Trees

Guns for Hands
Song by Twenty One Pilots from the album Regional at Best
Released	July 8, 2011
Format	Digital
Length	4:33
Time signature	4/4
Tempo	129
Key	F#
Live debut	July 9 2011
Last played	April 1 2023
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

Trees is the 12th track on the album, Regional at Best as well as the 11th track on Vessel

Background

It is one of the last songs we play in our set and by this song usually I’m exhausted during the live set. For some reason this song gives me a second wind, I don’t even know where it comes from. That’s special to me. Something bigger than myself happens during this song. It’s one of my favorites.

–Tyler Joseph via Rock Sound [1]

Versions

Studio

Title	Releas	Length	Recorded	Released	Notes
Guns for Hands	Regional at Best	4:33	2010-2011	8 July 2011
Guns for Hands	Vessel	4:36	2011-2012	8 Jan 2013	Guns for Hands, along with other songs from Regional at Best were remastered for their next album, Vessel

Live

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_iPVOMPt8E

Lyrics

Lyrics

Album version

I know what you think in the morning When the sun shines on the ground And shows what you have done It shows where your mind has gone And you swear to your parents That it will never happen again I know, I know-ow-ow What that means, I know-ow-ow-ow-ow [Chorus] That you all have guns And you never put the safety on And you all have plans To take it, to take it, don't take it, take it, take it I'm trying, I'm trying to sleep I'm trying, I'm trying to sleep But I can't, but I can't when you all have Guns for hands, yeah I'm trying, I'm trying to sleep I'm trying, I'm trying to sleep But I can't, but I can't when you all have Guns for hands, yeah [Verse 2] Let's take this a second at a time Let's take this one song, this one rhyme Together, let's breathe Together, to the beat But there's hope out the window So that's where we'll go Let's go outside and all join hands But until then you'll never understand [Chorus] That you all have guns And you never put the safety on And you all have plans To take it, to take it, don't take it, take it, take it (Don't take it) I'm trying, I'm trying to sleep I'm trying, I'm trying to sleep But I can't, but I can't when you all have Guns for hands, yeah [Interlude] Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Yeah, yeah Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Whoo! (Da-da da-da-da) (Da-da da-da-da) (Da-da da-da-da, ah uh) (Da-da da-da-da) [Bridge] We've turned our hands to guns Traded our thumbs for ammunition I must forewarn you of my disorder, or my condition 'Cause when the sun sets It upsets what's left of my invested interest Interested in putting my fingers to my head The solution is, I see a whole room of these mutant kids Fused at the wrist, I simply tell them they should shoot at this Simply suggest my chest and this confused music It's obviously best for them to turn their guns to a fist [Chorus] I'm trying, I'm trying to sleep I'm trying, I'm trying to sleep But I can't, but I can't when you all have Guns for hands, yeah I'm trying, I'm trying to sleep (I'm trying to sleep) I'm trying, I'm trying to sleep (I'm trying to sleep) But I can't, but I can't when you all have Guns for hands, yeah

Lyrics meaning

Lyrics
“Trees” is the oldest song written for Vessel. twenty one pilots recorded it for their independently released 2011 album Regional at Best and then rerecorded it for Vessel after they signed under label Fueled by Ramen. As Tyler Joseph explains in an interview, the original lyrics were inspired by an event in his life in which he was searching for something in the woods. The ultimate message he explains, is a search for truth. What form this truth takes on is up for debate. There are two general interpretations of these lyrics: A chance encounter occurs in a the secluded forest between two people who suffer from social anxiety. They nervously wait it out, not saying a thing. A spiritual journey is depicted in which the narrator feels as though he has found God but struggles with doubt, as God doesn't show Himself directly. [1]
all meanings of the lyrics are taken from the Genius website

Sources

[1] https://genius.com/Twenty-one-pilots-trees-lyrics