Pierce The Veil – So Far So Fake. Lyrics & Meaning

Pierce The Veil – So Far So Fake: The Painful Art of Cutting Out Toxicity

Ever get that sinking feeling in your stomach? The one that hits when you realize a person you trusted, someone you thought was a real one, is actually putting on a show? It’s that gut-punch moment when you see the mask slip for just a second, and suddenly everything feels, well, fake. It’s a special kind of awful, a mix of betrayal, hurt, and confusion that can leave you reeling. And if you’ve ever wanted to put a soundtrack to that exact moment, my friend, Pierce The Veil absolutely nailed it. In this deep dive, we’re going to unpack the raw, visceral story told in their track “So Far So Fake,” and I promise you, it’s more than just an angry song; it’s a roadmap for reclaiming yourself.

Unpacking the Bitter Truth in “So Far So Fake” by Pierce The Veil

The song kicks off with a mood that’s instantly relatable to anyone who’s been through a social burnout caused by one person. It’s the desire for complete isolation, not because you hate the world, but because one connection has become so poisonous.

So far, so far, so fake

• Pierce The Veil – So Far So Fake : The Painful Art of Cutting Out Toxicity

Right off the bat, “So far, so fake” sets the stage. The relationship has been a long-running performance. The refusal to answer the phone isn’t just about avoiding a call; it’s about avoiding the lie, the energy drain, the whole charade. The line about enjoying the “metallic taste” is haunting. It conjures an image of biting your own tongue so hard you draw blood, of internalizing pain to the point where it becomes a grim, familiar comfort. It’s a cry for help—a plea to be taken away before the damage becomes permanent, before the suffering starts to feel normal.

The Moment of Acknowledgment

Then we hit the chorus, the core of the conflict. This isn’t just about feeling hurt; it’s about understanding the dynamic for what it is. The other person is actively creating distance, and their apologies are completely hollow.

This is the turning point. The narrator sees the situation with painful clarity. “The head is only a dangerous dead weight” is such a powerful way to describe the mental toll. The overthinking, the anxiety, the self-doubt—it all becomes a burden that’s dragging them down. And the response? “I’m cauterizing the veins you lacerate.” Just picture that. It’s not just about healing a wound; it’s about burning it shut to stop the bleeding for good. It’s a violent, painful, but necessary act of self-preservation. This person has emotionally “lacerated” or deeply cut them, and now it’s time to stop the damage, even if the cure hurts.

Cauterizing the Wounds: The Song’s Message of Self-Preservation

The second verse doubles down on the theme of inauthenticity. It’s a direct confrontation with the person’s shallow nature. It’s not just that they’re fake; it’s that their fakeness is designed to serve them and them alone.

The “flawless and thin” skin suggests a perfect exterior with nothing substantial underneath. And those apologies? They’re not for the narrator’s benefit. They’re “selfish with vain intent”—said only to make the other person look or feel better about themselves. The narrator’s dismissive “So what?” is a moment of empowerment. It’s the realization that this person’s power is fleeting. Comparing them to a “brain freeze” is brilliant. It’s an intensely sharp, sudden pain that feels all-consuming in the moment, but you know it will disappear just as quickly, leaving almost no trace. That’s how insignificant this person will eventually become.

The Final Cut

The second chorus and the lines that follow are the final decision. This is where the narrator takes back control and makes the choice to sever the tie completely, not out of spite, but for their own sanity.

This part gives me chills. “I keep it hundred” (meaning, I keep it real) “in case you twist your blade” is about being prepared for further betrayal. But the most powerful declaration is, “I cut you out because I don’t think that I’m sick.” The toxic person may have tried to make them feel like they were the problem—the one who’s crazy, over-sensitive, or “sick.” This line is a firm rejection of that gaslighting. It’s saying, “No, the problem isn’t me. It’s you.” And “Be still your heart, and do not resuscitate” is the final nail in the coffin. It’s a dramatic, poetic way of saying, “This connection is dead. Don’t even try to bring it back to life.”

Life After the Fallout

The bridge of the song explores the weird, disorienting aftermath. Life after cutting out a major, albeit toxic, person feels strange. There’s a new set of rules you have to live by.

These days I think are so strange
No cuts, no trust, name no names
Armless, we swim over flames

This describes the post-toxicity landscape perfectly. “No cuts, no trust, name no names” is the new mantra. It’s about protecting yourself: no more self-harm (cuts), being wary of who you trust, and not engaging in gossip or drama (name no names). The imagery of swimming over flames “armless” is a striking metaphor for navigating life’s challenges after being so deeply wounded. You feel defenseless, vulnerable, yet you’re still moving forward, still surviving the impossible. It’s a testament to resilience.

For all its darkness and pain, “So Far So Fake” is ultimately a song of strength. It validates the gut-wrenching process of identifying and removing a toxic presence from your life. The moral here isn’t about revenge or anger. It’s about the profound act of choosing your own well-being over a relationship that’s chipping away at your soul. It’s a reminder that it’s okay to burn the bridge, to cauterize the wound, and to say “do not resuscitate” to something that was already dead.

The journey from hurt to healing is messy, and Pierce The Veil captures every raw, uncomfortable, and ultimately liberating step. It’s a powerful anthem for anyone who has had to make the hard choice to walk away to save themselves. What’s your take on “So Far So Fake”? Maybe you hear a completely different story in those lines, or perhaps a specific lyric resonates with you on a personal level. The beauty of music like this is how it can articulate the things we struggle to put into words ourselves.