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Air Catcher Lyrics

I don't fall slow like I used to
I fall straight down
You've stolen my air catcher
That kept me safe and sound

My parachutes will guide me
Safely to ground
But now the cord's not working
And I see you staring me down

I won't fall in
Love with falling
I will try to avoid
Those eyes

I think you would beat
The moon in a pretty contest
And the moon just happened to be
The very first thing that I'd miss

I was doing fine on my own
And there wasn't much I lack
But you've stolen my air catcher
And I don't know if I want it back

I won't fall in
Love with falling
I will try to avoid
Those eyes

'Cause I'm not sure
I want to give you
Tools that can destroy
My heart

And I just don't say
What you want to hear
So I'll write my fear
And I don't believe
In talking just to breathe
And falling selfishly

I won't fall in
Love with falling
I will try to avoid
Those eyes

But now I'm here
To give you words
As tools that can destroy
My heart
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Cover art for Air Catcher lyrics by Twenty One Pilots

Tyler wrote this song about a person (a girl most likely) that had the ability to knock the wind out of him or steal his air. He created the term 'air catcher' to describe one who steals the air out of his lungs because he finds that person to be engaging, shocking, and awe-inspiring. Obviously, this person (let's pretend this person is a girl Tyler is in love with) has a certain paralyzing effect on our beloved lyricist, Mr. Joseph. However, he is wary of love and its tempting ways. The chorus "I won't fall in love with following" makes use of the gerund "falling". In this case "falling" refers to 'falling in love'. Tyler declares he won't fall in love with falling in love, meaning he won't fall in love with someone just because he wants to be with someone or because he seeks a soulmate, but he desires a real connection in which a girl really amazes him and is worthy of his love besides the fact that she loves him back; she amazes on her own. Furthermore, the opening lines "I don't fall slow like I used to; I fall straight down" imply that Tyler used to take things slow, but his injured soul quickly attaches to the first person that shows him kindness and love. Lastly, the lines "I'm here to give you words as tools that can destroy my heart" mean he will tell this girl that he loves her, making him vulnerable, because everyone knows love hurts and attachment promises some degree of suffering.

My Interpretation

@palmerpower36 I think 'air catcher' simply represents a parachute. It's just the thing that keeps him "falling slowly".

Cover art for Air Catcher lyrics by Twenty One Pilots

it's 'i won't fall in love with falling' and 'and i just don't say what you want to hear' :)

Lyric Correction
Cover art for Air Catcher lyrics by Twenty One Pilots

i think of the air catcher as his way to save himself from the darkness. its a good thing. and he needs it to get better. but the person who stole his air catcher has come into his life. this might not even be romantic. maybe just a toxic friend. but this person has been influencing tyler and taking his air catcher and his safety. but as his air catcher keeps disappearing he becomes very conflicted whether he should fight this or not. he shouldnt fall in love with being sad but hes rethinking protecting himself. this song just gives me something to relate to when i feel i have a person in my life who is stealing my air catcher

My Interpretation
Cover art for Air Catcher lyrics by Twenty One Pilots

It seems that he is trying to decide if he should give up his right to defend himself when God brings hard times into his life and in the end he chooses to surrender.

Cover art for Air Catcher lyrics by Twenty One Pilots

I think it's a song about falling in love with someone. The term "take your breath away" kind of strikes me as something an "air catcher" would prevent. Thus, the narrator is in love, whoever they think of took their breath away, as well as the air catcher that they can't use to bring it back.

My Interpretation
Cover art for Air Catcher lyrics by Twenty One Pilots

Air Catcher was the first song from this album to really catch my attention and I listened to it nonstop for a few months. I absolutely love this song and this is what it means to me. <I don't fall slow like I used to I fall straight down You've stolen my air catcher That kept me safe and sound My parachutes will get me Safely to ground But now the cord's not working And I see you staring me down> I've always thought of "you" as being someone or something that's negatively affecting his life. Such as a toxic friend, illness, or just bad situations. I like to think of "you" as depression or anxiety, but it's totally open to whatever you're personally dealing with. The parachute is something that's been helping him in his life, and "you" breaks the parachute, and suddenly he's free falling. <I think you would beat The moon in a pretty contest And the moon just happened to be The very first thing that I missed I was doing fine on my own And there wasn't much I lacked But you've stolen my air catcher And I don't know if I want it back> The problem is beautiful, like how depression and things like it can be really poetic and make life more interesting. He was doing alright before the problem showed up. When it did come, it messed up his life, but made it more interesting and he's not sure he wants to be free of this problem. <I won't fall in Love with falling I will try to avoid Those eyes> The chorus is about how he's not going to let "you" control his life. People tend to own their problems in a way, and they don't want to let them go. In other words, there's a part of them that's "in love with falling." It's the same with friends whom you like but are bad for you. He's trying not to become attached to this problem. He doesn't want to give it/them the information or control that will destroy him. <And I just don't say What you want to hear So I'll write my fears And I don't believe In talking just to breathe And falling selfishly> The bridge is a little less straightforward. The first part seems to be talking more about his resistance to give the problem authority, and the second about how keeping this problem around (especially long enough for it to become bad enough that he dies or something) is selfish. <I won't fall in Love with falling I will try to avoid Those eyes But now I'm here To give you words As tools that can destroy My heart> The last chorus is my favorite part because it's not a victory. It starts out the same as before, he's trying to resist, but despite that, he still gives up and gives the problem what it needs to destroy him. Anyway, that's just how I see it. Thanks for reading my really long comment; I hope you got something out of it.

My Interpretation

@CoralCorral21 that is amazing, and ver close to what i was guessing. “You” seems like Blurryface..

Cover art for Air Catcher lyrics by Twenty One Pilots

An air catcher is just another term for the parachute he mentions. He's used to being in control of his feelings when he is in a relationship, which means that he allows his love to evolve on his own terms and controls it with the "cord" he mentions. He "parachutes" into love at his own pace. But he has lost control of his air catcher with this woman; he is falling in love with her. However, he is uncomfortable with giving her the tools to destroy his heart (saying that he loves her which opens him up to this pain). By the end he decides to say he loves her and give in to his love for her even though he knows it will open him up to being hurt by her.

Cover art for Air Catcher lyrics by Twenty One Pilots

I think he's using a parachute as a metaphor. Parachutes catch air underneath them, that's how they keep people in the air (where they want to be) and safe. "My parachute will get me safely to ground. But now my cord's not working and I see you staring me down" almost sounds like he's referring to Blurryface, like someone wants him dead. "Who is Blurryface and why does he want me dead" seems like it could fit the song.

Cover art for Air Catcher lyrics by Twenty One Pilots

He is talking to God, acknowledging that he wants the world and struggles against the call but at the end of the song, accepts the call.

My Interpretation
Cover art for Air Catcher lyrics by Twenty One Pilots

I think this one is about the fear of "falling", or falling in love. The air catcher basically is just a parachute and that's metaphorically how he always caught himself before he could fall too hard for someone. However, this person has now completely knocked him out and although he's afraid of falling in love, he doesn't want it to stop ("you've stolen my air catcher, and I don't know if I want it back"). He knows that if he loves this person he opens himself up to vunerability and is allowing the possibility of getting hurt ("tools to destroy my heart").

My Interpretation