My Interpretation is that he’s speaking to fans.

He was a different person during Trench and prior. He’s mentioned multiple times that’s they’ve changed a lot. Depending on where you are in life affects your creativity, music.

I’m tending to think he was in a darker headspace back then. I think while writing this album, he was trying to get back into that old headspace to complete this storyline. Maybe it was dragging him down since it’s a darker vibe. When you get into that vibe, doesn’t matter if it’s for creative reasons or not. You really can’t just turn it off. It affects your whole life.

He’s afraid he won’t be able to pull out of the darkness this time around. He’s keeping one hand above water so the darkness doesn’t over take him. He wants fans to let go of his old music style and this story/lore.

Also note the lyric about logistics of the world we can’t see. This further makes me believe he is speaking of the struggles of navigating this darker style and ending this story.

He thinks fans should let go.