Guns for Hands

"Guns for Hands" is a song written and recorded by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots, released as a single only in Japan.[1] The song was originally recorded for their second self-released album, Regional at Best. It was re-recorded for their third album Vessel, their 2012 Three Songs EP,[4] and their 2013 EP, Migraine.[5] The video was directed by Mark C. Eshleman.[6] The song reached number 21 on the Japan Hot 100.

"Guns for Hands"
Song by Twenty One Pilots
from the album Regional at Best
Released	July 8, 2011
Length	4:36
Label	Self-released
Songwriter(s)	Tyler Joseph
Producer(s)	Twenty One Pilots

"Guns for Hands"
Single by Twenty One Pilots
from the album Vessel
Released	December 26, 2012[1]
Recorded	2012
Length	4:33
Label	Warner Japan
Songwriter(s)	Tyler Joseph
Producer(s)	Greg Wells[2][3]
Twenty One Pilots singles chronology
"Holding on to You" (2012) "Guns for Hands" (2012) "Lovely" (2013)
Music video
"Guns for Hands" on YouTube

Background

In an interview with Rock Sound, Tyler Joseph explained that "Guns for Hands" came about following a meeting after a show with young fans of the band who discussed "what it was they were going through and a lot of what they were going through had to do with suicide", and added that "thank goodness it had a lot to do with them overcoming it and using music and songs, in particular his songs, to help them get over that." Joseph was consequently inspired to write a track "about taking that negative energy and aiming it at something else, not aiming it at yourself."[7]

Music video

The music video for "Guns for Hands" is shot in a large white room, empty save for the performers and their instruments. The beginning of the video also shows the song's title in Japanese, as well as some subtitles. Joseph wears a blue shirt, and Dun wears a red shirt, representing the band's early logo. The video opens with Joseph putting on a ski mask and then offering another mask to a withdrawn Dun, whispering "They won't know it's you." The two launch into an energetic performance, with Joseph regularly bringing attention to the fact that his microphone is not actually recording his voice by swinging it around and rubbing it against his forehead. Prior to the rap verse, both performers wrap colored duct tape around their faces (also representing their logo) creating makeshift masks that they remove prior to the final chorus.

Track listing

Digital download / stream

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Guns for Hands"	4:33

EP

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Guns for Hands"	4:33
2.	"Forest"	4:06

Personnel

• Tyler Joseph – vocals, piano, bass guitar, guitar, synthesizers, keyboards, programming
• Josh Dun – drums, percussion, backing vocals

Charts

Chart (2013)	Peak position
Japan Hot 100 (Billboard)[8]	21

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[9]	Gold	500,000
^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

References

1. "Right-on2012A＆WのテレビCM曲「ガンズ・フォー・ハンズ」ビデオクリップ完成！YouTube公開！｜twenty one pilots / トゥエンティ・ワン・パイロッツ｜ワーナーミュージック・ジャパン". Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
2. "Twenty One Pilots - Biography, Albums, Streaming Links - AllMusic". Retrieved November 5, 2016.
3. "Twenty One Pilots". Voodoo Music Festival. Archived from the original on January 23, 2015. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
4. "Three Songs – EP". Amazon.com US. Amazon.com. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
5. "Migraine – EP". iTunes US. Apple Inc. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
6. "Twenty One Pilots - "Guns For Hands"". MTV. January 28, 2013. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
7. "Track-By-Track: Twenty One Pilots - Vessel". Rock Sound. September 4, 2013. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
8. https://www.billboard.com/music/twenty-one-pilots/chart-history/japan-hot-100
9. "American single certifications – Twenty One Pilots – Guns For Hands". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 15, 2018. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH.