Twenty One Pilots - Cancer

"Turn away
If you could get me a drink
Of water 'cause my lips are chapped and faded
Call my aunt Marie
Help her gather all my things
And bury me in all my favorite colors
My sisters and my brothers
Still
I will not kiss you
'Cause the hardest part of this is leaving you
I will not kiss you (kiss you)
Lips are chapped and faded
Call my (call my)
(Turn away)
Lips are chapped and faded (faded)
Kiss you (kiss you)
Lips are chapped and faded
Call my (call my)
(Turn away)
Lips are chapped and faded (faded)
Turn away
'Cause I'm awful just to see
And all my hairs abandoned all my body
All my agony
Know that I will never marry
Baby, I'm just soggy from the chemo
I'm counting down the days to go

This just ain't livin'
And I just hope you know
I will not kiss you (kiss you)
Lips are chapped and faded
Call my (Call my)
(Turn away)
Lips are chapped and faded (faded)
Kiss you (kiss you)
Lips are chapped and faded
Call my (Call my)
(Turn away)
Lips are chapped and faded (faded)
If you say (if you say)
Goodbye today (goodbye today)
I'll ask you to be true (I'll ask you to be true)
'Cause the hardest part of this is leaving you
Yes, the hardest part of this
I will not kiss you (kiss you)
Lips are chapped and faded
Call my (Call my)
Lips are chapped and faded (faded)
Kiss you (kiss you)
Lips are chapped and faded
Call my (Call my)
Lips are chapped and faded (faded)"

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/19W5OTEcQI3ZoRW1HERMyy

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/cancer-single/id1152679154

The single artwork depicts Tyler Joseph falling in a red light. The letters and colors are similar to those used on Twenty One Pilot’s Blurryface, hinting at continuity of some kind. During the video, many of the books shown on the bookcases have covers similar to the patterns of the nine dots on the Blurryface album cover.

In the original MCR version of the song, the protagonist of the Black Parade album, known as “The Patient,” dies as a result of cancer.

While this is a cover of MCR, twenty one pilots definitely made it their own. While the original version relies on a driving piano and heavy vocals, the cover is more of a down-tempo electronic track. These changes give the song more of a relaxed and resigned feeling to it. The instrumentation and vocals feel subdued as if it were created by someone who has very little energy left to give.

_____________________________Behind The Lyrics____________________________

"If you could get me a drink

Of water 'cause my lips are chapped and faded"

On the basic level, this could suggest that the narrator needs hydration, which is very important to cancer patients, as dehydration is a side effect of the cancer.

However, this could be taken further and interpreted as The Patient (a character created by My Chemical Romance for The Black Parade) asking a small favor of his loved ones. With cancer, even though family and friends want to help however they can, there is a limited amount that people can do. He likely also wants to give them the comfort of being “useful,” and help them avoid thoughts like “I could have done more” after his death.

"Call my aunt Marie

Help her gather all my things"

Although the narrator is still alive, he talks about himself as if he is dead. This alludes to the idea that the narrator has been metaphorically dead for quite some time, his spirit broken long ago.

“Aunt Marie” is more than likely an ironic reference to Marie Curie, who pioneered research in radioactivity and died of the cancer which resulted from her dangerous work. Ultimately, her research has helped to develop treatments for the disease she died from, and organizations like the Marie Curie Cancer Foundation work to develop better treatments and cures.

"And bury me in all my favorite colors"

He begins to plan his own funeral. He asks his family to gather his things and bury him in a way that shows how he used to look when he was “alive.” He sings as if he is simultaneously alive and dead—only living for the purpose of dying.

This may be another moment of wry humor, as most people (especially men) are buried in black clothing.

After ​twenty one pilots rebranded for their 2015 album, Blurryface, their image has been dominated by the colors black, white, and red. The music video for this cover also features only those colors, extending this irony over “emo” color schemes to another generation of scene kids.

"My sisters and my brothers

Still

I will not kiss you

'Cause the hardest part of this is leaving you"

While the narrator acknowledges his affection for those who care about him, he rejects their love for him. This rejection of that which makes him happy most likely stems from his knowledge that he is going to die soon. Indulging in the happy things makes it harder for him to leave them behind.

He is also ashamed of his weak state and considers himself to be somewhat pathetic.

'Cause the hardest part of this is leaving you'

This line reflects arguably the most selfless expression we have seen from the Patient. He’s dying, losing everything he has ever gained and accomplished in life, and he finds it hardest to leave his friends mourning as he goes. 

"Turn away

'Cause I'm awful just to see

And all my hairs abandoned all my body"

Patient, is going through chemotherapy for their cancer. This treatment targets fast-dividing cells in the body in an attempt to stop the mutated cancer cells from spreading, but the process also damages hair follicles and the digestive tract. These side effects lead to the archetypical image of the bald and emaciated cancer patient.

The main feeling the song exudes is that he doesn’t want to be seen by, or kiss, his loved ones. He’s become alien to himself and is self-conscious, but more importantly, he doesn’t want to inflict himself and his suffering on others.