The Contract – English Lyrics

• By: Twenty One Pilots
• Album: Breach

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a unique linguistic journey with Twenty One Pilots' "The Contract." This song, rich with evocative storytelling and complex emotional themes, offers an immersive way to engage with English lyrics. You'll encounter modern vocabulary, nuanced expressions of psychological states, and metaphorical language that's central to the band's narrative universe. Its raw vulnerability and connection to a broader lore make it a special piece for language learners seeking to understand contemporary English lyrics within a compelling artistic context.

[English]

Hello, Clancy.

I check the doors, check the windows, and pull the blinds,

I check the clock

wondering what he will pull this time,

I have a feeling that necromancer’s outside,

And I'm just trying to stay quiet.

I don’t sleep much, that's crazy, how’d you know that?

Keep myself up, that's maybe how you know that,

Promises and contracts

I used to keep,

I don’t sleep much, that's crazy, how’d you know that?

Keep myself up, that’s maybe how you know that,

My hallucination

I used to see.

Wake up and I find out, did a change up,

Wait-

Did it change up?

Is it light out yet?

Better find out. Bet,

Imma walk around the edge of the room,

And the bed where I hide my face,

Pace around,

Better try to breathe,

Pace around,

Pace around.

I check the doors, check the windows, and pull the blinds,

I check the clock

wondering what he will pull this time,

I have a feeling that necromancer’s outside,

And I'm just trying to stay quiet.

I don’t sleep much, that's crazy, how’d you know that?

Keep myself up, that's maybe how you know that,

Promises and contracts

I used to keep,

I don’t sleep much, that's crazy, how’d you know that?

Keep myself up, that’s maybe how you know that,

My hallucination

I used to see.

I used to see.

Sleep I found.

I wanna get out there,

But I don’t try,

I wanna get out there,

But I don’t try.

I check the clock

wondering what he will pull this time,

I have a feeling that necromancer’s outside,

And I'm just trying to stay quiet.

I don’t sleep much, that's crazy, how’d you know that?

Keep myself up, that's maybe how you know that,

Promises and contracts

I used to keep,

I don’t sleep much, that's crazy, how’d you know that?

Keep myself up, that’s maybe how you know that,

My hallucination

I used to see.

I used to see.

I used to see.

My hallucination

I used to see.

I used to see,

It felt so real,

But now I plead,

Just take the deal,

I promised you,

A contract,

I promised you,

A contract.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
contract /ˈkɒn.trækt/ B1	noun - a written or spoken agreement verb - to enter into a formal agreement
hallucination /həˌluːsɪˈneɪʃən/ B2	noun - perception of something not present
knows /noʊz/ A2	verb - to have knowledge about something
sleep /sliːp/ A1	verb - to rest with eyes closed
pull /pʊl/ A2	verb - to use force to move something toward oneself
stay /steɪ/ A1	verb - to remain in a place
promises /ˈprɒm.ɪsɪz/ B2	noun - assurances or commitments
light /laɪt/ A2	adjective - giving off illumination
change /tʃeɪndʒ/ B1	noun - the process of becoming different verb - to make or become different
face /feɪs/ A2	noun - front part of head
plead /pliːd/ B2	verb - to ask earnestly or plead for something

Key Grammar Structures

• I check the doors, check the windows, and pull the blinds

  ➔ Parallel structure (coordinate conjunctions: 'and') used to connect multiple actions.

  ➔ Using 'and' to connect multiple actions indicates they happen sequentially or simultaneously.

• I don’t sleep much, that's crazy, how’d you know that?

  ➔ Use of the contracted form 'don't' for negation in present simple tense.

  ➔ The contraction 'don't' combines 'do' + 'not' to form negative statements.

• Promises and contracts I used to keep

  ➔ Used to + verb to express past habits or states that are no longer true.

  ➔ The phrase 'used to' indicates a past routine or condition that is no longer true in the present.

• My hallucination I used to see.

  ➔ Relative clause 'that I used to see' describing past experiences.

  ➔ The phrase 'used to' in the relative clause expresses a habitual action in the past.

• Just take the deal

  ➔ Imperative mood used to give a command or request.

  ➔ The verb form is in the imperative, indicating a command or urgent request.

• I have a feeling that necromancer’s outside

  ➔ That + noun clause expressing a subjective feeling or intuition.

  ➔ The noun clause 'that necromancer’s outside' functions as the object of the verb 'have,' expressing a feeling.

• Just take the deal

  ➔ Imperative mood for giving a command or making a suggestion.

  ➔ The speaker is giving a direct command or advice in the imperative form.