Backslide

Backslide is the third song on the album Clancy by Twenty One Pilots.

Backslide
Song by Twenty One Pilots from the album Clancy
Recorded	2022 - 2023
Released	April 25, 2024
Format	Digital
Length	3:00
Tempo	85
Key	E♭ Major
Single	March 27, 2024
Live count	0
Writer	Tyler Joseph
Producer	Tyler Joseph
Label	Fueled by Ramen
Stream / Buy
Clancy track listing Backslide Next Semester Backslide Midwest Indigo Routines in the Night Vignette The Craving (Jenna's Version) Lavish Navigatting Snap back Oldies Station At the Risk of Feeling Dumb Paladin Strait

Versions

Studio

Title	Releas	Length	Recorded	Released	Notes
Backslide	Clancy	3:00	2022-2023	25 April 2024

Background

Backslide is the third promotional single from Twenty One Pilots‘ sixth studio album, Clancy. It follows previous singles Next Semester and Overcompensate.

The song sees Tyler Joseph reflecting on his career and time in the spotlight, while also speaking on regrets and new concerns at this time in the band’s career. He also makes references to previous eras of the band, directly naming [Saturday|Saturday]] from the duo’s fifth studio album, [Scaled and Icy|Scaled and Icy]]. Sonically, the song borrows ideas from their third studio album, [Blurryface|'Blurryface]] with a hip-hop influenced beat similar to the one found on the duo’s smash-hit single, “[Stressed Out|Stressed Out]].

Backslide was announced as the next single from Clancy by Tyler Joseph on his X (formerly Twitter) account on April 22nd, 2024. Its music video, which is the first to be directed by the band’s drummer, Josh Dun, was teased on social media leading up to its release. The single was officially released at 9am CDT on April 25th, 2024.

Lyrics

Album version

[Intro] No-no-no, no-no-no No-no-no-no-no, no-no-no-no-no No-no-no-no-no, no-no-no-no [Verse 1] Stand up straight now (Ooh) Can't break down (Ooh) Graduate now (Ooh) I don't wanna be here, I don't wanna be here It's a taste test (Ooh) Of what I hate less (Ooh) Can you die of anxiousness? (Ooh) I don't wanna be here, I don't wanna be here What's about to happen? What's about to happen? [Chorus] I remember I remember certain things What I was wearing The yellow dashes in the street I prayed those lights would take me home Then I heard, "Hey, kid, get out of the road!" [Post-Chorus] (Ooh, ooh, ooh) I don't wanna be here, I don't wanna be here [Verse 2] Can't feel my legs (Ooh) I might suffocate (Ooh) There's a pressure in my chest (Ooh) I don't wanna be here, I don't wanna be here What's about to happen? What's about to happen? [Chorus] I remember I remember certain things What I was wearin' The yellow dashes in the street I prayed those lights would take me home Then I heard, "Hey, kid, get out of the road!" [Refrain] (Ohh, woah, oh, oh-woah) (Ohh, woah, oh, oh-woah, ohh) Can't change what you've done Start fresh next semester [Chorus] I remember I remember certain things What I was wearin' The yellow dashes in the street I prayed those lights would take me home Then I heard, "Hey, kid, get out of the road!" [Refrain] (Ohh, woah, oh, oh-woah) And then he slowed down (Ohh, woah, oh, oh-woah, ohh) And rolled down his window And he said "Can't change what you've done Start fresh next semester" [Outro] It's a taste test Of what I hate less I don't wanna be here Start fresh with the new year (Ohh, ahh, oh, oh-woah) (Ohh, ahh, oh, oh-woah) Can't change what you've done Start fresh next semester

Lyrics meaning

Lyrics
“Next Semester” is the second promotional single from twenty one pilots‘ sixth full-length studio album Clancy, following “Overcompensate,” and released alongside the official announcement for The Clancy World Tour—spanning nine months and 14 countries. As an interpretive song, it is difficult to pinpoint what singer-songwriter Tyler Joseph is getting at exactly, but it is evident that “Next Semester” talks about one’s struggles at a young age to find their place and identity. They are stuck between their mistakes from the past—one of which is presumed to be a failed suicide attempt—and the pressure to not fail in the future. The song and music video seem to act as a sort of “opposite side of the same coin” to their earlier song “Heavydirtysoul” and its music video, particularly the car scenes. Another popular interpretation is that the subject had a panic attack in the middle of the road, only somewhat aware of what was going on, evidenced by the loose details in their recount of the experience. The band announced and teased “Next Semester” in the days leading up to its release. However, despite the song leaking two days before, it stayed true to its original mid-day release of March 27, 2024.[2]
all meanings of the lyrics are taken from the Genius website