Ruby

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 1 2010
Last played	May 16 2012
Live count	23
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 House Of Gold (Newsletter Edition) Two (Newsletter Edition)

Ruby is the 11th track on the album, Regional at Best

Background

Tyler and Josh have revealed that this song is actually about a girl named Ruby who has Down's Syndrome and went to their church, hence the lyric, "Ruby I hope I see you, I've waited all this week." This song is mostly about how highly Tyler thinks of her, like an angel, but there's also a message of repentance towards the end (Tell our Dad I'm sorry). It's not uncommon for Tyler to mention his faltering relationship with his God in his songs; for example, 'Addict With a Pen' is strictly about how he feels that he hasn't been the best of followers and is now struggling to reconnect. By equating Ruby to an angel, he's seeing her as a messenger that will let God, their Father, know that he's sorry, again, probably for not having the best relationship with Him that he could. No matter what it means, it's brilliantly clever and adorable. [1]

Versions

Studio

Title	Releas	Length	Recorded	Released	Notes
Slowtown	Regional at Best	4:57	2010-2011	8 July 2011

Live

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwNgVMEp7oE&t=3s

Lyrics

Lyrics

Album version

[Verse 1] Ruby, I hope I see you, I've waited all this week For you to walk my way, your soul will capture me Your mama painted your room a shade of pink, she said But with your great arrival, that shade has turned to red [Verse 2] Ruby, take my hand, please lead me to the Promised Land Tell me, where am I from? Your eyes say, sha-da-dee-da-dum Ruby, you're royalty, in your homeland, they all call you queen Tell me, where are you from? Your eyes say, sha-da-dee-da-dum [Chorus] You're an angel fallen down Won't you tell us of the clouds? You have fallen from the sky How high, how high? You're an angel fallen down Won't you tell us of the clouds? You have fallen from the sky How high, how high? (How high, how high?) [Bridge] You're true and pure You hold the cure We're all diseased You hold the key [Chorus] You're an angel fallen down Won't you tell us of the clouds? You have fallen from the sky How high, how high? (How high)? [Outro] Tell our dad I'm sorry Tell our dad I'm sorry Tell our dad I'm sorry Tell our dad I'm sorry Tell our dad I'm sorry Tell our dad I'm sorry Tell our dad I'm sorry You're an angel You're an angel You're an angel You're an angel You're an angel Tell our dad I'm sorry Tell our dad I'm sorry Tell our dad I'm sorry, yeah You're an angel, you're an angel (Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey)

Lyrics meaning

Lyrics
Tyler Joseph shared the meaning behind “Ruby” during the 2011 Live Regional at Best Release Party: This song is called Ruby, it’s about a girl who goes to my church, Josh and I’s church. She’s just a little girl, she’s got Down Syndrome, she inspired me. Tyler views Ruby as an angel: pure and righteous. He knows that she holds the answers to the world’s problems, which isn’t even completely understood by Tyler himself. [2]
all meanings of the lyrics are taken from the Genius website

Sources

[1] https://songmeanings.com/songs/view/3530822107858875299/

[2] https://genius.com/Twenty-one-pilots-ruby-lyrics