About

Clock Strikes 12, Midnight Arrives, also known as Clock Strikes Twelve, Midnight Arrives, refers to the opening lyric in a Joker Open Verse Challenge TikTok duet from 2022, posted by TikToker Ellie Shaw (@_ellie_shaw), who raps the aforementioned bar. Shaw's video was a duet with rapper Dax, dressed as Joker, and Shaw's verse was delivered in an uppity, British accent. Considered to be cringe by many, the video gained significant memetic spread in 2025, when TikToker @fishman_records3 stitched it, showing himself laughing at the opening line. The video then became the subject of several animation memes and was used as an exploitable video element in memes. It was also compared to the I'm Not in Pain video, which followed the same duet format.

Origin

On December 9th, 2022, TikToker^[1] @_ellie_shaw dueted rapper Dax's Joker Open Verse Challenge video by rapping, "Clock strikes 12, midnight arrives." Over three years, the video received roughly 345,100 likes.

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.

Spread

In early October 2025, new comments began appearing on the original video, like one shared by TikToker @camdenboul (Joshua) on October 7th, who attached an emo Soyjak character, based on an image of the character Syndrome from The Incredibles. ^[7] The comment gained over 146,700 likes in 15 days.

On October 17th, TikToker^[2] @fishman_records3 notably resurfaced the video when he stitched it and showed himself laughing at Shaw's opening line. Over five days, the video received roughly 2.5 million likes.

On October 19th, TikToker^[3] @drchvchra shared an animated version of the video with characters from Danganronpa, gaining over 116,600 likes in three days.

On October 20th, 2025, TikToker^[4] @oooitshannah shared a video in which she called Clock Strikes 12 the funniest meme of the moment, further saying that every comment on the original video was a "banger." Over two days, the video received roughly 601,300 likes.

Also on October 20th, TikToker^[5] @winniethepoo067 posted a video edit meme that added several CapCut flame explosion effects to it and called Clock Strikes 12, Midnight Arrives a "niche" meme. It gained roughly 35,500 likes in two days.

Later on October 20th, 2025, Twitter / X ^[8] user @imilost09 tweeted a redraw of the Soyjak character used in previous Clock Strikes 12 memes, drawing it as the character Caliborn from Homestuck. The tweet received roughly 1,400 likes in two days.

On October 21st, 2025, TikToker^[6] @nairiayumi posted an Accuracy Reenactment of the original Clock Strikes 12, Midnight Arrives video, receiving over 316,200 likes in a day.

Related Memes

I'm Not in Pain

I'm Not in Pain refers to the opening lyric in a Joker Open Verse Challenge TikTok duet from 2022, posted by TikToker @nottclay, who's seen in blue-tinted sunglasses and a backward snap-back, heard dramatically singing the aforementioned bar in an emo tone. The video was a duet with rapper Dax dressed as Joker. In late 2025, a different Joker Open Verse Challenge video called Clock Strikes 12, Midnight Arrives resurfaced in viral memes, inspiring new interest in the I'm Not in Pain video. In October and November 2025, several video edit memes, Accuracy Reenactments and Animation Memes focused on the I'm Not in Pain video. Many compared it to the Clock Strikes 12, Midnight Arrives video and discourse ensued over which duet was better.

Various Examples

Search Interest

External References