Choker

Choker is the second song on the album Scaled And Icy by Twenty One Pilots.

Choker
Song by Twenty One Pilots from the album Scaled and Icy
Recorded	2019 - 2020
Released	April 30, 2021
Format	Digital
Length	3:43
Time signature	4/4
Tempo	142
Key	G
Single	30 April 2021
Live debut	21 May 2021
Last played	21 June 2022
Live count	7
Writer	Tyler Joseph
Producer	Tyler Joseph
Label	Fueled by Ramen, Elektra
Stream / Buy
Scaled and Icy track listing Good Day Choker Shy Away The Outside Saturday Never Take It Mulberry Street Formidable Bounce Man No Chances Redecorate

Versions

Studio

Title	Releas	Length	Recorded	Released	Notes
Choker	Scaled and Icy	3:43	2019-2020	30 April 2021

Background

“Choker,” the second promotional single from Twenty One Pilots' sixth studio album, Scaled and Icy, starts off with a despairing tone as Tyler Joseph takes on the mindset of a narrator lamenting his inability to be there for the people in his life due to “choking” from his fears. As the song progresses, he experiences growth in character and ends on a positive note where he begins to look at his future with a hopeful attitude.

Musically, “Choker” is reminiscent of Twenty One Pilots' older style (e.g. 2009’s “ Addict with a Pen”) with its slow tempo, bright sound and the poetic rap included at the end.

Its release was first teased on April 28, 2021 on the premium page live.twentyonepilots.com for fans who purchased tickets to the Scaled and Icy Livestream Concert. The official announcement of the single and its accompanying music video was later made public the following morning via a teaser on Twitter. Fans who purchased tickets to the aforementioned livestream received access to behind-the-scenes content 30 minutes before the song and video’s midnight release.

Lyrics

Lyrics

Album version

[Intro] Mm-mm, mm-mm, mm-mm Mm-mm, mm-mm, mm-mm [Verse 1] I don't bother anyone Nervous when I stand Chokin' on the circumstance Only smokin' secondhand (Mm-mm) Cut us open, spread us out (Mm-mm) Dry us in the sand (Mm-mm) Lay the fibers side by side (Mm-mm) And you'll begin to understand (Mm-mm) [Chorus] I know it's over I was born a choker Nobody's comin' for me Comin' for me [Post-Chorus] Mm-mm (I know it's over) Mm-mm, mm-mm, mm-mm [Verse 2] I don't bother anyone Never make demands Chokin' on the circumstance Self-sabotage is a sweet romance (Mm-mm) Seems like all I'm worth is what I'm able to withstand (Mm-mm) Sooner I can realize that pain is just a middleman [Chorus] I know it's over I was born a choker Nobody's comin' for me [Bridge] I see no volunteers to co-sign on my fears I'll sign on the line Alone, I'm gonna change my circumstance I know I need to move right now [Chorus] 'Cause I know it's over I was born a choker Nobody's comin' for me (Only smokin' secondhand) I know it's over I was born a choker Nobody's comin' for me Comin' for me [Verse 3] Like a little splinter buried in your skin Someone else can carve it out but when you've got the pin It hurts a little less and you can even push it further in When your body's screamin' out, trust your mind's listenin' Like a silhouette that you can barely see As a shadow cast upon the ground where you'll eventually Lay forever, but the day goes on, the sun moves behind you You get taller, bolder, stronger, and the rearview only blinds you [Outro] Mm-mm, mm-mm, mm-mm

Lyrics meaning

Lyrics
On their previous album Trench, the song Leave the City has a reoccurring line: “They know that it’s almost over”, similar to "I know it's over" in Choker. The thing that is «almost over» is Tyler’s search for a path, especially related to faith. Him saying that he knows it’s over could mean he feels like he knows the answer to the question of where he is going. Throughout the previous album Trench, the Banditos, who represent people close to you, are seen trying to guide and help Tyler out of Dema, a metaphor for bad mental health. In Choker, when he is saying that “Nobody’s comin’ for me”, he could be saying there is no saving him. This could unfortunately mean that the path he feels like he knows now is a faithless path that the demons of Dema, or his dark thoughts, are in control of.
all meanings of the lyrics are taken from the Genius website