The song describes Halsey feeling powerless against her inner demons and a controlling relationship. The demons and flames referenced represent her inhibitions and feelings of weakness that were exacerbated by a relationship where she felt she had no voice or control. She describes selling her soul to a dominant male partner who made her feel holy but really had power and control over her. Though the criticism she faces leads to self-doubt, she finds encouragement in being different and strives to prove doubters wrong.

1. Halsey- Hold me down
My demons are begging me to open up my mouth
I need them mechanically make the words come out
They fight me, vigorous and angry, watch them pounce
Ignite me, licking up the flames they bring about
Analysis: the first chorus of this song by the artist Halsey the encoded messages consist on
the idea of having no control, being seen weak and worthless she believes she has no voice
suggesting to audiences that she been in a relationship that felt small and had no say in the
relationship.
These ‘demons’ suggest the idea of power that pushes her to speak her mind at all times,
Nothing changes when she resists because she feels powerless to her own inhibitions.
The flames refer to the fires of Hell, from where the “demons” come. They purposely make
her. This link to the next chorus and establishing the dominate male in her previous
relationship.
I sold my soul to a three-piece
And he told me I was holy
He's got me down on both knees
But it's the devil that's tryna
“Three-piece” refers to a dominate male in the relationship suggest that he’s like the devil.
The devil is known for wealth, power, temptation and death, the male in a three-piece suit
suggests the man a wealthy and has the power and control over her who she apparently
“sold her soul to,” probably for something in return.
This could be a possible sexual reference: “he’s got me down on both knees” shows a sign of
dominance on his end, telling her that she’s holy, as if she was a god, just to get her right
where he wants her. In the end, it’s her inner demons that keep her down.
Hold me down, hold me down
Sneaking out the back door,
Make no sound
Knock me out, knock me out

2. Saying that I want more, this is what I live for
The criticismHalsey faces for being different leads her believe she’s not good enough which
she trying the escape the feeling of self-doubt the ‘demons’, Halsey attempts to run from
the judgments by ‘sneaking out the back door’, although her demons will continue to follow
her anyhow.
Although the constant critiques may get to her at times, she seems to love the fact that
people look at her differently, likely because through this, Halsey knows that she’s unique
and one of a kind. “This is what I live for” emphasizes how she finds encouragement out of
the negative. She strives to prove the doubters wrong.