Song Analysis: "Polarize" by twenty one pilots

All our feelings deny, deny, denial…

So sings Tyler Joseph on “Polarize,” a song off his band’s (twenty one pilots) latest album, Blurryface. It’s a song about how hiding one’s emotions and regrets affects those they care about- in the case of Joseph, his family and “one [he] love[s].” It’s a valuable lesson that many struggle to learn. 

According to Kory Floyd, language and actions can be used to express affection, which he defines as “an emotional experience that includes feelings of love and appreciation that one person has for another” (pg. 158). Joseph wants to show it, but as the lyrics prove, he finds it difficult. He has nothing to show, and continual denies them from surfacing. This inability to express emotions can be damaging, and it seems as if Joseph is aware of this: he flat-out admits that he (and his friends) “have a lot of problems.”

He also seems to regret his past actions. “I wanted to be a better brother, better son,” he laments in the pre-chorus. This display of anger and disgust could have damaging effects. Studies prove that anger can raise a person’s risk for heart disease, strokes, and weakened immune systems. Disgust, meanwhile, can lead to rejection of others if they don’t match a person’s beliefs and behaviors (Floyd, pgs. 249-50). 

What is this song trying to teach the listener? To communicate with loved ones and own up to past mistakes? Partially. While it’s true Joseph wanted to be a better person, he makes no attempt to do so now- it’s all in the past tense. He’s also associating with people who have made similar mistakes (“my friends and I, we got a lot of problems”).

Art based on lyrics by tumblr user house-of-gold

Ultimately, however, these friendships will result in more suffering for Joseph. It can be inferred that his friends have the same difficulty with emotional intimacy. “When people refuse to share their thoughts and feelings with others,” writes Floyd, it can lead to broken friendships (pg. 292). Furthermore, it is never stated what gender these friends are or where they are located and how often Joseph sees them. Friendships, to some extent, are dependent on these things- and it’s entirely possible for them to collapse as a result. 

At the end of the day, “Polarize” is the story of someone who wishes they could change and own up to their errors, but lacks the courage and knowledge to do so. They may know it’s possible and refuse to do so, or they remain in the dark of how they can improve. Nevertheless, with a few more interpersonal communication skills, maybe he wouldn’t have to hide all his problems under the stairs.

Bibliography

Floyd, K. (2011). Interpersonal Communication (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: McGraw Hill. 

[Recorded by T. Joseph]. (2015). Polarize [MP3]. Serenity West Recording: Ricky Reed, Mike Elizondo, Mike Crossey, Tim Anderson, and Tyler Joseph. 

Twenty One Pilots Lyrics: Polarize. (n.d.). Retrieved March 11, 2017, from http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/twentyonepilots/polarize.html 

T. (2015, May 26). Twenty one pilots: Polarize (Audio). Retrieved March 10, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiPBQJq49xk