Car Radio

Car Radio
Song by Twenty One Pilots from the album Regional at Best
Released	July 8, 2011
Format	Digital
Length	4:49
Time signature	Common Time
Tempo	65
Key	A minor
Live debut	May 1 2010
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

Car Radio is the 5th track on the album, Regional at Best as well as the 5th track on Vessel

Background

The song was inspired by an event which had happened to frontman Tyler Joseph during college. In an interview with Rock Sound, he explained that one day he arrived to class late and forgot to lock his car's door. After class, he returned to discover that someone had broken into his car and stolen everything inside, including the radio, GPS and his CDs. At the time, Joseph didn't have the finances necessary to afford to replace what was lost. The subsequent experience of going on without his car radio made him realize "music can act as a distraction and can get in the way of where your mind wants to go." [1]

Versions

Studio

Title	Releas	Length	Recorded	Released	Notes
Car Radio	Regional at Best	4:49	2010-2011	8 July 2011
Car Radio	Vessel	4:27	2011-2012	18 March 2014	Car Radio, along with other songs from Regional at Best were remastered for their next album, Vessel

Live

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ok56_eyIE8k

Lyrics

Lyrics

Album version

[Refrain] I ponder of something great My lungs will fill and then deflate They fill with fire, exhale desire I know it's dire, my time today I have these thoughts so often, I ought To replace that slot with what I once bought 'Cause somebody stole my car radio And now I just sit in silence [Verse 1] Sometimes quiet is violent I find it hard to hide it, my pride is no longer inside It's on my sleeve, my skin will scream Reminding me of who I killed inside my dream I hate this car that I'm driving, there's no hiding for me I'm forced to deal with what I feel There is no distraction to mask what is real I could pull the steering wheel [Refrain] I have these thoughts so often, I ought To replace that slot with what I once bought 'Cause somebody stole my car radio And now I just sit in silence [Verse 2] I ponder of something terrifying 'Cause this time there's no sound to hide behind I find over the course of our human existence One thing consists of consistence And it's that we're all battling fear Oh dear, I don't know if we know why we're here Oh my, too deep, please stop thinking I liked it better when my car had sound There are things we can do But from the things that work there are only two And-a from the two that we choose to do Peace will win and fear will lose And there's faith and there's sleep We need to pick one, please, because Faith is to be awake and to be awake is for us to think And for us to think is to be alive And I will try with every rhyme To come across like I am dying To let you know you need to try to think [Refrain] I have these thoughts so often, I ought To replace that slot with what I once bought 'Cause somebody stole my car radio And now I just sit in silence [Verse 2] I ponder of something terrifying 'Cause this time there's no sound to hide behind I find over the course of our human existence One thing consists of consistence And it's that we're all battling fear Oh dear, I don't know if we know why we're here Oh my, too deep, please stop thinking I liked it better when my car had sound There are things we can do But from the things that work there are only two And-a from the two that we choose to do Peace will win and fear will lose And there's faith and there's sleep We need to pick one, please, because Faith is to be awake and to be awake is for us to think And for us to think is to be alive And I will try with every rhyme To come across like I am dying To let you know you need to try to think [Refrain] I have these thoughts so often, I ought To replace that slot with what I once bought 'Cause somebody stole my car radio And now I just sit in silence

Lyrics meaning

Lyrics
“Car Radio” is an introspective song that recalls an event lead singer Tyler Joseph experienced during college where his car radio was stolen. It led him to ponder where the mind takes people when all they are left with is silence. Tyler describes this silence as something that can sometimes be seen as violent, an irony displayed musically as “Car Radio” moves from its brooding intro to the explosive climax heard during the bridge. Its energy level has made it both a band- and fan-favorite at twenty one pilots’ shows. [2]
all meanings of the lyrics are taken from the Genius website

Sources

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Car_Radio_(song)#:~:text=11%20External%20links-,Background,to%20lock%20his%20car's%20door.

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