even the who knows

Song Meaning

These lyrics plunge into a raw, disoriented state, where the speaker grapples with unexplained internal sensations and an elusive external force. A pervasive sense of confusion hangs heavy, punctuated by the repeated, unanswered question: "Who even knows?" The central tension revolves around a mysterious "You," described with starkly contrasting imagery. Initially, this entity is a "palindrome spelled wrong," suggesting a fundamental distortion or a promise of symmetry unfulfilled. Later, it becomes a "palindrome spelled right," implying a shift in perception or the entity's nature, yet still capable of making the speaker "want to sleep all night." This "You" is also a formidable, almost apocalyptic presence, a "god, in the machines" screaming "Death to all mankind," highlighting its overwhelming and potentially destructive power. A particularly striking craft element is the sequence "I forget how to lie," repeated four times while paired with contradictory actions: "We can go," "We can't go," "We can die," "We can't die." This refrain strips away pretense, suggesting a profound inability to mask feelings or intentions. It captures a moment of stark, almost desperate honesty, where the speaker is left with only raw, existential choices, unable to navigate the world with any artifice. Ultimately, the lyrics resonate by connecting abstract confusion with deeply personal vulnerability. The recurring "Who even knows" underscores a profound sense of isolation and a search for understanding, both of oneself and of the powerful "You." This culminates in the poignant, almost childlike demand, "You need to give me back my mom," which grounds the entire experience in a primal longing for comfort and a lost sense of security, making the emotional impact immediate and deeply affecting.