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

Guns for Hands is the 1st track on the album, Regional at Best as well as the 10th track on Vessel

Background

Tyler Joseph has spoken several times about the track, including:

"People try to interpret what the song is saying and in a way I feel like I’m supposed to let that live and not answer the question. In short, there was a particular show that I was playing and at this time we were really able talk to everyone after a show. I remember this show in particular more than usual, kids came up to me and felt like they needed to share what it was they were going through and a lot of what they were going through had to do with suicide… thank goodness it had a lot to do with them overcoming it and using music and using songs, in particular my songs, to help them get over that and I was so inspired and so moved by that show and those kids that came up to me and shared with me their struggles with suicide and this song is very inspired by them and those people that struggle with that. I don’t claim to be a professional opinion on the topic because it’s dangerous to talk about suicide and to claim you have a voice on the issue but this song is about taking that negative energy and aiming it at something else, not aiming it at yourself, really giving these kids the power to know that they do have control over their circumstances." [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
Frontman Tyler Joseph has stated the following regarding this track: "I know you have the ability to hurt yourself, I recognize that, but let’s take that energy and let’s point it at something else, let’s divert that, let’s kind of shift momentum and look at something like art, or something like this music specifically or even point it at me, just point it anywhere. But don’t point it at yourself … that song will always be important to me." [1]
all meanings of the lyrics are taken from the Genius website

Sources

[1] https://genius.com/Twenty-one-pilots-guns-for-hands-lyrics