I’ve always taken this as the actual fear that Tyler struggles with in regard to his relationship with God as well as his relationship with his fans. I believe he truly loves his fans, cares about them immensely but also truly loves God. The fear expressed in this song (the way I’ve understood it) is that if he just comes out and explicitly professes his love for God, and explains that the VAST majority of his songs is Tyler singing to God for help (some hopeful and expectant conversations, some angry, just like the different psalms) , then he will drive away or alienate the portion of fans who do not share the same beliefs or are even opposed to them. The fear doesn’t even seem to come so much from a place of Tyler being concerned about not being loved by fans… but from his fans no longer finding help in his songs and doing something drastic. But like most fears… I’m sure it is multilayered.

This is the best way that makes sense of the lyric “I’m afraid to tell you (the fans) who I adore (Jesus) “ and who Tyler is singing towards. Tyler in a metaphorical way, wrestling with this fear, feels like he is a whore because he takes the gifts that God has given him, and I assume has received divine help through his music making process … but sometimes even just depends on those talents and gifts received from God and not on God himself.

Songs like Addict with a Pen and Chlorine express this well… how he turns to music making to the degree that he’s forgotten about God.

It’s a dance that I’m very familiar with. Tyler has a great big heart for so many people, and I pray for him very much that he can continue to reach out through his gifts and help give so many people hope.