Knives and Pens explained

Knives and Pens
Cover:Knivespens.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Black Veil Brides
Album:We Stitch These Wounds
Released:June 17, 2009
Length:4:24
Label:Self-released
Next Title:Perfect Weapon
Next Year:2010

"Knives and Pens" is a song by American rock band Black Veil Brides, released as a music video exclusively on YouTube. It is their first single, and is one of their most popular songs to date, with the music video reaching over 100 million views on YouTube.[1]

Other versions

Knives and Pens (Acoustic)
Cover:Knives and Pens (acoustic) (Black Veil Brides album - cover art).jpg
Type:single
Artist:Black Veil Brides
Album:We Stitch These Wounds
Released:2010 (limited copies),
March 19, 2013
Recorded:Clear Lake Audio, North Hollywood, CA
Genre:Acoustic rock
Length:4:50
Label:StandBy Records
Prev Title:In the End
Prev Year:2012

The song was re-recorded and re-released as two new versions—a version with a few vocal and guitar changes, and a limited edition Hot Topic acoustic version—alongside the songs "We Stitch These Wounds" and "The Mortician's Daughter" on their debut studio album, We Stitch These Wounds. The limited-copy acoustic version was re-released by StandBy Records to the general public for download on March 19, 2013.[2]

Song information and background

Meaning behind "Knives and Pens"

The lyrics were written by Black Veil Brides vocalist Andy Biersack around the title "Knives and Pens" which, according to him describes a choice: Knives — destruction (as in harming yourself), and Pens — creation (as in the choice he decided to make to begin writing music and make something of their life). Black Veil Brides is saying in this song that “if you make good choices in life, you can rise above and conquer whatever troubles you may come across.[3]

Intro clip

The clip at the beginning of the original version of the song is from the documentary . It was taken from a recording of one of the West Memphis Three trials. The transcription of the clip is as follows:

Music video

The official music video for the song was released on YouTube on June 17, 2009, directed by Patrick Fogarty, who later directed the "Perfect Weapon," "The Legacy," "Rebel Love Song," and "Coffin" music videos. The video stars actor David Sasik, who is playing the role of the kid resembling Andy.[4] [5] [6] It was a very low-budget project, but despite this, the video launched the band into international fame. The official video has reached over 126 million views on YouTube as of December 16, 2020.

Video plot

The music video depicts a scenario similar to Andy's years in school, where he was bullied for the way he dressed, looked and the music he listened to.

A boy walks to his school locker and sees papers taped to it that have hurtful messages written on them, such as "emo", "fag", and "kill yourself". He rips them down and throws them to the ground in anger. Even his brother bullies him, stealing his notebook that he writes lyrics inspired by his feelings of anger in. He goes home angry, but his brother eventually comes in and returns his notebook. He then proceeds to begin writing the lyrics to "Knives and Pens". He also is seen watching the video of Black Veil Brides playing the song and there are clips of the band playing with occasionally dressing in white and occasionally dressing in black.[7] [8]

Acoustic version video

Black Veil Brides released a lyric video for the acoustic version of "Knives and Pens" on March 20, 2013, through StandBy Records[9]

Track listing

CD single [1st version]
CD single [2nd version]
Acoustic single

Personnel

Black Veil Brides (studio band)
Music video band/production

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Black Veil Brides "Knives and Pens" OFFICIAL VIDEO . YouTube . 2009-06-17 . 2013-05-28.
  2. Web site: Song Stream: Black Veil Brides, "Knives and Pens" (acoustic). Alternative Press. March 18, 2013. May 28, 2013.
  3. Web site: ShockHound - Shock TV - Interview — Black Veil Brides (HD) . YouTube . 2011-07-03 . 2012-10-07.
  4. Web site: Behind the Scenes of Knives And Pens — BLACK VEIL BRIDES LEGACY . Bvblegacy.weebly.com . 2012-10-07.
  5. Web site: Band Bio — Black Veil Brides Legacy . Bvblegacy.weebly.com . 2012-10-07.
  6. Web site: David Sasik, Actor's Slate . YouTube . 2009-09-22 . 2012-10-07.
  7. Web site: Patrick Fogarty Information, Videos, Pictures and News . https://web.archive.org/web/20140305192609/http://www.rtbot.net/patrick_fogarty . dead . 2014-03-05 . Rtbot.net . 2012-10-07 .
  8. Web site: Patrick Fogarty Music Videos including Knives and Pens on Roxwel . Roxwel.com . 2012-10-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090919185530/http://www.roxwel.com/directors/directorpage/Patrick%2BFogarty.html . 2009-09-19 . dead .
  9. Web site: Black Veil Brides release "Knives and Pens" acoustic lyric video. Alternative Press. March 21, 2013. May 28, 2013.