Chlorine
Cleansing and burning, a toxic muse.
"Chlorine" is a song by Twenty One Pilots, released on January 22, 2019, as the fifth single from their fifth studio album, Trench (2018). It appears most prominently in the song and music video of the same name from the album Trench, where it is used as a metaphor for the toxic yet cleansing nature of creative expression. In the broader lore, Chlorine is tied to the themes of mental struggle and the duality of coping mechanisms, often associated with the character of Tyler Joseph's inner conflict.
Quick Facts
- Artist
- Twenty One Pilots
- Album
- Trench
- Released
- 22 January 2019
- Studio
- Tyler Joseph's home studio
- Columbus
- Ohio; United Recording Studios
- Hollywood
- California
- Genre
- Trip hop
- rap rock
- electropop
- Label
- Fueled by Ramen
- Writer
- Tyler Joseph; Paul Meany
- Producer
- Tyler Joseph; Paul Meany (co.)
Lore & Background
Chlorine in the Twenty One Pilots universe is more than a chemical; it is a force that both purifies and poisons. In the music video the duo fill and clean a dirty swimming pool while watched by Ned, a small white alien-like creature with antlers, who dives into the pool once it is full.
Reader's Guide
Chlorine is the chemical heartbeat of the Trench era—a metaphor that stings as much as it heals. In the song, it’s the thing you sip even though it burns, the habit you hate but can’t quit. For fans, this symbol deepens the album's message: that resilience isn't about avoiding the poison, but learning to drink it and still find your way to the light.
Track listing
US promotional CD
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chlorine (radio edit #1) | 2:55 |
| 2 | Chlorine (radio edit #2) | 2:02 |
| 3 | Chlorine (radio edit #3) | 1:59 |
| 4 | Chlorine (album version) | 5:24 |
| 5 | Chlorine (instrumental) | 5:25 |
Spotify single
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chlorine | 5:24 |
| 2 | Chlorine (Alt Mix) | 3:11 |
Chlorine (19.4326° N, 99.1332° W)
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chlorine (19.4326° N, 99.1332° W) | 3:58 |
Did You Know?
- The music video introduced Ned, a small alien-like creature made with 3D visual effects and a physical stand-in mold.
- Chlorine is often interpreted as a metaphor for the process of writing music itself, which can be both cathartic and harmful.
More in Trench & Dema
Elsewhere in Twenty One Pilots
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