You probably know the band Twenty One Pilots as those guys who sing overly played hits like “Stressed Out,” “Ride,” or, more recently, “Heathens.” You probably sing along to the catchy beats despite how annoyed you get every time one of those songs comes on the radio, possibly not understanding the craze behind the weirdos who perform in masks and rap to pop music.
Yes, Twenty One Pilots are the weirdos who perform in masks and rap to pop music, but they are so much more than that, so much more than the radio and media portray them to be.
Tyler Joseph, lead singer, pianist, and bassist, is very open about his lifelong struggles with mental stability, depression, and even suicidal thoughts. He often sings about his fights, his ability to overcome, and his desire to stay alive in hopes that he could be an inspiration to others with the same struggles to follow in his footsteps.
Joseph’s words have gained him and his partner, Josh Dun, drummer, a massive following. Their “clique,” as they call their fan base, clings onto their lyrics as a guide and an inspiration to fight through whatever battles they may be going through.
Take a look at some of TOP’s deeper, more serious, and inspirational lyrics below. They’re there for you, as their friend, to get you through anything.
“Ode to Sleep”
“I’ll stay awake/ ‘Cause the dark’s not taking prisoners tonight”
“Holding On To You”
“Before you know it, time is slowing/ And it’s frozen still / And the window sill looks really nice, right?/ You think twice about your life,/ It probably happens at night, right?/ Fight it/ Take the pain, ignite it/ Tie a noose around your mind,/ Loose enough to breathe fine and tie it,/ To a tree, tell it, ‘You belong to me/ This ain’t a noose, this is a leash/ And I have news for you, you must obey me’”
“Kitchen Sink”
“Are you searching for purpose?/ Then write something, yeah it might be worthless/ Then paint something then, it might be wordless/ Pointless curses, nonsense verses/ You’ll see purpose start to surface/ No one else is dealing with your demons/ Meaning may be defeating them/ Could be the beginning of your meaning, friend”
“Screen”
“While you’re doing fine/ There’s some people and I/ Who have a really tough time getting through this life/ So excuse us as we sing to the sky”
“Migraine”
“And I will say that we should take a day to break away/ From all the pain our brain has made/ The game is not played alone/ And I will say that we should take a moment and hold it/ And keep it frozen and know that/ Life has a hopeful undertone/ Am I the only one I know/ Waging my wars behind my face and above my throat?/ Shadows will scream that I’m alone,/ But I know we’ve made it this far, kid”
“Friend Please”
“Friend, please remove your hands from/ Over your eyes for me/ I know you want to leave but/ Friend, please don’t take your life away from me”
“Message Man”
“So your brain knows to keep going even though hope is far from this moment/ But you and I know it gets better when morning finally rears its head/ Together we’re losers/ Remember the future/ Remember the morning when night is dead”
