Neon Gravestones

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Lore & Background

The song was written and recorded by Tyler Joseph in his basement and produced alongside Paul Meany of Mutemath. No one other than Joseph, Meany, and drummer Josh Dun was allowed to be present during the songwriting process, to avoid influencing the song's direction. Billboard interpreted the "neon" as a fake light, like advertising, attracting someone towards death. Several music journalists described the ending as directly linked to Trench's penultimate track, "Legend," which pays homage to Joseph's late grandfather, Robert, who appeared on the cover of Vessel (2013). In an October 2018 Kerrang! interview, Joseph said he was uneasy about the song's placement in the middle of Trench but kept it there, believing it to be "the heart of Trench." He and Dun were both worried about the sensitivity of the track but agreed to keep it on the album. Atlantic Records executives were "extremely concerned," calling it a "giant landmine in the middle of the record" and worrying that misinterpretation could be career-ending. Some publications noted the song could have been written in response to celebrity suicides like those of Chester Bennington and Scott Hutchison, and the popularity of Netflix's 13 Reasons Why. Joseph explained it was "a reaction to what was happening in our culture" and that he "felt inclined to bring up a new perspective – a perspective that comes off a bit more aggressive and more of a challenge." He also feared answering a fan's question about whether one particular death caused him to write the song, as it might border on disrespect.

In Their Own Story

Lyrically, "Neon Gravestones" criticizes the media's glorification of suicide. Joseph challenges pop culture for not taking the mental health of troubled musicians seriously while reckoning with the aftermath of numerous celebrity suicides. The song contains plainly introspective lyrics where Joseph discusses suicide using first-person singular pronouns rather than the collective "we." He argues there is a culture of romanticizing celebrity suicides and grapples with the idea that some artists may have left the world with their legacy in mind, communicating that "an earlier grave is an optional way." Joseph closes by pleading for suicide not to be glorified and advising listeners to instead pay respects to the elderly who have remained alive. Joseph explained the lyrics were "black and white" rather than metaphorical, as he didn't want "beautiful, pretty metaphors" distracting from "the importance of the topic." He described the track as "a view into the deeper reasons for what's going on in Dema that feels like I have to leave." He later told Alternative Press the song was one "you have to live with for a while," one "you have to give oxygen and let it breathe." Dun added that the two of them generally agree on spiritual or political subjects, which was one reason they made the track.

Reader's Guide

Musically, "Neon Gravestones" is a forlorn, slow-burning hip hop piano ballad running four minutes. According to sheet music at Musicnotes.com, it is in 3/4 time with a fast tempo of 150 beats per minute, composed in B minor. The chord progression changes from Bm–F♯m7–A6–Esus2–Gmaj13–G6–Gmaj7 in the introduction to Bm–F♯5–Asus2–EG–G6–G–G6 in verses and chorus, and follows A–Bm–Em6/G–D at the bridge, interludes, and coda. The composition is built on swirling piano and jittery calibrated drums, with a somber 68 piano riff running throughout atop electronic percussion, steadily picking up pace. Joseph alternates between singing and spoken word rapping, pitching his voice to sound "especially fragile, hoarse, and tentative." The song received positive reviews from critics, though most noted it may attract controversy. Billboard's Paige Williams wrote it may redeem the band from those who saw them as glamorizing depression. Rolling Stone's Christopher R. Weingarten called it "the most intense look at fame... moody and reflective." NME's Gary Ryan called it a highlight, an "elegiac, touching broadside against the fetishization of the 27 Club." Stereogum's Chris DeVille called it "an unusual message in modern pop music." PopMatters' Joshua Copperman deemed it "the most compelling track" off Trench but called its ending "too pat." Alternative Press's Jason Pettigrew placed it at number 29 on his ranking of all the band's songs as of September 2019, hailing it as "a brave statement in a troubling time." Spencer Kornhaber of The Atlantic was more critical, arguing that to "deny" fans the right to pay homage to deceased artists may be too cruel. Chris Willman of Variety called it an "anti-suicide-glorifying anthem" that may be debated by mental health specialists. Martin Williams of The Herald predicted a "kneejerk response of insensitivity to victims" over lines like "I'm not disrespecting what was left behind / just pleading that it does not get glorified."

Did You Know?

• Tyler Joseph wrote and recorded the song in his basement, with only Josh Dun and Paul Meany allowed to be present during the process.
• Atlantic Records executives called the song a 'giant landmine in the middle of the record' and feared misinterpretation could be career-ending.
• The song's ending is directly linked to Trench's penultimate track 'Legend,' which pays homage to Joseph's late grandfather Robert, who appeared on the cover of Vessel (2013).
• Joseph described the lyrics as 'black and white' rather than metaphorical, saying he didn't want 'beautiful, pretty metaphors' distracting from the topic's importance.
• The song was performed as a piano version for BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge on November 2, 2018.