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

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

[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 You might also like [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
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