Next Semester

Next Semester
Song by Twenty One Pilots from the album Clancy
Recorded	2022 - 2023
Released	March 27, 2024
Format	Digital
Length	3:54
Tempo	175
Key	D major
Single	March 27, 2024
Live debut	2 May 2024
Last played	14 May 2024
Live count	4
Writer	Tyler Joseph
Producer	Tyler Joseph
Label	Fueled by Ramen
Stream / Buy
Clancy track listing Overcompensate Next Semester Backslide Midwest Indigo Routines In The Night Vignette The Craving (Jenna's Version) Lavish Navigating Snap Back Oldies Station At The Risk Of Feeling Dumb Paladin Strait

Next Semester is the second song on the album Clancy by Twenty One Pilots.

Versions

Studio

Title	Releas	Length	Recorded	Released	Notes
Next Semester	Clancy	3:54	2022-2023	27 March 2024

Live

Title	Releas	Length	Recorded	Released	Notes
Next Semester (Live From An Evening With Twenty One Pilots)	Clancy (Digital remains)	4:07	2024	29 May 2024

Background

Next Semester was announced on March 21st, set to release the following week. A video filmed by an unknown volunteer from the music video shoot was released shortly before the announcement, though Twenty One Pilots included the short video in the announcement . The day before release, the entirety of Next Semester was leaked, spreading across numerous online platforms.

“Next Semester” was officially released on March 27th with its corresponding music video. As well as a music release, Twenty One Pilots also released the dates and locations for the newly announced Clancy Tour.

Lyrics

Album version

[Intro] No-no-no, no-no-no No-no-no-no-no, no-no-no-no-no No-no-no-no-no, no-no-no-no [Verse 1] Stand up straight now (Ooh) Can't break down (Ooh) Graduate now (Ooh) I don't wanna be here, I don't wanna be here It's a taste test (Ooh) Of what I hate less (Ooh) Can you die of anxiousness? (Ooh) I don't wanna be here, I don't wanna be here What's about to happen? What's about to happen? [Chorus] I remember I remember certain things What I was wearing The yellow dashes in the street I prayed those lights would take me home Then I heard, "Hey, kid, get out of the road!" [Post-Chorus] (Ooh, ooh, ooh) I don't wanna be here, I don't wanna be here [Verse 2] Can't feel my legs (Ooh) I might suffocate (Ooh) There's a pressure in my chest (Ooh) I don't wanna be here, I don't wanna be here What's about to happen? What's about to happen? [Chorus] I remember I remember certain things What I was wearin' The yellow dashes in the street I prayed those lights would take me home Then I heard, "Hey, kid, get out of the road!" [Refrain] (Ohh, woah, oh, oh-woah) (Ohh, woah, oh, oh-woah, ohh) Can't change what you've done Start fresh next semester [Chorus] I remember I remember certain things What I was wearin' The yellow dashes in the street I prayed those lights would take me home Then I heard, "Hey, kid, get out of the road!" [Refrain] (Ohh, woah, oh, oh-woah) And then he slowed down (Ohh, woah, oh, oh-woah, ohh) And rolled down his window And he said "Can't change what you've done Start fresh next semester" [Outro] It's a taste test Of what I hate less I don't wanna be here Start fresh with the new year (Ohh, ahh, oh, oh-woah) (Ohh, ahh, oh, oh-woah) Can't change what you've done Start fresh next semester

Rough draft version

Stand up straight now You can't breakdown Graduate now I don't want to be here x2 It's a taste test Of what I hate less Here comes the pressure in my chest I don't wanna be here x2 What's about to happen x2 I remember, I remember certain things What I was wearing, the yellow dashes in the street I prayed those lights would take me home Then I heard, "Hey kid, get out of the road" Can't feel my legs I might suffocate Can you die of anxiousness I remember, I remember certain things What I was wearing, the yellow dashes in the street I prayed those lights would take me home Then I heard, "Hey kid, get out of the road" ('Ooh's) can't change what you've done Start fresh next semester I remember, I remember certain things What I was wearing, the yellow dashes in the street I prayed those lights would take me home Then I heard, "Hey kid, get out of the road" ('Ooh's) can't change what you've done Start fresh next semester It's a taste test Of what I hate less I don't want to be here Start fresh with a new year

Lyrics meaning

Lyrics
“Next Semester” is the second promotional single from twenty one pilots‘ sixth full-length studio album Clancy, following “Overcompensate,” and released alongside the official announcement for The Clancy World Tour—spanning nine months and 14 countries. As an interpretive song, it is difficult to pinpoint what singer-songwriter Tyler Joseph is getting at exactly, but it is evident that “Next Semester” talks about one’s struggles at a young age to find their place and identity. They are stuck between their mistakes from the past—one of which is presumed to be a failed suicide attempt—and the pressure to not fail in the future. The song and music video seem to act as a sort of “opposite side of the same coin” to their earlier song “Heavydirtysoul” and its music video, particularly the car scenes. Another popular interpretation is that the subject had a panic attack in the middle of the road, only somewhat aware of what was going on, evidenced by the loose details in their recount of the experience. The band announced and teased “Next Semester” in the days leading up to its release. However, despite the song leaking two days before, it stayed true to its original mid-day release of March 27, 2024.
all meanings of the lyrics are taken from the Genius website