Routines In The Night

Routines in the Night
Song by Twenty One Pilots from the album Clancy
Recorded	2022 - 2023
Released	May 24, 2024
Format	Digital
Length	3:23
Tempo	113
Key	A
Live count	0
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

Routines in the Night is the fifth song on the album Clancy by Twenty One Pilots.

Versions

Studio

Title	Releas	Length	Recorded	Released	Notes
Routines in the Night	Clancy	3:23	2022-2023	24 May 2024

Background

When we analyze Routines In The Night, we realize that this is one of the songs written by Tyler that dives deep into the nocturnal restlessness that surfaces while the world sleeps. The lyrics describe a lonely journey through memories and thoughts, symbolized by walking through the corridors of the mind. The doors with “STAY OUT” painted on them in white represent mental barriers or traumas that the narrator prefers to avoid. This powerful metaphor suggests that, while everyone else is asleep, Tyler is stuck in a routine of introspection and self-analysis, facing his inner demons.

The song also addresses loneliness and the company search, even if it's just the comforting presence of one's recurring thoughts. The phrase “It's tough to find good company” highlights the difficulty of finding a friendly shoulder or even understanding, both in the real world and in the internal world. However, the narrator seems to find a kind of solace in the familiarity of these nocturnal routines, even if they are disturbing.

The song, therefore, is a reflection on the complexity of the human mind and the continuous struggle to find peace and understanding within oneself. This especially when we carry traumas, fears, and desires to belong somewhere or to have a genuine connection with someone else while dealing with our demons and the days go by on autopilot.

Lyrics

CollapseAlbum version

[Chorus] Walk the layout, routines in the night Some doors have "Stay out" spray-painted in white While all the world's asleep, I walk around instead Through the memories, down the halls of my head Walk the layout, routines in the night Some doors have "Stay out" spray-painted in white While all the world's asleep, I walk around instead Through the memories, down the halls of my head [Verse 1] Here comes a new night, but I'll send it through I'll probably jump on the next one I'm testing the limits of what a mind can do I'm keeping my eyelids up, no mattеr what [Pre-Chorus] So beautiful, the space bеtween A painful reminder and a terrible dream I've been here before and I've got time I'll give you the tour, show you why I [Chorus] Walk the layout, routines in the night Some doors have "Stay out" spray-painted in white While all the world's asleep, I walk around instead Through the memories, down the halls of my head [Verse 2] Reoccurring, keeps comin' around REM cycle skip, night psycho trip It's reassuring you keep comin' around It's tough to find good company Reoccurring, days blurring I'm still learning what this is (What this is, what this is, what this is) Just keep me company [Pre-Chorus] So beautiful, the space between A painful reminder and a terrible dream I've been here before and I've got time I'll give you the tour, show you why I I'll show you why I I'll show you why I [Chorus] Walk the layout (The layout), routines in the night (In the night) Some doors have "Stay out" ("Stay out") spray-painted in white (In white) While all the world's asleep (All the world), I walk around instead Through the memories, down the halls of my head Walk the layout, routines in the night Some doors have "Stay out" spray-painted in white While all the world's asleep (All the world), I walk around instead Through the memories, down the halls of my head [Outro] (Keeps comin' around, keeps comin' around, keeps comin' around) (Lost in the halls of my head) (Keeps comin' around, keeps comin' around, keeps comin' around) (Lost in the halls of my head)

CollapseRough draft version

Walk the layout, routines in the night Somebody wrote stay out, spray painted in white // Some doors will have Stay out, spray painted in white While All the world's asleep, I walk around instead Lucid memories, down the halls of my head All your world will fade, try to fight the vignette There's no other way, there's still fight in you yet Floor shifts out, from the center of the room Slides beneath the wall, things are falling to their doom Spirits, hopes, and energies are sucked in to the floor I'm trapped against the wall that stands opposite the door Then a black wire, comes out of the outlet by my leg Keeping me in place, no matter how much I would beg So I reach out, no more logic, no more facts 'Til/Then the light switched on, come to snap back

Lyrics meaning

ExpandLyrics
Routines In The Night, the fifth track on the album, Clancy, was released on May 24th, 2024. This song describes further a recurring theme in the album and Twenty One Pilots' discography of fighting your demons at the night. This song narrates how one struggles to fall asleep and stays in the maze of mind. During the premier livestream it was revealed that Tyler did not want to include Routines In The Night in the album but Josh convinced him to keep it, together with Navigating. Tyler portrays his mind as some sort of building you can walk around. Each door leading to a room represents a dream or you could also say a memory. Some have “STAY OUT” spray painted, because they’re bad memories/nightmares you don’t want to go back to. The world’s asleep/I walk around instead signifies Tyler is either struggling with sleepless nights (insomnia) or is lucid dreaming/exploring his mind. In the second verse, Tyler illustrates insomnia caused by a worsened mental health state, which he mentions throughout the album in songs like “Navigating.” Tyler has written about these “REM cycle skips” before in countless other songs, such as Ode to Sleep: "I’ll stay awake ‘cause the dark’s not taking prisoners tonight" With the mention of “you”, Tyler seems to be speaking to someone… or something. It may seem coincidental, but considering the inclusion of “blurryface" in the cover art for the album, he could be speaking about the character Blurryface, a personification of Tyler’s mental health that titled their hit album Blurryface. Regardless, this individual, whether it be family, friend, or something else, is keeping him company during late hours of the night as he walks down the halls - a metaphor for the corners of his mind explored in the chorus.
all meanings of the lyrics are taken from the Genius website