Funnily enough, it got #1 trending on KZfaq despite the title (and that annoying trigger warning)

He didn't try taking his own life because of his friends decision, he's lived through a lot of excruciating pain and pushed on because he didn't want to put anyone through the pain he felt when he wasn't able to save his close friend. He went through more pain and misery from his illnesses than most people ever will but fought through it all. He got a call that Joe was on a bridge and raced to get there but was too late to save him. He's done everything to keep his memory alive, including titling his first album after him "Freckled Angels". Please do more reactions to him, he's a very talented and meaningful artist that deserves all the recognition he gets

This is possibly Ren's best work, a masterpiece that speaks to a subject that is taboo!, but shouldn't be! It is powerful, raw, emotional, brave and a sad and poignant piece of art! God bless Ren for his humanity! Thank you for reacting😊

Ren is the undisputed GOAT.

No he didn’t try to take his own life, he was running to the bridge to save his friend and was only seconds too late.

1st half is about REN’s struggles with suicidal thoughts. At his worst he told his mom that if his illness continued he couldn’t make it another year. The second half is him dealing with the fallout and thoughts of Joe’s death still 10 years later.

This struck me as an anti-S work; the first part demonstrates that Ren understands only too well how people like myself feel, but the second illustrates the pain and suffering that your love ones go through if you take your own life. They suffer and blame themselves for years, and that is a terrible thing to do to anyone, especially someone you care about.

I think you got it twisted. The whole thing is there in plain words on Ren's channel, in his community posts. His urge to commit suicide was linked to his pain and suffering: his reaction to Joe Hughes' jumping is separate. In producing this song he showed the urge and pushed for restraint, and the last section on his response to Joe is a cautionary tale about the pain you will cause if you do it. It's a double sided call to resist suiciding out.

How are we as a society supposed to address an important issue if we're not even allowed to say its name? I really hope Ren found a way with this song.

I think reactors need to be advised to read REN’s comments on this track prior to reacting to it to understand his story a little and not misinterpret the reasons behind him releasing this song

As a therapist I really believe this song will save lives; it's a beautiful work toward destigmatizing.

Uh...you may have jumped the gun there, bro. This is going to SAVE lives.

REN was suicidal he’s told us years ago but the ending of this song is about his good friend Joe Hughes who sadly took his own life about 13 years ago. The ending was actually added on last minute after his interview with Knox Hill 🖤

The fact that he said the word repeatedly made me unreasonably happy. It’s an ugly topic but not shining light on it isn’t going to help anything. 💜💜💜

Ren said this song went unfinished for a bit and then he started thinking of his best friend making that tragic decision, sat at the piano and the words just fell out of him. He didn't do his normal perfectionist thing on the vocals. He just let it be what it ended up being and bravo to him for the bold move to release this in terms of performance and subject matter. He has a way with words.

I feel like the addition of the Sick Boi line "I feel like it's not me, it's the world that's sick" turns the subject from himself to everyone else. The AI art does so as well, with all the faces constantly changing to show that it can happen to anyone.

Ren when he announced this video made a post that tells the story of the end of this song where his friend Joe committed suicide. Before he had heard from other friends that Joe was on the phone so had not jumped yet and Ren ran while constantly phoning him to try and stop him but found the phone went from busy to a dead line while he was running there so he was maybe about 5 minutes late from his friend jumping and the song discusses how not only did he lose a close friend he lost a lot more with other friends and fond memories of his childhood because they remind him of Joe and how he regrets not being faster. Overall this is important to open conversations on suicide and how the act while limits how much your life can get worse it also prevents any progression or improvement that may make life easier or better

Suicide is a rampant across Indian Reservations amongst Indigenous Peoples of North America. It needs to addressed and talked about. This song sheds light on the issues. Thank you Ren for shining a light on this horrible problem.

As said, That poetry at the end Is dedicated to one of his best mates Joe. Joe was going to jump off the the Menai Straits Bridge, It's the bridge that separates, Wales from Anglesey.. Ren ran as fast as he could. He was minutes late. They never found the body. Hence, the last part was raw and very real. The song "Freckled Angels" is about Joe, The Album "Freckled Angels" is Dedicated to Joe. Ren, in the interview, he did with Knox Hill, Ren goes into great detail of what happened leading up to it and after, Joe Jumped. That part starts from 37mins 15secs into the interview, Ren said he had the same thought, before and after he lost his mate. this happened. But It was seeing how Joe's family Suffered , Ren said, no matter how bad I get, I will never do that. and put his mother through that kind of suffering. BTW YT knows about the song and the subject, that's why there's a Warning, and links to helplines. before you decide to watch it

I see this as the beginning being Ren, struggling with his illness but the end was all about Joe. Ren got a call that Joe was on the bridge and ran to intercede but he didn't make it in time. He was the 1st to make it to the bridge. He obviously struggles with that night, and with what everyone who know someone who did this struggles with... guilt. It can be crushing. I actually think Joe's decision may have stopped Ren from making the same choice when his health got so bad. He knew the other side.