Stressed Out

Stressed Out
Song by Twenty One Pilots from the album Blurryface
Released	April 28, 2015
Format	Digital
Length	3:23
Time signature	4/4
Tempo	85
Key	A minor
Live debut	April 25, 2015
Live count	489
Composer	Twenty One Pilots
Lyricist	Tyler Joseph
Writer	Tyler Joseph
Producer	Tyler Joseph, Josh Dun, Ricky Reed
Label	Fueled by Ramen
Stream / Buy
Twenty One Pilots track listing Heavydirtysoul Stressed Out Ride Fairly Local Tear In My Heart Lane Boy The Judge Doubt Polarize We Don't Believe What's On TV Message Man Hometown Not Today Goner

Stressed Out is the 2nd track on the album, Blurryface

Background

The lyrics of “Stressed Out” are told in the first person, with the story being told by both the character Blurryface (a representation of Tyler’s insecurities) and an anxious Tyler feeling intense childhood nostalgia. The song is primarily about a wish to regain the innocence and carefree nature of childhood, before insecurities (i.e. Blurryface) existed.

It was released on April 27, 2015 as the third single from their second studio album, Blurryface. In February 2016, it managed to reach number two on the Hot 100, becoming their first single to reach that height.

The music video features Josh Dun and Tyler Joseph riding big-wheels and hanging out in their childhood bedrooms, suggesting a state of crippling nostalgia and perhaps even arrested development.

On April 30, 2021 Stressed Out was certified Diamond by the RIAA, their first Diamond certification.

Versions

Studio

Title	Releas	Length	Recorded	Released	Notes
Stressed Out	Blurryface	3:23	2014-2015	April 28, 2015

Lyrics

Lyrics

Album version

[Verse 1] I wish I found some better sounds no one's ever heard I wish I had a better voice that sang some better words I wish I found some chords in an order that is new I wish I didn't have to rhyme every time I sang I was told, when I get older, all my fears would shrink But now I'm insecure, and I care what people think [Pre-Chorus] My name's Blurryface and I care what you think My name's Blurryface and I care what you think [Chorus] Wish we could turn back time (Time, time) to the good old days When our momma sang us to sleep, but now we're stressed out (Out, oh) Wish we could turn back time (Oh) to the good old days (Oh) When our momma sang us to sleep, but now we're stressed out (Out, out, out, out) [Post-Chorus] We're stressed out (Out, out, out, out) [Verse 2] Sometimes a certain smell will take me back to when I was young How come I'm never able to identify where it's comin' from? I'd make a candle out of it, if I ever found it Try to sell it, never sell out of it, I'd probably only sell one It'd be to my brother, 'cause we have the same nose Same clothes, homegrown, a stone's throw from a creek we used to roam But it would remind us of when nothing really mattered Out of student loans and treehouse homes, we all would take the latter/ladder [Pre-Chorus] My-my-my name's Blurryface and I care what you think My name's Blurryface and I care what you think [Chorus] Wish we could turn back time (Time, time) to the good old days When our momma sang us to sleep, but now we're stressed out (Out, oh) Wish we could turn back time (Oh) to the good old days (Oh) When our momma sang us to sleep, but now we're stressed out [Bridge] We used to play pretend, give each other different names We would build a rocket ship and then we'd fly it far away Used to dream of outer space, but now they're laughin' at our face Sayin', "Wake up, you need to make money," yeah We used to play pretend, give each other different names We would build a rocket ship and then we'd fly it far away Used to dream of outer space, but now they're laughin' at our face Sayin', "Wake up, you need to make money," yeah [Chorus] Wish we could turn back time (Time, time) to the good old days When our momma sang us to sleep, but now we're stressed out (Out, oh) Wish we could turn back time (Oh) to the good old days (Oh) When our momma sang us to sleep, but now we're stressed out [Outro] We used to play pretend, used to play pretend, money We used to play pretend, wake up, you need the money Used to play pretend, used to play pretend, money We used to play pretend, wake up, you need the money Used to play pretend, give each other different names We would build a rocket ship and then we'd fly it far away Used to dream of outer space, but now they're laughin' at our face Sayin', "Wake up, you need to make money," yeah

Lyrics meaning

Lyrics
Rike, who did the design of the Blurryface album, said this about the Blurryface concept based on his conversations with Tyler: Blurryface isn’t that black and white. There are more layers to him than described. He can either be represented as sad, angry, evil, or deceptive. He has a tendency to draw you in, but only to pull you down. Tyler mentioned a vision of his mutilated face, and all of the dread associated with the elusive enemy. There is something vague about him, and something that cannot be completely described. No matter what your interpretation of Blurryface is, it’s safe to say that he remains something that we try to hide, and not show to the outside world. When Tyler sang this song live, he didn’t get the type of positive reaction that he was hoping for. Because of this, he felt like he let his fans down and needed to rework the song for the band’s live performances. So, in a successful attempt to fix this, he changed the first verse to this: I wish I wrote a different song no one’s ever heard I wish my mom would just admit she’s sick of every word Overplayed, overstayed, it was a smash hit Funny how overplayed songs sound like crap I was told our true fans don’t like this song But I hope they sing along, I hope they sing along
all meanings of the lyrics are taken from the Genius website