Thread by @rkivelovelines, "tokyo" by RM (@BTS_twt ): An explanatory thread-#TheRside♡#monoP.s- strictly based on my [...]

"tokyo" by RM ( @BTS_twt ): An explanatory thread-
#TheRside♡
#mono

P.s- strictly based on my interpretation.

'tokyo' is predominantly a song of inherent loneliness, apparent inherent distancing from oneself, self doubt, and longing: the helpless n desperate desire to return, making it an extremely heart-wrenching yet brutally truthful track we all bawl our eyes out to, spend our+

Sleepless n worrisome nights w, n wrap around ourselves like a warm blanket on the chilly nights. Joon clearly portrays to us his innermost concerns from the past (the time he wrote this) thru his empathetic, soulful, poetic, honest yet symbolic lyrics n I'm in love w his mind+

The way I see it, Joon is confessing his most private and well concealed concerns to us, confiding in us about his pain nd fear n his desire of escaping from the clutches of loneliness n helping himself, indirectly stating how one cant always be strong even in the light of dawn+

It could be perpetual night for a "torn soul".
'Wake up in Tokyo, feel like a torso" when I first heard 'tokyo' I misheard "torso" for "torn soul", the second time it was "tourist" before finally hearing "torso" n I realized what an amazing n extremely clever auditory effect+

Joon has applied here as all 3 words fit. A "torso" is the upper half of the body till the abdomen, excl. The head n upper limbs, primarily lifeless - it's a fragment of the body, n a "torn soul" is in fragments, assembled in one place, damaged n further decaying, a "tourist"+

Is a foreigner from another state who doesn't belong in 'tokyo', a place foreign for Joon, since he is Korean, making him stand out as a visitor.
Mornings are vulnerable periods for some n Joon is no different. The mornings bring into his mind unwanted thoughts of self-doubt n+

Being an outsider in an unfamiliar place as 'tokyo' makes him a "tourist", these thoughts bite at his soul, tearing it apart, making it a "torn soul" of damaged n decaying fragments, lifeless: like a "torso". These thoughts are perhaps detaching him from his innerself+

His comfort self - where he has a sense of belonging, to himself, where he isn't a "tourist" or a fragmented "torn soul" or a lifeless n incomplete "torso", a place in himself where he feels free n without pain, n he longs to return to that space cuz he knows it's time to go+

In the story of Pinocchio, he was once locked in a birdcage, that's when he started lying n his nose started to grow, perhaps Joon compared himself to Pinocchio here because he too was lying, to the world, to himself: being dishonest to himself which trapped him in his own mind+

W the added influx of unwanted thoughts related to the negative impacts of growing fame, mistreatments, all of which took him further away from his innerself, thereby detaching him more but he felt comforted by our continuous n unhindered love, trust n support, perhaps these+

Elements of affection n warmth sent out by us melted the growing coldness in him n comforted him, like a "poncho" which keeps us warm during winters, but perhaps he felt his lies were being sheltered n protected n that didnt sit right w him so he got out of the phase of lying+

Learnt, n started being honest w himself, the strings which got cut by the sharp edges of a bar (maybe one from the cage of his mind) are finally reunited n completing. This isnt there in the lyrics but I think its smth in b/w the line n has possible connections w 'trivia: love'+

Cuz they were written around the same time. He questions if he misses himself, his inner comfort zone or if it's the 'face' that he put up that he misses. "Face" n "phase" are onomatopoeic synonyms, maybe he is referring to the "face" he put up in his lying "phase", he is "torn"+

N lost as he "didn't know", as one must get lost before finding themselves, this is where his journey of self-discovery and self-love began (which is evident in 'intro: persona'). The 2nd verse is what makes Tokyo so brutally honest yet empathetic n soulful. "Life" is a very+

Heavy word in itself, with several meanings, flowing in various different directions, very crucial, sensitive n significant, hence it's not something that can be casually uttered everywhere n anywhere, one might catch themselves doing the same. Its smth meaningful, dynamic+

N heavy as life itself where for some, life may even become a burden n it becomes difficult to actually confess the same. Joon raps, "And ash is a thing someday we all should be": this lyric in particular reminds of the poem, "The Psalm of Life" where a similar line is there+

Both have the same meaning: that we have risen from dust hence we shall return to it, completing the never ending cycle of life. Both literally n metaphorically, the words hold true, considering the food chain, our existence is embedded in the soil: a seed planted in the soil+

Grows into a tree which supplies us oxygen to breathe and both cremation n burial of the corpse lead us to ash n soil anyway, more so in case of cremation but ash can easily refer to dust here too. Considering a deeper side of the story, our journeys begin from zero, from+

Nothing, from dust and we rise, we grow, we get higher but everything comes to an end, every spotlight shining now must turn elsewhere in the future. Bangtan rose from the dust n ashes like phoenixes, but Joon is conscious of the fact that someday all of this will pause n never+

Play again, that he rose from the ashes along w Bangtan n a soloist hence someday he must return to the same to complete the never ending loop of "life". Again, Joon questions the unpredictability, uncertainty n dynamics of life, contemplating how a day can make a difference for+

The better or the worse, because the possibilities, are endless. The question of love n hate being similar is smth really interesting to note, if one gives it enough thought, they'd realize one is loved n hated for the same reasons, considering Bangtan, the fact that they+

Had started to rise, back in that time was exactly why they received so much love n appreciation yet their very growth in success was getting them more hate n insults, clearly depicting how an issue can be the cause of love for some, n hatred for others, making love n hate+

Essentially n metaphorically similar in meaning n nature, cuz the ground issue remains unchanged. And it applies for everyone, not just Bangtan n that perhaps gives the song its essence of longing n loneliness: hatred makes one feel lonely n long for love, the 2 being same+

One is sweeter while the other is bitter. Negative remarks leave greater scars, perhaps all the hate received is what made him question his worth, fill his mind w unwanted thoughts of not being accepted by a certain part of the mass and trap himself in his mind+

Mark himself as the outsider/tourist, the combined effect of his anxiety, concerns n unwanted thoughts, biting at his soul, tearing it apart into fragments like a torso (w/o the limbs n head), bringing in the context of the first verse describing the loneliness he feels within+

In the chorus, he yearns for love, safety, protection n the warmth of embrace. "I can't sleep, Homesick" as an outsider or alien, it's difficult to relax for a while becomes acceptance becomes a key concern, he yearns for love n safety, protection n the warmth of embrace+

As he goes, "if I could choose my dream, I just wanna stay right next to you", that his dream n one true desire is to receive our love for as long as possible, to be in our figurative embrace, protected n loved, learning to heal, love n find himself.

In conclusion, Joon presents his feelings, portraying his emotions and concerns, painting his insecurities n pasr lies in monochrome, narrating his story in lines w melody n beats all around. 'tokyo' is a track w a hidden "loop", he talks about his loneliness n wished for it to+

Fade w a loving embrace. But they actually remained latched on to us, be it dawn or dusk. Might hide temporarily but they always come back n we find ourselves longing for love again n it becomes a loop n that's how life goes on

KIM NAMJOON IS THE MOST SINCERE AND EMPATHETIC HEALER OUT THERE

HENEVER FOR ONCE FEARED TO EXPRESS HOW HIS INNER DEMONS WERE CRUMBLING HIM DOWN N HE DOES THE SAME TO THIS DAY IN THE HOPE THAT SOMEONE MIGHT FEEL TOUCHED BY IT N NOT FEEL ALONE N DESOLATE IN THEIR JOURNEY