The Contract Lyrics – twenty one pilots

The Contract Lyrics Meaning

[Pre-Chorus]
The person sounds super paranoid, like they’re always checking their surroundings—locking doors, closing blinds, and looking at the clock. They’re scared of someone or something, maybe something supernatural, like a “necromancer.” They’re trying to stay still and unnoticed, clearly anxious and uneasy.

[Chorus]
They’re not sleeping much, and they’re surprised someone else might notice. They admit they stay awake on purpose, maybe to avoid bad dreams or thoughts. There’s talk of old promises or deals they made—maybe emotional or psychological ones—and past hallucinations that felt real. It’s like their mind used to trick them, and now they’re haunted by it all, still carrying that weight.

[Verse]
They wake up confused, unsure if something changed while they were out of it. They’re checking if it’s morning, pacing the room, staying close to the bed like it’s a safe zone. Their breathing is heavy, and it feels like they’re trying to calm a panic attack or stop themselves from spiraling mentally. It’s clear they’re struggling with inner chaos.

[Pre-Chorus]
Once again, they’re checking everything—doors, windows, the clock—like they expect trouble. That feeling of something or someone dangerous being just outside is still there. They’re doing all they can to stay hidden and safe, even if it’s just emotionally.

[Chorus]
Same as before, they’re admitting they don’t sleep, and that maybe their anxious habits are what give it away. There’s regret tied to old promises, maybe things they agreed to when they weren’t thinking clearly. The hallucinations they used to have seem like a big deal, like they were once lost in their mind, but now it’s something they remember more than experience.

[Post-Chorus]
They used to see things that weren’t real, but now sleep brings some relief.

[Bridge]
They want to break free or go out into the world, but they just don’t try. Something’s holding them back—fear, depression, maybe hopelessness. The desire is there, but the action is missing.

[Pre-Chorus]
They’re watching the clock again, dreading what might happen next. The fear of that strange, dark figure outside never goes away, and all they can do is keep quiet and hope it passes.

[Chorus]
Once again, they open up about their sleep issues and how they keep themselves awake. It’s tied to old deals and strange experiences—hallucinations that seemed so real they still linger in their memory. They’re trying to hold it all together, but it clearly weighs on them deeply.

[Post-Chorus]
They keep remembering those hallucinations, like they’re stuck in a loop, haunted by what their mind used to show them.

[Outro]
They talk about how real those visions once felt, and now it’s like they’ve given in, begging for whatever this deal or contract was to just be over. They once promised something, and now they’re living with the consequences, hoping to finally be free from it.