsiders' or 'rejects'.

​

​

Many fans feel that in this song they are referring to the the new fans joining the 'Skeleton' fandom and that Tyler the singer is asking existing fans to welcome them in and not make snap judgements about one another.

​

​

​

​

In this piece I think the underlying message is to be sensitive to others as everyone has hidden issues. It could also refer to the band and their mental illnesses and how this makes them feel isolated and alone from the rest of society.

Taking a closer look at the lyrics:

​

​

​

​

​

The 'They' that is frequently referenced in the song could be referring to those who don't get the heathens but could also refer to difficulties that these people have faced alongside the heathens.

​

The song is finished by Tyler singing 'It looks like you might be one of us' suggesting that now the Christian or person has integrated themselves into the group.