Not everyone is able to crush an Open Verse Challenge on TikTok, but the person who sang, "Clock Strikes 12, Midnight Arrives" certainly was destined for greatness.

The viral video in question was posted three years ago, amid a slew of TikTok duets of rapper Dax's "Joker Open Verse Challenge" video, in which he was dressed as the Batman villain, giving aspiring MCs a chance to flex their freestyling.

One TikToker decided to throw their hat in the ring, coming onto the beat with an uppity, British accent and rapping about a ticking clock. Their cadence was peak theater kid energy, according to some viewers online, as seen in viral memes and posts from recent weeks.

But who is the person in the video? What is the "Clock Strikes 12, Midnight Arrives" meme, and how is it manifesting online? Let's explain.

What Is The Original 'Clock Strikes 12, Midnight Arrives' Video?

Back in 2022, rapper Dax, who's been the subject of several memes over the years, posted an "Open Verse Challenge" video on TikTok. The point was to inspire TikTok duets from rappers and singers who wanted to hop on the verse and showcase their lyrical skills.

In the video, Dax is dressed like Joker and he's holding a bottle of hot sauce, supposed to be the "spicy" mic catching all of the dueter's hot bars.

On December 9th, 2022, a TikToker named Ellie Shaw (@_ellie_shaw) decided to add her verse to the mix. She took the whole thing in a different direction by donning the tone of a maniacal narrator threatening "demise" on the intended recipient.

@_ellie_shaw #duet with @Dax #OpenVerse #dax #joker #batman #dc #rap #performance #voiceacting #verse #lyric #dark #beat ♬ JOKER OPEN VERSE CHALLENGE DAX – Dax

At the time, Dax seemed to love Shaw's take on his Open Verse Challenge. He dueted it soon after, showing himself reacting positively to her lyrics and enthusiasm.

Dax insisted in a text caption that Shaw should become a voice actor. Perhaps that would be a better career choice than rapper.

@thatsdax #duet with @aaron_shaw #Duet his VOICE😱😱🔥🔥🔥🔥 this man neeeds to be a voice actor! LOVE THIS ONE and the Batman references!!! What y’all think?!? How’d he do?!? #joker #voiceactor #challenge ♬ JOKER OPEN VERSE CHALLENGE DAX – Dax

What Are The 'Clock Strikes 12, Midnight Arrives' Lyrics And Copypasta?

The lyrics of Ellie Shaw's "Clock Strikes 12, Midnight Arrives" verse have since become a copypasta online. Internet users have been spamming it in comment sections across social media, especially this month.

For your purposes, here are the "Clock Strikes 12, Midnight Arrives" lyrics in full to copy, paste and spread across the web.

You're insane, you're in pain
I can tell by what you're saying but-

Clock strikes 12, midnight arrives.
C--- your guns and sharpen your knives.
There's a grand prize, for the bats, demise.
So knock him dead and bring his head, and we'll all celebrate!

We'll party at one, we'll all have fun, so don't go running late!
But tell a lie, when the bat didn't die, and your head'll be on the plate!
So, hurry now, you're on the dime. It's time to do the crime.
But tick-tock, tick-tock, we're out of time.

Where Did The 'Clock Strikes 12, Midnight Arrives' Memes Come From?

For some reason, new comments began appearing on the original TikTok video in early October 2025. One of the most-liked was shared by a user named @camdenboul (Joshua), who attached an emo Soyjak drawing that combined an image of Syndrome, from Pixar's The Incredibles, with the stereotypical likeness of a neckbeard Redditor.

The comment inspired several more in the following days, using variations of the Syndrome Soyjak. Some even just used the original image of the Incredibles villain, seen putting his hand up in a menacing, yet over-dramatic, gesture.

A few days later, a TikToker named @fishman_records3 stitched the original video, interrupting it with his boisterous laughter right after Ellie Shaw delivered her opening line.

The TikTok notably gave Shaw's "Clock Strikes 12, Midnight Arrives" video new viewers, who began mutating its contents into a viral meme.

For instance, several animators shared animation memes that had characters from pop culture filling in for Shaw, Dax and the cackling @fishman_records3.

@fishman_records3 #cringe ♬ original sound – Wolf

@stubblebubbls hai #mylittlepony #dax #cringe #animation #fyp ♬ original sound – Wolf

What Are Some More 'Clock Strikes 12, Midnight Arrives' Memes?

@honeymariejai Repost cause what was that 💔 •• #ttg #teentitansgo #robin #cyborg #beastboy ♬ original sound – Wolf

@beth_l0vetransformers I CAN'T STOP 💔 (Keep sending me the meme photos) #meme #clockstrikestwelve #midnightarrives #clockstrikestwelvemidnightarrives #bethany ♬ original sound – Lotusakitt

@nanatmnt clock strikes twelve… midnight arrives😈😈😈 yeah it does that a lot#tmnt #rottmnt #rottmntdonnie #rottmntleo #fyp ♬ original sound – Wolf

@ebonytails 🕰️clock strikes 12 1️⃣2️⃣midnight arrives💥🌙🌗🌛 🔥🔥🔥🔥 #deltarune #susie #krisdreemurr #berdly ♬ original sound – Wolf

@gigaballs0 Clock strikes 12 😈😈😈😈😈😈😈#clockstrikestwelve #dax #cringe ♬ original sound – brutal💔

@cnospeakno Clock strikes 12 midnight arrives (Reddit head is “red guy” on rblx) #roblox #dax #fyp ♬ original sound – JOEYDREW245

@bwdior clock strikes 12…. midnight arrives 🫣 #dio #diobrando #jojosbizarreadventure #jjbaedit #fyp ♬ original sound – dior

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For the full history of Clock Strikes 12, Midnight Arrives, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's entry for even more information.