I do not know why I would go
In front of you and hide my soul
'Cause you're the only one who knows it
Yeah, you're the only one who knows it
And I will hide behind my pride
D-don't know why I think I could lie
'Cause there's a screen on my chest
Yeah there's a screen on my chest
[Chorus]
(Oh) I'm standing in front of you
(Oh) I'm standing in front of you
(Oh-oh-oh) I'm trying to be so cool
Everything together trying to be so cool
(Oh) I'm standing in front of you
(Oh) Oh, I'm standing in front of you
(Oh-oh-oh) I'm trying to be so cool
Everything together trying to be so cool
[Verse 2]
I can't see past my own nose
I'm seeing everything in slo-mo
Look out below crashing down to the ground
Just like a vertical locomotive, that's a train
Am I painting the picture that's in my brain?
A train from the sky, locomotive, my motives are insane
My flow's not great, okay, I conversate with people
Who know if I flow on a song, I'll get no radio play
While you're doing fine, there's some people and I
Who have a really tough time getting through this life
So excuse us while we sing to the sky
(Oh) I'm standing in front of you
(Oh) I'm standing in front of you
(Oh-oh-oh) I'm trying to be so cool
Everything together trying to be so cool (I'm standing)
(Oh) I'm standing in front of you (I'm standing)
(Oh) Oh I'm standing in front of you (I'm standing)
(Oh-oh-oh) Oh I'm trying to be so cool
Everything together trying to be so cool
[Bridge]
Ooh, oooh
Oh-oh-oh, mm
We're broken, we're broken
We're broken, we're broken people
We're broken people, yeah
We're broken, we're broken
We're broken, we're broken people
We're broken people, yeah
We're broken, we're broken
We're broken, we're broken people
We're broken people, yeah
[Chorus]
(Stand) I'm standing in front of you (We're broken, we're broken)
(Stand) I'm standing in front of you (We're broken, we're broken people, oh)
(Stand) I'm trying to be so cool (We're broken people, oh, yeah)
(Stand) Everything together trying to be so cool
(I'm standing) I'm standing in front of you (We've broken, we've broken)
(I'm standing) Oh, I'm standing in front of you (We've broken, we've broken people, oh)
(I'm standing, ooh-ooh) Oh, I'm trying to be so cool (We've broken people, oh, yeah)
Everything together trying to be so cool
About
One of the slower songs on Vessel, Tyler makes heavy use of his ukulele and piano along with some electronic sounds in “Screen.” Full of religious imagery and symbolism, with the act of admitting that we are truly “broken people,” “Screen” drives a message of solidarity amongst those who have struggled with unbelief. Throughout the song, the narrator seems to proclaim to his Maker, “No, we’re not perfect…but you already knew that.”
During their live shows, twenty one pilots connects with their fans in a profound way, especially during the bridge. As Tyler said in a 2013 interview with Rock Sound:
The point of the song is to have more than just me singing it, I hate playing this song in front of people who don’t know who we are or don’t want to be part of the show – it doesn’t make sense.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
Tyler Joseph via YouTube:
I wrote this one on the ukulele…I wanted people to sing with me. I didn’t know if there was going to be anyone to sing these songs, that’s what is really cool about this album. All these songs were written in a place and time where I didn’t know if anyone was going to hear them. And I’ll never have that back…these songs were written without any pressure, without any goal really. No standard, no structure, no reason other than this is what I was going through and its what I wish someone else was writing, so I’m going to write it.
“Screen” was certified gold by the RIAA on January 17, 2019.
- 1.Ode To Sleep
- 3.Migraine
- 5.Car Radio
- 7.Screen
- 9.Fake You Out
- 10.Guns for Hands
- 11.Trees
- 12.Truce