Push Back the Green Flag of Scratch to hear the music. Mild TW for discussion of mental illness/PTSD:
Before we start, I want to say that I can relate to this song, and I am pretty emotional about it. This song and its video are about a cyborg who uses a time machine to evade law enforcement until their plan ultimately fails and they must surrender. The cyborg, who apparently has PTSD, wishes they could go back and change something, much like I do. First, the whole thing about "pushing back the hands" reminds me of how I feel pushed back into my past when I get a flashback or an intrusive thought about an experience. My own trauma makes me feel incomplete and is unresolved, and it is something that just never goes away. ("Screeching tires, but never a collision. Endless day without a sunset provision") The unresolved feeling is what I get after a flashback. I've also lost a lot of sleep due to my own mental state. When I do wake up, I often feel anxious and unrested ("It wouldn't help you if you've had any sleep," and "dawn breaks like a fallen vase.") "Push Back the Hands" is such an amazing song, and it just means a lot to me, as someone who may have PTSD. I also enjoy the pixellated animation style and all of the references throughout the video.
