Semi-Automatic

Semi-Automatic
Song by Twenty One Pilots from the album Regional at Best
Working title	Twisted-Up
Released	January 8, 2013
Format	Digital
Length	4:13
Time signature	4/4
Tempo	105
Key	F# minor
Live debut	January 11, 2013
Last played	January 8, 2023
Live count	168
Composer	Twenty One Pilots
Lyricist	Tyler Joseph
Writer	Tyler Joseph
Producer	Tyler Joseph, Josh Dun, Greg Wells
Label	Self-released
Stream / Buy
Vessel track listing Ode To Sleep Holding On To You Migraine House Of Gold Car Radio Semi-Automatic Screen The Run And Go Fake You Out Guns For Hands Trees Truce

Semi-Automatic is the 3rd track on the album, Vessel

Versions

Studio

Title	Releas	Length	Recorded	Released	Notes
Semi-Automatic	Vessel	4:13	April - June 2012	January 8, 2013

Lyrics

Lyrics

CollapseAlbum version

[Verse 1] I wake up fine and dandy, but then by the time I find it handy To rip my heart apart and start planning my crash landing I go up, up, up, up, up to the ceiling Then I feel my soul start leaving like an old man's hair receding I'm pleading, "Please, oh please!" on my knees repeatedly asking Why it's got to be like this, is this living free? I don't wanna be the one, be the one who has the Sun's blood on my hands, I'll tell the moon Take this weapon forged in darkness Some see a pen, I see a harpoon [Pre-Chorus] I'll stay awake 'cause the dark's not taking prisoners tonight Why am I not scared in the morning? I don't hear those voices calling I must have kicked them out, I must have kicked them out I swear I heard demons yelling Those crazy words they were spelling They told me I was gone, they told me I was gone [Chorus] But I'll tell 'em, "Why won't you let me go? Do I threaten all your plans? I'm insignificant" Please tell 'em, you have no plans for me I will set my soul on fire, what have I become? I'll tell 'em [Verse 2] On the eve of a day that's forgotten and fake As the trees, they await, and clouds anticipate The start of a day when we put on our face A mask that portrays that we don't need grace On the eve of a day that is bigger than us But we open our eyes 'cause we're told that we must And the trees wave their arms and the clouds try to plead Desperately yelling, "There's something we need!" I'm not free, I asked forgiveness three times Same amount that I denied, I three-time MVP'd this crime I'm afraid to tell you who I adore, won't tell you who I'm singing towards Metaphorically, I'm a whore, and that's denial number four [Pre-Chorus] I'll stay awake 'cause the dark's not taking prisoners tonight Why am I not scared in the morning? I don't hear those voices calling I must have kicked them out, I must have kicked them out I swear I heard demons yelling Those crazy words they were spelling They told me I was gone, they told me I was gone [Chorus] But I'll tell 'em, "Why won't you let me go? Do I threaten all your plans? I'm insignificant" Please tell 'em, you have no plans for me I will set my soul on fire, what have I become? [Outro] I'll tell 'em, you have no plans for me, I will set my soul on fire What have I become? I'll tell 'em, I'll tell 'em, I'll tell 'em I'll tell 'em, please tell 'em, you have no plans for me I will set my soul on fire, what have I become? I'm sorry

Lyrics meaning

ExpandLyrics
“Ode to Sleep” seems to represent night and day as both the instrumentation and the lyrics seesaw back and forth between the light and the dark. The verses are riddled with a dark tone full of conflict, similarly to how Tyler describes his nights. The pre-chorus, chorus, and outro all share a light-hearted tone in which Tyler sings about conquering the night and the depression it invokes. “Ode to Sleep” is Tyler Joseph’s favorite song to perform live, even after releasing Blurryface and touring extensively. This track was originally featured on Regional At Best in 2011 and was later remastered for Vessel in 2013. The reason why this is the first song on the album is that I feel like it kind of prepares the listener for the rest of the album, it almost puts them through a boot camp of what to expect… Which is don’t expect anything! –Tyler Joseph via Rock Sound The music video was released on New Year’s Eve in 2014. It depicts the band’s rise to fame, starting with their first show and ending with a performance at a venue holding 12,000 fans. [2]
all meanings of the lyrics are taken from the Genius website

Sources

[1] https://www.audio-vault.com/ode-to-sleep-twenty-one-pilots

[2] https://genius.com/Twenty-one-pilots-ode-to-sleep-lyrics