Fairly Local

Fairly Local
Song by Twenty One Pilots from the album Blurryface
Released	March 17, 2015
Format	Digital
Length	3:28
Time signature	4/4
Tempo	85
Key	F# minor
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

Fairly Local is the 4th track on the album, Blurryface

Background

“Fairly Local” is the lead single from Twenty One Pilots' fourth album, Blurryface.

The phrase 'fairly local' is Twenty One Pilots' way of saying that they have both gone through the same dark times that we also go through.

They have mentioned in interviews that a lot of musicians are not genuine when it comes to their songs. Some musicians do not believe in the words they are singing and they are creating music for the wrong reasons. This is why this song (or any of their songs, for that matter) will "never be on the radio". Twenty one pilots' lyrics are much deeper than most pop music that is about less important things like partying, drinking etc. Because their songs are so heavy, it is not likely that the general population will grab onto them as a band.

"The world around us is burning, but we're so cold. It's the few, the proud and the emotional."

It is scary to recognize all of these problems that humanity has. It is even more terrifying to look at ourselves, as individuals, and to bring all of our faults to the table.

Towards the end of the song, everything is reversed. We realize and accept that we are messed up. Even with all of this evilness that humans have, we are not going to just let it keep happening. We are going to try our hardest to stop hurting others.

Versions

Studio

Title	Releas	Length	Recorded	Released	Notes
Fairly Local	Blurryface	3:28	2014-2015	March 17, 2015

Lyrics

Lyrics

Album version

[Chorus] Ah, I'm fairly local, I've been around I've seen the streets you're walkin' down I'm fairly local, good people now Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh [Verse 1] I'm evil to the core, what I shouldn't do I will They say I'm emotional, what I wanna save I'll kill Is that who I truly am? I truly don't have a chance Tomorrow I'll keep a beat and repeat yesterday's dance [Pre-Chorus] Yo, this song will never be on the radio Even if my clique were to pick and the people were to vote It's the few, the proud, and the emotional Yo, you, bulletproof in black like a funeral The world around us is burnin', but we're so cold It's the few, the proud, and the emotional [Chorus] Ah, I'm fairly local, I've been around I've seen the streets you're walkin' down I'm fairly local, good people now Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh [Verse 2] I'm not evil to the core, what I shouldn't do I will fight I know I'm emotional, what I wanna save I will try I know who I truly am, I truly do have a chance Tomorrow I'll switch the beat to avoid yesterday's dance [Pre-Chorus] Yo, this song will never be on the radio Even if my clique were to pick and the people were to vote It's the few, the proud, and the emotional Yo, you, bulletproof in black like a funeral The world around us is burnin', but we're so cold It's the few, the proud, and the emotional [Chorus] I'm fairly local, I've been around I've seen the streets you're walkin' down I'm fairly local, good people now Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh [Instrumental Bridge] [Chorus] Ah, I'm fairly local, I've been around I've seen the streets (I've seen the streets) you're walkin' down I'm fairly local, good people now Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh (Yeah) I'm fairly local, good people now Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, good people now Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, good people now Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

Lyrics meaning

Lyrics
I guess there’s always that fear that you’re going to change as a person. But also, whether or not you’re in the spotlight making music, you’re going to change too. I mean, Josh and I are right now sitting in Columbus, Ohio, at my house and we love it here. It’s our hometown and it always will be. So I think in the song ‘Fairly Local,’ it’s more metaphor. We had a lot of conversations with a lot of people who like listening to music or using music to get through tough times. If anything, I think Josh and I learned when we were traveling the world during the last album cycle that everyone’s the same, everyone feels the same issues. So it’s kind of a way of getting on the same level as these people and telling them, in a sense, we understand what you’re going through. –Tyler Joseph via PAPER
all meanings of the lyrics are taken from the Genius website