Nika spoke about the meaning of this song:
“Someone very close to me attempted suicide last summer. At the time, I was stranded at a cabin in the woods. I couldn’t reach them. I panicked because I needed them to know how important they were. I did the only thing I could at that moment. I wrote this...
[Verse 1]
One small thread keeps you hostage
To the better side of death
One small chain a ghost in limbo
It's all for the best
[Pre-Chorus]
We see your shine
More than the dull you fear
You're a rare kind
If you could see from the outside
[Chorus]
To be a witness
To those deep, deep wounds
To resist it
To keep that knife from you
[Chorus]
To be a witness
To those deep, deep wounds
To resist it
To keep that knife from you
[Verse 2]
Second chance to pull you
From the wreckage of your mind
I'll do anything I can
To rip you from the edge in time
[Pre-Chorus]
We see your shine
More than the dull you fear
You're a rare kind
If you could see from the outside
[Chorus]
To be a witness
To those deep, deep wounds
To resist it
To keep that knife from you
[Chorus]
To be a witness
To those deep, deep wounds
To resist it
To keep that knife from you
Witness was written by Zola Jesus.
Witness was produced by Alex DeGroot & Zola Jesus.
Zola Jesus released Witness on Fri Sep 08 2017.
Zola Jesus took to Twitter to explain the meaning behind “Witness” and “Siphon”: