Slowtown

Slowtown
Song by Twenty One Pilots from the album Regional at Best
Released	July 8, 2011
Format	Digital
Length	4:57
Tempo	105
Key	G
Live debut	May 3 2010
Composer	Twenty One Pilots
Lyricist	Tyler Joseph
Writer	Tyler Joseph
Producer	Tyler Joseph, Josh Dun
Label	Self-released
Stream / Buy
Twenty One Pilots track listing Guns for Hands Holding on to You Ode to Sleep Slowtown Car Radio Forest Glowing Eyes Kitchen Sink Anathema Lovely Ruby Trees Be Concerned Clear

Slowtown is the 4th track on the album, Regional at Best.

Versions

Title	Releas	Length	Recorded	Released	Notes
Forest	Regional at Best	4:26	2010-2011	8 July 2011
Forest Bonus Track	Vessel	4:06	2011-2012	8 Jan 2013	Forest, along with other songs from Regional at Best were remastered for their next album, Vessel

Background

"Slowtown" by twenty one pilots explores the desire to escape the fast-paced, hectic aspects of life and reconnect with a simpler, slower existence. The song reflects on the nostalgia of childhood and the carefree nature that often accompanies it.

In the verses, the lyrics express a longing for a different pace of life, where the narrator can fully embrace a slower, more relaxed environment. The mention of "laying down" and waking up in Slowtown symbolizes a desire to escape the pressures and responsibilities of the present and find solace in a place where time moves at a gentle, leisurely pace.

The chorus highlights the need for grounding and stability to prevent feeling overwhelmed. The act of putting on socks becomes symbolic of creating a barrier between the soul and the challenges of the world. The line "And I walk through my door just so I don't fall through the floor" suggests that the narrator uses their home as a safe space to regain balance and stability amidst the turmoil.

The second verse touches on the nostalgia of childhood, specifically recalling the innocence and daring spirit of youth. The reference to riding bikes, placing cards in the spokes, and mimicking traffic sounds illustrates a time of imaginative playfulness. However, the juxtaposition becomes apparent as the narrator states that they no longer engage in these activities and have lost touch with their own sense of wonder and joy.

The bridge cries out for salvation from the fast-paced world, emphasizing the urgency of the desire for a slower, more meaningful existence. The repetition of "We're going too fast, fast, save us now" reflects the desperation and plea for rescue from the overwhelming rush of life.

Overall, "Slowtown" by twenty one pilots conveys a longing for a return to simplicity, a yearning to escape the complexities and speed of the modern world, and a reflection on the loss of innocence and childlike wonder. The song encourages listeners to evaluate their own lives and find ways to reconnect with a slower, more meaningful existence. [1]

Versions

Studio

Title	Release	Length	Recorded	Released	Notes
Forest	Regional at Best	4:26	2010-2011	8 July 2011

Live

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbOzgUbdrKc

Lyrics

Lyrics

Album version

[Intro] Ooh, ooh Ooh, ooh Ooh [Verse 1] I don't know why I feed on emotion There's a stomach inside my brain I don't wanna be heard, I wanna be listened to Does it bother anyone else that someone else has your name? Oh, does it bother anyone else that someone else has your name, your name? [Pre-Chorus] I scream, you scream We all scream, 'cause we're terrified Of what's around the corner We stay in place 'Cause we don't wanna lose our lives So let's think of something better [Chorus] Down in the forest, we'll sing a chorus One that everybody knows Hands held higher, we'll be on fire Singing songs that nobody wrote [Verse 2] My brain has given up, white flags are hoisted I took some food for thought, it might be poisoned The stomach in my brain throws up onto the page Does it bother anyone else that someone else has your name? Does it bother anyone else that someone else has your name? [Pre-Chorus] I scream, you scream We all scream, 'cause we're terrified Of what's around the corner We stay in place 'Cause we don't wanna lose our lives So let's think of something better (Better) Oh [Chorus] Down in the forest, we'll sing a chorus One that everybody knows Hands held higher, we'll be on fire Singing songs that nobody wrote [Bridge] Quickly moving towards the storm, moving forward, torn Into pieces over reasons of what these storms are for I don't understand why everything I adore Takes a different form when I squint my eyes Have you ever done that? When you squint your eyes And your eyelashes make it look a little not right And then when just enough light comes from just the right side And you find you're not who you're supposed to be? This is not what you're supposed to see Please, remember me? I am supposed to be King of a kingdom, or swinging on a swing Something happened to my imagination The situation's becoming dire My tree house is on fire And for some reason I smell gas on my hands This is not what I had planned This is not what I had planned Down in the forest, we'll sing a chorus (Forest, chorus) Hands held higher, we'll be on fire Singing songs that nobody wrote [Chorus] Down in the forest, we'll sing a chorus One that everybody knows, yeah Hands held higher, we'll be on fire Singing songs that nobody wrote [Outro] Hands held higher, we'll be on fire Hands held higher, we'll be on fire (Fire)

Lyrics meaning

Lyrics
‘Slowtown’ is the 4th track off the duo’s sophomore album, Regional at Best,. The song is one of the four tracks that were not featured on the remastering project known as Vessel. That said, the song’s ideas and main concept were re-worked into one of the band’s biggest hits and best-selling singles, “Stressed Out”. “Slowtown” tackles Tyler’s uneasiness concerning the consistent, constant march of time itself. This discomfort is expressed as a conduit of stress and anxiety, which society at large copes with through steady routine. A regimen that ultimately bores Tyler, causing a longing in him to revert to his youth; a time without strict routine. [2]
all meanings of the lyrics are taken from the Genius website

Sources

[1] https://www.songtell.com/twenty-one-pilots/slowtown

[2] https://www.songtell.com/twenty-one-pilots/slowtown