“Center Mass Lyrics” by twenty one pilots

“Center Mass” is a track by twenty one pilots (Tyler Joseph & Josh Dun), known for their genre-blending style that fuses rap, alternative rock, pop, and electronic music. The song comes from their 2024 album Clancy, which continues the narrative journey of the fictional city Dema and its oppressive bishops, a storyline spanning from Blurryface (2015) through Trench (2018) and Scaled and Icy (2021).

This song reflects themes of anxiety, identity, and vulnerability, portraying Tyler’s struggles with insecurity, self-preservation, and the weight of emotional battles. The imagery of “center mass” is particularly striking—it’s a term from marksmanship (the target area of the torso), here used metaphorically for being vulnerable to emotional or psychological attack.

The track balances introspection with layered production, highlighting the band’s signature contrast of raw honesty and metaphorical storytelling.

📝 Lyrics

[Intro]
(Right)
I figured out how it sounded (Right this way)
It goes (Right)
My death (Right this way)
Girl, I really don't think you should take that
(Josh Dun, take that)

[Verse 1]
A little softer than I used to be (Right)
Used to mouth off often with artillery
Now it is cough drops and soft spots in a middle seat (Right this way)
Chivalry (Take that)
A tighter space than I used to know (Right)
Spread out wide no more, pinch my shoulders close
Hoping they misplace my reservation (Right this way)

[Pre-Chorus]
Okay, okay
I thought you had it figured out
I know, I know
You said you made it to the top
I lied, I lied
So, tell us, how did you make out all right?
Well

[Chorus]
I pull on my shirtsleeve to cover half of my hands
Bring my arms closer to my body, get as small as I can
They call it cеnter mass, that part they aim for
Shrink it down to nothing and forgetting what thе pain's for
I pull on my shirtsleeve (My shirtsleeve), to cover half of my face (Half of my face)
Bring my arms closer to my body, get as small as they say (Small as they say)
They call it center mass, that part they aim for (That's blasphemy)

[Verse 2]
Right this way if you're frustrated (Right)
Your first mate in the fifth grade tried to persuade
Try it once, he was shown on the bus (Right this way)
Chain's off my huff, anxious enough as it is (Right)
Gotta walk, never looking up once at the kids in the park
What a day, getting dark, what a day (Right this way)

[Pre-Chorus]
Okay, okay
I thought you had it figured out (I thought you had it figured out)
I know, I know
You said you made it to the top (You said you made it to the top)
I lied, I lied
So, tell us, how did you make out all right?
Well

[Chorus]
I pull on my shirtsleeve (My shirtsleeve), to cover half of my hands (Half of my hands)
Bring my arms closer to my body, get as small as I can (Small as I can)
They call it center mass, that part they aim for
Shrink it down to nothing and forgetting what the pain's for
I pull on my shirtsleeve (My shirtsleeve), to cover half of my face (Half of my face)
Bring my arms closer to my body, get as small as they say (Small as they say)
They call it center mass, that part they aim for
Shrink it down to nothing and forgetting what the pain's for
That part they aim for

[Outro]
Found out what I'm worth, I run to you
I hope you understand this run-on sentence
My tattoos only hurt when meaning fades
I think my skin got worse with good intentions
I don't wanna say what happened, I just wanna let it go
Nothing was the same right after, I went to the funeral
I miss you so, so much, take what you want
Take what you want from me
Took you for granted
They call it center mass, that part they aim for
That part they aim for (Josh Dun)
That part they aim for
That part they aim for

🔎 Step-by-Step Breakdown

[Intro]

• Mentions of “death” and “take that” suggest inner conflict, fear, and struggle with intrusive thoughts.

[Verse 1]

• Tyler reflects on change: once confrontational (“mouth off with artillery”), now quieter, anxious (“cough drops and soft spots”).
• Imagery of being confined (“middle seat,” “pinch my shoulders close”) symbolizes withdrawal and insecurity.

[Pre-Chorus]

• A dialogue of deception: pretending to “have it figured out” but admitting he lied. Shows the pressure of appearing okay while struggling internally.

[Chorus]

• “Pull on my shirtsleeve” → gesture of hiding, shrinking, protecting oneself.
• “Center mass” → being the target of attacks (literal & emotional).
• Desire to disappear, shrink, and numb the pain.

[Verse 2]

• Childhood memory (“fifth grade”) connects to peer pressure and vulnerability.
• Walking with head down → classic anxiety imagery.
• Repetition of “what a day” amplifies weariness.

[Outro]

• Deep confession: grief, loss, tattoos losing meaning, emotional scars worsening.
• Funeral reference → mourning someone or a version of himself.
• Ends with surrender: “Take what you want from me,” reflecting vulnerability and acceptance of pain.

📑 Side-by-Side Annotated Lyric Sheet

🎼 Song Details

🎭 Theme

• Anxiety & Self-Protection 🤐
• Vulnerability & Exposure 🎯
• Grief & Letting Go 🖤
• Masks & Hidden Pain 🎭

💡 Meaning

The song portrays the internal struggle of shrinking to avoid being hurt, both physically (body language of pulling sleeves and closing off) and emotionally (hiding grief, numbing pain). It connects childhood anxieties with adult battles, ultimately revealing the pain of loss and the effort to cope with vulnerability.

❓ FAQs

Q: What does “center mass” mean here?
A: It’s a metaphor for vulnerability—being targeted where it hurts most emotionally.

Q: Why mention tattoos?
A: Tattoos symbolize meaning; when that meaning fades, even permanent marks feel painful.

Q: Who is the funeral about?
A: Ambiguous—could be mourning a loved one or symbolic of losing a version of himself.

Q: Why the hiding gestures (shirtsleeve, hunched body)?
A: These physical actions reflect anxiety, the desire to shrink, and avoidance of confrontation.

🏁 Conclusion

“Center Mass” is an emotional portrayal of anxiety, grief, and vulnerability, where Tyler Joseph paints a vivid picture of shrinking into himself, hiding from life’s attacks, and wrestling with personal loss. The powerful metaphor of “center mass” as the target of emotional pain makes this track one of the rawest explorations of human fragility in the Clancy narrative.

💔🎯😔🖤