#ts lyrical analisis

[aollosjustlurking]

"folklore" by taylor swift is a great album to listen to when you can't seem to get the situation of virgil leaving the dark sides (and maybe an anxceit breakup) out of your head. i've already talked about my tears ricochet, and now here's exile. i mean an angsty duet is perfect for the two of them, is it not?

I can see you standing, honey

it's important to note that janus only started showing up and being seen after virgil was accepted. this line specifically makes me think of "can lying be good?" as janus was hidden for most of the episode. besides his pro-thomas lying agenda, he was also observing the group.

With his arms around your body

Laughin', but the joke's not funny at all

Now you can choose to view this through a virgil x light side ship or through a purely platonic lens. the overall idea still is janus resentfully seeing virgil hanging out with the light sides.

And it took you five whole minutes

To pack us up and leave me with it

Holdin' all this love out here in the hall

compared to episodes now, accepting anxiety pt 2 is actually pretty short. it did not take long for virgil to open up to the light sides and effectively leave the dark sides. obviously this would be a sore topic for janus as we've seen in the series he seems to not be over virgil's departure.

I think I've seen this film before

And I didn't like the ending

You're not my homeland anymore

So what am I defending now?

janus seems to be a sort of leader of the dark sides, whether he's just making himself be perceived that way or actually is we don't know. we do know he has power over remus to some extent, spray bottle with soap, and it's not too much to assume he had a level of control or at least leadership over virgil. if you are to subscribe to the idea of past anxceit, or even past platonic relations, this would probably lead to the two of them being close at one point. now that virgil has moved away from the dark sides, janus is lost on what to defend.

You were my town

Now I'm in exile, seein' you out

I think I've seen this film before

again, the two of them we probably close before virgil's acceptance. the dark sides are almost treated as though they are exiled, as if the light sides would ban them if they could. one could view this as a explicit mention to janus being a dark side or something along the lines of him not having felt like an true outcast until virgil left.

I can see you starin', honey

in the episode "can lying be good?" virgil does eventually realize that janus has taken patton's place and has been there the whole time.

Like he's just your understudy

Like you'd get your knuckles bloody for me

in the end care of "embarrassing phases: the nightmare instead of christmas", janus says in a taunting tone, "who knows? someday you might be rid of us all." it gives the impression that janus does not believe virgil will be able to be with the light sides forever, or at least be away from the dark sides forever. that entire conversation janus is questioning whether virgil's growth is really that monumental. he might see the light sides as simply an "understudy".

Second, third, and hundredth chances

Balancin' on breaking branches

Those eyes add insult to injury

i don't feel as though leaving the dark sides was a spur of the moment decision, i mean it's virgil he doesn't really make spur of the moment decisions. janus and virgil's motives and personalities do clash a bit and it's not impossible to think that their relationship was crumbling even before virgil left.

I think I've seen this film before

And I didn't like the ending

I'm not your problem anymore

So who am I offending now?

it's very typical of virgil to refer to himself as a problem, i think we know that at this point. who virgil is "offending" is an interesting question as when he was a dark side he was most likely not offending janus but rather the light sides as we saw with pre-accepting anxiety episodes. now he is closer to "offending" janus, though he still buts heads with the others. him questioning who he is offending and having insecurities based around it would make sense.

You were my crown

Now I'm in exile, seein' you out

virgil, in the literal sense i mentioned earlier, is no longer in exile, he is apart of the light sides. however, he can be seen as "in exile" in two ways. one being that he still has issues fitting into the group as we see in episodes such as "fitting in" and more recently "embarrassing phases: the nightmare instead of christmas". the second could be feeling exile from the dark sides and more specifically janus.

I think I've seen this film before

So I'm leavin' out the side door

this can specifically refer to virgil leaving the dark sides and being accepted by the main group.

So step right out, there is no amount

Of crying I can do for you

janus has not appeared to be sad about virgil but rather scornful and resentful. he is not begging virgil to stay, like i feel other sides if put in the same situation would, but he is not happy about it.

All this time

We always walked a very thin line

as i mentioned before, this relationship had to always be a rocky one. we know how virgil feels about lies and how they affect his anxiety, and this is bound to cause tension between the two even without other circumstances.

You didn't even hear me out (you didn't even hear me out)

this again makes me think of their differing perceptions of deception. it could also be applied to the period of time in early sander sides when virgil was beginning to have a more positive view of the light sides. any disagreement could be referenced here.

You never gave a warning sign (I gave so many signs)

there was plenty of foreshadowing that virgil was going to join the light sides eventually. the quote "i'm not always the bad guy" is great evidence of this. janus should've been able to predict that vigil was going to leave, but he may have been lying to himself and ignoring the signs.

All this time

I never learned to read your mind (never learned to read my mind)

I couldn't turn things around (you never turned things around)

this outlines the end of their relationship. the disagreements and hurt that linger today probably started from situations like this.

'Cause you never gave a warning sign (I gave so many signs)

So many signs, so many signs

You didn't even see the signs

I think I've seen this film before

And I didn't like the ending

You're not my homeland anymore

So what am I defending now?

You were my town

Now I'm in exile, seein' you out

I think I've seen this film before

So I'm leavin' out the side door

So step right out, there is no amount

Of crying I can do for you

All this time

We always walked a very thin line

You didn't even hear me out (didn't even hear me out)

You never gave a warning sign (I gave so many signs)

All this time

I never learned to read your mind (never learned to read my mind)

I couldn't turn things around (you never turned things around)

'Cause you never gave a warning sign (I gave so many signs)

All this time (so many signs)

I never learned to read your mind (so many signs)

I couldn't turn things around (I couldn't turn things around)

obviously there is not much to add towards the end here as it's mainly repetition. we do see a lyric change here with the second speaker, in our case virgil, saying "i couldn't turn things around" rather than "you never turning things around". i do think that virgil blames janus mostly for how they ended up; however, he knows he is not completely blameless. he left the dark sides rather than trying to work with them or bring them with him. he, to some degree, abandoned them.

'Cause you never gave a warning sign (you never gave a warning sign)

You never gave a warning sign

more sander sides x taylor swift content soon :)

[aollosjustlurking]

"my tears ricochet" -taylor swift is just an angsty convo between virgil and janus.

as proof i present some lyrical analysis

We gather here, we line up

Weepin' in a sunlit room, and

If I'm on fire, you'll be made of ashes too

Even on my worst day, did I deserve, babe

All the hell you gave me?

'Cause I loved you, I swear I loved you

'Til my dying day

This is the opening to the conversation, a reference to the hatred that has grown between the two of them. Personally I believe that Virgil used to have some resemblance of a positive relationship with Janus before he was accepted. Whether his acceptance was the beginning of the turning point or the straw the camel's back is up to interpretation.

I didn't have it in myself to go with grace

And you're the hero flying around, saving face

For Janus I interpret him not going "with grace" as him not just letting Virgil leave. Shortly after Virgil is accepted Janus introduces himself to Thomas, thus introducing the topic of "dark sides". This as well as the moment in the court room where Janus publicly alludes to Virgil's past his him "not going with grace".

I think he would see Virgil trying to distance himself from the dark sides, "saving face" as it were. If not to Thomas than at least to the light sides.

And if I'm dead to you, why are you at the wake?

Cursing my name, wishing I stayed

Look at how my tears ricochet

When Janus reveals himself in Selfishness vs Selflessness, Virgil quickly joins the video. One could see this moment as Virgil still being in spaces Janus is in, despite Janus being "dead to him".

We gather stones, never knowing what they'll mean

Some to throw, some to make a diamond ring

The mention of a wedding is interesting in the context in two ways. The most simple being that they've argued over whether Thomas should go to a wedding and whether or not they are important. The second would have to do with your own personal thoughts on how past anxciet was.

You know I didn't want to have to haunt you

But what a ghostly scene

You wear the same jewels that I gave you

As you bury me

This goes back to Janus not being able to let Virgil leave peacefully. He doesn't necessarily want to "haunt" Virgil, but what is he to do?

I didn't have it in myself to go with grace

'Cause when I'd fight, you used to tell me I was brave

It's a much more literal idea with a line about Virgil "leaving" than Janus. He not only left the dark sides, but he warns Thomas about them. He tells Thomas to not let them stay around. To me that's pretty graceless.

The second line here would again be a reference to a time their relationship was better. Maybe when they were younger. I imagine Janus consoling Virgil during a time where he was scared, encouraging him to keep going. Virgil is now using that advice against Janus.

And if I'm dead to you, why are you at the wake?

Cursing my name, wishing I stayed

Look at how my tears ricochet

This would just be the inverse to the previous chorus. If Virgil is nothing to Janus now, why does he feel the need to pop up in videos now? Why does he need to dangle the truth about Virgil in front of Thomas' nose?

And I can go anywhere I want

Anywhere I want, just not home

Now, I would say Virgil probably sees the light sides as home, but for the sake of this analysis let's say he's referring to the dark sides. He would be flaunting to Janus that Thomas accepts him, though he knows he's lost what he previously had.

On the other hand, he could be saying that though the light sides are his home, he can still never fully feel like apart of the group due to his history.

And you can aim for my heart, go for blood

But you would still miss me in your bones

Janus can continue to badger Virgil, but at the end of the day Virgil's not going to return to the dark sides.

And I still talk to you (when I'm screaming at the sky)

And when you can't sleep at night (you hear my stolen lullabies)

I don't have much to say here other than imagine the two of them up at night thinking about the other.

I didn't have it in myself to go with grace

And so the battleships will sink beneath the waves

You had to kill me, but it killed you just the same

For this I think about every time Virgil uses the term "other sides" rather than dark sides. Despite not wanting to be with them anymore and wanting Thomas to be wary of them, he won't demote them to "dark sides". Now one could see this simply as him trying to condition Thomas in order to be in a better place for when Thomas knows his past, but I believe he also still has some sympathy for them. It probably hurts him just a bit to demote them, even if that is secondary to his anger.

Cursing my name, wishing I stayed

You turned into your worst fears

The previous hostility to Anxiety didn't just start when the series started, and from the Moving On episode we know this has been going on since at least their teenage years. The resentment and fear that Virgil probably had towards the light sides during those years was probably well known to Janus. In this line he's commenting on how Virgil is now what he previously resented and fought.

And you're tossing out blame, drunk on this pain

Crossing out the good years

Virgil actively hates Janus openly. In the court room episode we see this clearly when Janus is first allowed to stay. One could see this as "tossing out blame". I feel as though he would relate to the light sides about how terrible Deceit is at first maybe to gain more acceptance with them and later more truthfully as their relationship collapsed.

Now, Virgil has been seen to give importance to his past as it's built who he is. However, I don't think he sits around reminiscing about his time with the dark sides (at least not openly). Janus probably sees Virgil's entire movement away from and hatred for the dark sides as him forgetting the good years.

And you're cursing my name, wishing I stayed

Look at how my tears ricochet

so there you have a lovely convo between these angsty boys.

[aollosjustlurking]

are you ready for more taylor swift x sander sides lyrical analysis? cause i am! today i offer you:

me connecting "the archer" to virgil.

Combat, I'm ready for combat

I say I don't want that, but what if I do?

So imagine we are in a pre-accepting anxiety setting right now. Virgil spends his time with the others being aggressive and combative, but we know he doesn't want that he just feels he has too.

'Cause cruelty wins in the movies

This reminds me of "putting on a dark persona is the best way to get anyone's guard up." He assumes this is the only way he can help Thomas stay safe.

I've got a hundred thrown-out speeches I almost said to you

Y'know when you are mad at a person, or have any general build up of emotion towards someone, and you imagine conversations where you "win" against them? I can picture him thinking of a time where he maybe gets Thomas to take his side? idk

Easy they come, easy they go

I jump from the train, I ride off alone

We know he felt very alone and isolated during this period of time. But i also think of when he "ducked out" or "jumped from the train."

I never grew up, it's getting so old

His main reason for ducking out was the fact he thought he did more damage than good, but we know the animosity he received played a role. So I see the first part of this, "i never grew up", as him criticizing his own methods and the second part, "it's getting so old", as him referring to the insults from the others.

Help me hold onto you

at this point of the song we are now post acceptance, maybe even fitting in. We know the transition from antagonist to protagonist was a little weird, hence the fitting in episode, so him asking for help to be apart of the group would fit here.

I've been the archer

I've been the prey

At this point in the narrative these lines are referring to how he was the antagonist of the story, the "archer", and how he was also the receiver of constant insults and nicknames, the "prey".

Who could ever leave me, darling?

But who could stay?

It has been proven to Virgil that he is necessary for Thomas, but a level of insecurity with his place in the group is still there.

Dark side, I search for your dark side

But what if I'm alright, right, right, right here?

so jump to when he first told Thomas that we was previously a dark side. This specifically make me think about how he was trying to protect Thomas from the other dark sides because he knew how they work. He's searching for them, trying to keep them from Thomas, but he himself is a "dark side".

And I cut off my nose just to spite my face

Then I hate my reflection for years and years

this again sounds similar to how he was beating himself up about the fact he couldn't help keep remus from thomas.

I wake in the night, I pace like a ghost

The room is on fire, invisible smoke

this is literally just a description of anxiety. (i also personally headcanon that since virgil's room exaggerates one's traits and emotions that it would be a terrible place to have a panic attack)

And all of my heroes die all alone

Help me hold onto you

I've been the archer

I've been the prey

I feel the chorus here could either be seen as retrospection of the first chorus, that is to say it's referencing the same things, or it's referencing how he feels now that the dark sides are showing up. He's been the "archer", his pre acceptance days, and now he's the "prey" to new "antagonists".

Screaming, who could ever leave me, darling?

But who could stay?

(I see right through me, I see right through me)

'Cause they see right through me

They see right through me

They see right through

This is in reference to the other sides, both light and dark. The light sides know his history and hence he might think they see right through his new character. The dark sides can probably really see through him because they knew him for so long. Like when Janus showed up in Virgil's room after the phases episode. He can see through, or rather past the growth.

Can you see right through me?

this in reference to Thomas

They see right through

They see right through me

I see right through me

I see right through me

again this is just dripping in anxiety

All the king's horses, all the king's men

Couldn't put me together again

The light sides are trying to pull him into their group (and they have but don't tell him that he's having his little anxious moment) but he doesn't feel like he'll ever fully fit in.

'Cause all of my enemies started out friends

janus and remus

Help me hold onto you

he just desperately wants to protect thomas.

I've been the archer

I've been the prey

Who could ever leave me, darling?

But who could stay?

(I see right through me, I see right through me)

Who could stay?

Who could stay?

Who could stay?

You could stay

You could stay

You

I think he knows that at the end of the day things won't go back to the way they were before he was accepted. Things might get bumpy because of the whole dark sides thing but thomas at least sees his value now.

Combat, I'm ready for combat

he's not at a point now where he's willing to "duck out" again. he's going to stay and do his best to protect thomas and the others