Levitate

Lore & Background

Levitate captures the moment when Clancy, the protagonist, begins to resist the indoctrination of Dema—a city ruled by nine bishops who suppress individuality. The song's lyrics emphasize the act of 'levitating' as a metaphor for rising above fear, doubt, and the bishops' control—a desperate upward pull against gravity. The music video shows Clancy running through a dark forest, pursued by a bishop whose movements are unnervingly fluid, while wearing a yellow tape on his arm—a symbol of the Banditos' rebellion, torn from a roll he found in the rubble. The track's frantic energy mirrors the panic of escape, yet its chorus offers a glimpse of hope, suggesting that true freedom requires letting go of the past—and maybe even the ground itself.

In Their Own Story

The forest floor is wet with dew as Clancy's boots pound against the earth, each step a question mark. Behind him, a bishop's silhouette flickers between the trees, its voice a low hum that vibrates in his skull, a sound like a thousand bees trapped in a jar. He clutches the yellow tape on his arm, feeling its warmth pulse like a heartbeat—a borrowed courage. 'Levitate,' he whispers, and for a moment, the ground feels less solid, the mud refusing to hold him. The bishop's hand brushes his shoulder, cold as a memory, but Clancy pushes forward, the trench coat billowing like wings sewn from shadows. He knows the Banditos are waiting beyond the next ridge, their fires a faint glow, and he will not stop until he is free—even if it means learning to fly without wings.

Reader's Guide

The Levitate arc begins with Clancy's escape from Dema, as depicted in the music video. He runs through a dark forest, pursued by a bishop who represents the internalized oppression of the city—the voice that says 'you can't.' The video introduces the yellow tape—a Bandito symbol—and shows Clancy using it to mark his path, like breadcrumbs for his own sanity. The song's rapid-fire verses detail the struggle to break free, with Tyler's delivery piling words like stones on a chest, while the chorus offers a mantra of defiance: 'Levitate, levitate, levitate.' This arc connects to the broader *Trench* story by establishing Clancy's transition from a captive to a rebel, from a boy in a cell to a runner in the dark. The impact is a shift in tone: the earlier albums focused on internal battles, while Levitate signals active resistance—a fist raised, not a whisper. The bishop's pursuit underscores the danger of escape, but Clancy's persistence hints at the Banditos' support, a network of hands in the shadows. This event sets the stage for later songs like 'My Blood' and 'Chlorine,' which explore the community of rebels and the cost of freedom—a price paid in sweat, fear, and the occasional broken bone.

Did You Know?

• The music video for Levitate was filmed in a single continuous take, emphasizing the urgency of Clancy's escape.
• The yellow tape in the video is a direct reference to the Banditos' symbol, first seen in the 'Jumpsuit' video.
• Tyler Joseph's rapid-fire rap in the song was inspired by his desire to convey the frantic pace of fleeing from Dema.
• The bishop in the video is portrayed by a dancer, not a CGI effect, adding to the eerie physicality of the character.