Michael Knowles REACTS To "Fear" By NF

Summary

Podcast Summary: Michael Knowles REACTS To "Fear" By NF

Podcast: The Michael Knowles Show
Host: Michael Knowles (The Daily Wire)
Episode: Michael Knowles REACTS To "Fear" By NF
Date: November 14, 2025

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Michael Knowles listens to and reacts to the song "Fear" by NF (misheard at points as "Oomph"). Knowles uses the song as a springboard to analyze its lyrical themes, particularly their resonance with Christian concepts of sin, free will, suffering, and grace. He offers a rare positive review of a contemporary pop/hip-hop piece, seeing it as a powerful work of Christian art.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. First Impressions & Musical Style

• [01:30] Michael Knowles introduces the segment jokingly as a “hip hop cultural maven wonder.”
• He playfully mispronounces the artist's name saying "Oomph" and refers to the song as “American Mumford and Sons.”
• Quote: "This is like an American Mumford and Sons, but not today. I'm desperate, which I like." (Michael Knowles, 02:11)

2. Lyrical Themes & Religious Undertones

• Knowles pauses the song at times to break down the lyrics and imagery.
• He identifies allusions to "Hello darkness, my old friend" from Simon and Garfunkel, noting NF's folksy, modern twist.
• Dissects the interplay between struggling with inner darkness (“sin crouching at the door”) and the temptation to self-medicate with pills.

3. Symbolism: Water & Fire

• [04:19] Knowles highlights a powerful lyric about washing hands in church (water as baptism) versus holding a gas can (fire/destruction).
• Quote: “Is it the water that will save him, or is it the gasoline that's going to burn everything down?” (Michael Knowles, 04:19)
• He expands on the Christian symbolism, seeing it as a question of redemption or self-destruction.

4. Free Will, Sin, and Blaming God

• Knowles reflects on the age-old question of personal responsibility versus divine providence.
• He notes that while blaming God for suffering appears "ridiculous," the issue is more complicated, involving "mysteries... of Will and Grace."
• Quote: “Who's to blame here? What's the relationship between Will and Grace? ... How much freedom do I really have?” (Michael Knowles, 04:19)

5. The Climax of the Song

• Various lyrics are read aloud ("Is this what you want now...").
• Knowles echoes the desperate plea, emphasizing existential and spiritual emptiness.
• [07:26-08:01] Timestamps encapsulate a crescendo of pleading with God regarding suffering and purpose.

6. Final Impressions: Artistry & Message

• [09:18] Knowles is impressed by the song’s depth for a pop record.
• He identifies it squarely as a work of authentic Christian art, superior to much of mainstream Christian music.
• Quote: "I don't listen to a lot of pop music, but this song is without question a kind of work of Christian art. And it's much, much better than, like, any modern Christian music. It's quite good, actually." (Michael Knowles, 09:18)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “This is like an American Mumford and Sons, but not today. I'm desperate, which I like.” (02:11)
• “Is it the water that will save him, or is it the gasoline that's going to burn everything down?” (04:19)
• “Who's to blame here? What's the relationship between Will and Grace? ... How much freedom do I really have?” (04:19)
• “I don't listen to a lot of pop music, but this song is without question a kind of work of Christian art.” (09:18)

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Important Timestamps

• [01:30] – Michael Knowles begins reaction and introduces the song.
• [02:11] – Early reactions: musical and lyrical observations.
• [04:19] – In-depth symbolic analysis (water, gasoline, responsibility, free will).
• [07:26-08:01] – Climax: desperate questioning within the song.
• [09:18] – Final verdict: assessment of the song’s artistic and spiritual value.

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Tone & Approach

• Knowles maintains a thoughtful, often introspective tone, mixing his trademark wry humor with earnest theological inquiry.
• He rarely offers praise for modern pop, making his conclusion that "Fear" by NF is “quite good” and genuinely Christian in its depth a standout moment for regular listeners.

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Summary

Michael Knowles, diverging from his usual political and cultural discourse, conducts a deep-dive lyrical and philosophical analysis into NF's "Fear." He applauds the song's candid treatment of inner demons, use of Christian symbolism, and willingness to engage with profound existential questions. Knowles’s verdict is enthusiastic: he deems the song a compelling artifact of modern Christian artistry, offering listeners both a new way to hear pop music and a meaningful meditation on faith and free will.

Transcript

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[Michael Knowles]

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[Song Narrator]

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[Michael Knowles]

Everybody, it's your hip hop cultural maven wonder, Michael Knowles. And I'm here with a new song by Oomph. This song is called Fear. Oomph has just come out with it. Take it away.

[Song Narrator]

Hello darkness, my old friend hello knocking at my door again Begging me to come outside Let you back into my.

[Song Vocalist]

Life.

[Song Narrator]

Now usually I'd be strong enough to lock the doors and keep them shut.

[Michael Knowles]

This is like an American Mumford and.

[Song Narrator]

Sons, but not today.

[Michael Knowles]

I'm desperate, which I like.

[Song Narrator]

So go ahead and come on in so go ahead in Come on in so go ahead and come on in.

[Song Vocalist]

OCD is worse than ever. Hands are bleeding. Maybe I should take the pillstone Know what's going on with me? Some days I actually think I might be scared so frantic poly now but even writing this is making me begin to spiral. Oh God. Made a promise to myself I wouldn't let the fear back in but then I told the world that I was sick of running Then went back to running what a joke. Disappointed. Yeah, me too. I thought I finally had finally made a breakthrough.

[Song Narrator]

Guess not.

[Song Vocalist 2]

It's the same song.

[Song Narrator]

In dance you have seen me before.

[Song Vocalist 2]

Darkness holds out his hand Then we.

[Song Narrator]

Walk to the floor Every decision made isn't mine anymore Like a puppy with.

[Song Vocalist 2]

Strings I just don't have a choice what's the truth? What's a lie? Help me, God Help me, Lord Face your fears Dry your eyes Grandma died, what's the point? Lost the keys Lost my hope Lost my will Lost my joy Lost a friend Lost my hope Lost my faith Lost my voice.

[Song Narrator]

Ding back Watching my man shine Burnt to ash While I hold the gas can Asking God if he started this far.

[Michael Knowles]

Put a pause here. Very interesting line. So he opens up, you know, it's kind of happy, little folksy song. Hello, darkness, my old friend Line from Simon and Garfunkel, but done in a. I don't know, like a folky Mumford and Sonsy kind of way. He says, you know, usually I lock the doors to keep the darkness out, but today I'm gonna let it in and I'm gonna look at it right in the face. And he's tempted to go back to his drugs and his pills and, you know, he thought he finally had made a breakthrough. But it's there, you know, Sin is still there, crouching in the corner, waiting to devour him. And then he's in a church and he's washing his hands in water. It's a symbol of baptism. But you're getting another image, too, which is gasoline. So is it the water that will save him, or is it the gasoline that's going to burn everything down? He's standing back, watching his mansion burn to ash while I hold the gas can, asking God if he started this fire. Which at first glance seems ridiculous. It seems as if he's pointing out, no, no, my problems are my own fault. I'm doing this. I'm the one holding the gas can, I'm burning the mansion down, and I'm blaming God. Isn't that so ridiculous? I need to take responsibility for my own actions. But it does raise a question about causality. The reality of the concepts of your question are just as questionable as what you're questioning. Well, God made me, and God made the world, and so why do you make me like this? Why do you make me like this? Why do you make the world like this? Why do you make a world in which Adam and Eve had the free will to abuse their freedom and to kick us out of the garden and to leave me right here. Now, should I blame God? And the answer is no. But that's when you let the darkness in a little bit and you really face that question. It's a little more complicated. There's a couple of Mysteries in that question. Who's to blame here? What's the relationship between Will and Grace? Not the 90s sitcom, but what's that relationship? How much freedom do I really have? Go to preborn.com knowles A recent Danish study found something deeply concerning. Just one year after an abortion, women were 50% more likely to need psychiatric treatment and 87% more likely to experience personality or behavioral disorders. These are not just statistics. They represent real women facing real struggles. That is why preborn takes a different approach. When a woman walks through their doors uncertain and afraid, she finds something she may not have expected. Support through an ultrasound. She meets her baby for the first time. And suddenly what felt like an impossible situation begins to look different. But preborn doesn't stop there. When a woman chooses life, they walk alongside her for up to two years, providing practical help like maternity clothes, diapers, ongoing counseling and emotional support. It is care for the whole person, addressing her physical needs, her mental health and her future. As you think about your year end giving, consider the greatest investment you could ever make. The gift of life. £250. Say keyword baby b a b y that is £250 keyword baby or visit preborn.comknowles all gifts are tax deductible. Preborn is a five star rated charity. I personally donate to preborn and I recommend you do as well. It's a great charity. Preborn.comKnowles Canada wles to make a difference for generations to come.

[Song Narrator]

Is this what you want now?

[Michael Knowles]

Is this what you wanted? Is this what you intended?

[Song Narrator]

Make all my hopes and my dreams come to life just to play them.

[Song Vocalist 2]

To press Is this what you wanted? Is this what you wanted?

[Song Narrator]

Give me a false sense of peace Just to show me what peace really.

[Song Vocalist 2]

Is Is this what you want now?

[Song Narrator]

On the verge on the edge Is.

[Song Vocalist 2]

This what you want now? Petrified, scared to death Is this what want now? Praying to God Desperate Is this what you want now? What you wanted? Is this what you wanted? Hanging on by a throne Is this what you wanted? Empty heart, nothing left Is this what you wanted? Breaking down sparkling Is this what you wanted? What you wanted? Is this what you wanted? Who Is this what you wanted? What you wanted? Is this what you wanted?

[The Replacer]

What is this?

[Michael Knowles]

Wow. Yeah. It was really quite good for a pop song. It's quite good. You even get that image at the end. You know, the image at the beginning is, am I gonna start popping my pills again? And then you go on this whole journey and he's in the church and he's trying to wash his hands in the water. But then there's the. The flip image of the gasoline. And he burns it all down, and he himself catches on fire. And then he ends up stumbling and crashes onto the rug. And you think, oh, he just did a bunch of drugs. It's all been a kind of a weird trip. And the final question that we have pertains to God's active will and his passive will. Because God creates everything. He sustains everything in a certain sense. You know, he wills the bad things to happen, but he doesn't actively will the bad things to happen because he gives us free will. And so we play a role in creation. And he passively wills for that to be the case, but he actively wills our good, so he doesn't create evil. Evil's a privation of the good. And it's very good, this song. I don't listen to a lot of pop music, but this song is without question a kind of work of Christian art. And it's much, much better than, like, any modern Christian music. It's quite good, actually. Yeah. Good job. Good job. Okay. I'm Michael Noll. See you.