Panic! at the Disco recorded their first demos while they were in high school. Shortly after, the band recorded and released their debut studio album, A Fever You Can't Sweat Out (2005). Popularized by the second single, "I Write Sins Not Tragedies", the album was certified triple platinum in the US. In 2006, founding bassist Brent Wilson was fired from the band during an extensive world tour and subsequently replaced by Jon Walker. The band's second album, Pretty. Odd. (2008), was preceded by the single "Nine in the Afternoon". That album marked a significant departure from the sound of the band's debut. In 2009, Ross and Walker formed a new band, the Young Veins, leaving Urie and Smith as the sole remaining members of Panic! at the Disco.
Continuing as a duo, Urie and Smith released a new single, "New Perspective", for the movie Jennifer's Body, and recruited bassist Dallon Weekes and guitarist Ian Crawford as touring musicians for live performances. Weekes was later inducted into the band's lineup as a full-time member in 2010. The band's third studio album, Vices & Virtues (2011), was recorded solely by Urie and Smith in 2010, produced by John Feldmann and Butch Walker. Crawford departed once the tour cycle for Vices & Virtues ended in 2012.
As a three-piece, Urie, Smith, and Weekes recorded and released the band's fourth studio album, Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die!, in 2013. Prior to the release of the album, Smith unofficially left the band due to health and drug-related issues, leaving Urie and Weekes as the remaining members. The duo recruited guitarist Kenneth Harris and drummer Dan Pawlovich as touring musicians for live performances.
In 2015, Smith officially left the band after not performing live with them since his departure in 2013. Shortly thereafter, Weekes reverted to being a touring member once again, resulting in Panic! becoming Urie's solo project. In April 2015, "Hallelujah" was released as the first single from Panic! at the Disco's fifth studio album, Death of a Bachelor (2016). In December 2017, Weekes officially announced his departure from the band. In March 2018, Panic! at the Disco released "Say Amen (Saturday Night)", the lead single from its sixth studio album, Pray for the Wicked (2018), which was released in June. Panic! at the Disco's seventh studio album, Viva Las Vengeance, was released on August 19, 2022.
On January 24, 2023, Urie officially announced that Panic! at the Disco would be disbanding following the conclusion of the Viva Las Vengeance Tour.
Crazy=Genius
Panic! at the Disco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can set yourself on fire
She said at night in my dreams
You dance on a tightrope of weird
Oh but when I wake up you're so normal that you just disappear
You're so straight like commuters with briefcases towing the line
There's no residue of a torturer inside your of eyes
She said you're just like Mike
Love but you wanna be Brian Wilson, Brian Wilson
Said you're just like Mike
Love but you'll never be Brian Wilson
And I said (hey ay, ay)
If crazy equals genius (hey ay, ay)
If crazy equals genius
Then I'm a fucking arsonist (hey)
I'm a rocket scientist (hey hey)
(Hey ay, ay)
If crazy equals genius (hey)
You can set yourself on fire (hey ay)
But you're never gonna burn, burn, burn (hey ay)
You can set yourself on fire (hey ay)
But you're never gonna learn, learn, learn hey!
She said darlin' you know
How the wine plays tricks on my tongue
But you don't seem to change when you stuff all of
your feelings with drugs
Other boys you may have dated serrated your heart with a slice
But the cut of your love never hurts baby, it's a sweet butter knife
She said you're just like Mike
Love but you wanna be Brian Wilson, Brian Wilson
Said you're just like Mike
Love but you'll never be Dennis Wilson
And I said (hey ay, ay)
If crazy equals genius (hey ay, ay)
If crazy equals genius
Then I'm a fucking arsonist (hey)
I'm a rocket scientist (hey hey)
(Hey ay, ay)
If crazy equals genius (hey)
You can set yourself on fire (hey ay)
But you're never gonna burn, burn, burn (hey ay)
You can set yourself on fire (hey ay)
But you're never gonna learn, learn, learn hey!
You can set yourself on fire (hey)
You can set yourself on fire (hey)
You can set yourself on fire (hey)
You can set yourself on fire
And I said (hey ay, ay)
If crazy equals genius (hey ay, ay)
If crazy equals genius
Then I'm a fucking arsonist (hey)
I'm a rocket scientist (hey hey)
(Hey ay, ay)
If crazy equals genius (hey)
You can set yourself on fire (hey ay)
But you're never gonna burn, burn, burn (hey ay)
You can set yourself on fire (hey ay)
But you're never gonna learn, learn, learn hey!
The lyrics of Panic! at the Disco's Crazy=Genius present a conversation between two people in a relationship - one is crazy, while the other is straight-laced and “normal”. The opening lines of the song, “You can set yourself on fire/You can set yourself on fire” possibly represent how being in love, particularly with someone who is not like you, can feel both thrilling and dangerous. The crazy character is described as dancing on a tightrope of weirdness, while the singer notes that his love interest seems so normal in the morning that they almost disappear. The lines “You're so straight like commuters with briefcases towing the line/There's no residue of a torturer inside your of eyes” contrast the normalcy of the love interest with something dark and potentially dangerous hidden within the crazy character.
The second verse describes the love between the two as different compared to the previous relationships of the love interest, which were painful and damaging. The line “But the cut of your love never hurts baby, it's a sweet butter knife” represents how their love may not be intense but it is still something special. The chorus of the song exclaims, “If crazy equals genius/Then I'm a fucking arsonist/I'm a rocket scientist”, declaring that even if the crazy character is not exactly like the famous musicians Brian Wilson or Dennis Wilson, they still have their own unique qualities that make them a genius.
Line by Line Meaning
You can set yourself on fire
You have the capability to ignite yourself into flames.
You dance on a tightrope of weird
In my dreams, I see you living on the edge of strange and peculiar.
When I wake up you're so normal that you just disappear
Upon waking up, you assume the role of a completely average person.
You're so straight like commuters with briefcases towing the line
Your life is completely ordinary, adhering to societal expectations and norms.
There's no residue of a torturer inside your of eyes
You don't have the eyes of someone who would inflict pain or harm.
Love but you wanna be Brian Wilson, Brian Wilson
You have an admiration for Brian Wilson and aspire to be like him.
Love but you'll never be Brian Wilson
Despite your admiration, you will never quite reach Brian Wilson's level of excellence.
If crazy equals genius
Assuming that insanity is equivalent to creative brilliance.
Then I'm a fucking arsonist
If that's the case, then I am a person who derives pleasure from starting fires.
I'm a rocket scientist
Alternatively, I could be a person who is a genius in the field of rocket science.
You don't seem to change when you stuff all of your feelings with drugs
You maintain an unemotional exterior even when relying on drugs to suppress your true feelings.
The cut of your love never hurts baby, it's a sweet butter knife
Even when you hurt me or have to reject me, it's with kindness and gentleness.
Love but you wanna be Brian Wilson, Brian Wilson
Your dream is to emulate Brian Wilson in his creative success and lifestyle.
Love but you'll never be Dennis Wilson
You will never achieve the type of wild and free lifestyle that Dennis Wilson lived.
You're never gonna burn, burn, burn
You will never truly be consumed by the flames of destruction.
But you're never gonna learn, learn, learn hey!
Despite your potentially destructive behavior, you will not change or learn from it.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Brendon Boyd Urie, Samuel S. Hollander, Jacob S. Sinclair
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gkennedy_32
[Intro]
You can set yourself on fire, hey!
You can set yourself on fire, hey!
[Verse 1]
She said, "At night, in my dreams
You dance on a tightrope of weird
Oh, but when I wake up
You're so normal that you just disappear
You're so straight like commuters
With briefcases towing the line
There's no residue of a torturer
Inside of your eyes"
[Pre-Chorus]
She said, "You're just like Mike Love
But you wanna be Brian Wilson, Brian Wilson"
Said, "You're just like Mike Love
But you'll never be Brian Wilson"
[Chorus]
And I said
(Hey! Hey!) If crazy equals genius
(Hey! Hey!) If crazy equals genius
Then I'm a fucking arsonist (Hey!)
I'm a rocket scientist (Hey! Hey!)
(Hey! Hey!) If crazy equals genius...
You can set yourself on fire (Hey! Hey!)
But you're never gonna burn, burn, burn (Hey! Hey!)
You can set yourself on fire (Hey! Hey!)
But you're never gonna learn, learn, learn
(Hey!)
[Verse 2]
She said, "Darlin', you know
How the wine plays tricks on my tongue
But you don't seem to change
When you stuff all of your feelings with drugs"
Other boys you may have dated
Serrated your heart with a slice
But the cut of your love never hurts
Baby, it's a sweet butter knife
[Pre-Chorus]
She said, "You're just like Mike Love
But you wanna be Brian Wilson, Brian Wilson"
Said, "You're just like Mike Love
But you'll never be Dennis Wilson"
[Chorus]
And I said
(Hey! Hey!) If crazy equals genius
(Hey! Hey!) If crazy equals genius
Then I'm a fucking arsonist (Hey!)
I'm a rocket scientist (Hey! Hey!)
(Hey! Hey!) If crazy equals genius...
You can set yourself on fire (Hey! Hey!)
But you're never gonna burn, burn, burn (Hey! Hey!)
You can set yourself on fire (Hey! Hey!)
But you're never gonna learn, learn, learn
(Hey!)
[Bridge]
You can set yourself on fire (Hey!)
You can set yourself on fire (Hey!)
You can set yourself on fire (Hey!)
You can set yourself on fire
[Chorus]
And I said
(Hey! Hey!) If crazy equals genius
(Hey! Hey!) If crazy equals genius
Then I'm a fucking arsonist (Hey!)
I'm a rocket scientist (Hey! Hey!)
(Hey! Hey!) If crazy equals genius...
You can set yourself on fire (Hey! Hey!)
But you're never gonna burn, burn, burn (Hey! Hey!)
You can set yourself on fire (Hey! Hey!)
But you're never gonna learn, learn, learn
(Hey!)
@maribelcoteanu6398
"Crazy=Genius"
You can set yourself on fire
You can set yourself on fire
She said at night in my dreams
You dance on a tightrope of weird
Oh but when I wake up
You're so normal that you just disappear
You're so straight like commuters
With briefcases towing the line
There's no residue of a torturer
Inside of your eyes
She said you're just like Mike Love
But you wanna be Brian Wilson, Brian Wilson
She said you're just like Mike Love
But you'll never be Brian Wilson
And I said
Hey a-ay, hey a-ay
If crazy equals genius
Hey a-ay, hey a-ay
If crazy equals genius
Then I'm a fucking arsonist
I'm a rocket scientist
Hey a-ay, hey a-ay
If crazy equals genius
You can set yourself on fire, hey a-ay
But you're never gonna burn, burn, burn, hey a-ay
You can set yourself on fire, hey a-ay
But you're never gonna learn, learn, learn
Hey a-ay
She said, "Darlin', you know
How the wine plays tricks on my tongue
But you don't seem to change
When you stuff all of your feelings with drugs"
Other boys you may have dated
Serrated your heart with a slice
But the cut of your love never hurts
Baby, it's a sweet butter knife
She said you're just like Mike Love
But you wanna be Brian Wilson, Brian Wilson
She said you're just like Mike Love
But you'll never be Dennis Wilson
And I said
Hey a-ay, hey a-ay
If crazy equals genius
Hey a-ay, hey a-ay
If crazy equals genius
Then I'm a fucking arsonist
I'm a rocket scientist
Hey a-ay, hey a-ay
If crazy equals genius
You can set yourself on fire, hey a-ay
But you're never gonna burn, burn, burn, hey a-ay
You can set yourself on fire, hey a-ay
But you're never gonna learn, learn, learn
Hey a-ay
You can set yourself on fire
You can set yourself on fire
You can set yourself on fire
You can set yourself on fire
And I said
Hey a-ay, hey a-ay
If crazy equals genius
Hey a-ay, hey a-ay
If crazy equals genius
Then I'm a fucking arsonist
I'm a rocket scientist
Hey a-ay, hey a-ay
If crazy equals genius
You can set yourself on fire, hey a-ay
But you're never gonna burn, burn, burn, hey a-ay
You can set yourself on fire, hey a-ay
But you're never gonna learn, learn, learn
Hey a-ay
@lunareclipse6158
for all those who want the words
You can set yourself on fire
You can set yourself on fire
She said at night in my dreams
You dance on a tightrope of weird
Oh but when I wake up you're so normal that you just disappear
You're so straight like commuters with briefcases towing the line
There's no residue of a torturer inside your of eyes
She said you're just like Mike
Love but you wanna be Brian Wilson, Brian Wilson
Said you're just like Mike
Love but you'll never be Brian Wilson
And I said (hey ay, ay)
If crazy equals genius (hey ay, ay)
If crazy equals genius
Then I'm a fucking arsonist (hey)
I'm a rocket scientist (hey hey)
(Hey ay, ay)
If crazy equals genius (hey)
You can set yourself on fire (hey ay)
But you're never gonna burn, burn, burn (hey ay)
You can set yourself on fire (hey ay)
But you're never gonna learn, learn, learn hey!
She said darlin' you know
How the wine plays tricks on my tongue
But you don't seem to change when you stuff all of
your feelings with drugs
Other boys you may have dated serrated your heart with a slice
But the cut of your love never hurts baby, it's a sweet butter knife
She said you're just like Mike
Love but you wanna be Brian Wilson, Brian Wilson
Said you're just like Mike
Love but you'll never be Dennis Wilson
And I said (hey ay, ay)
If crazy equals genius (hey ay, ay)
If crazy equals genius
Then I'm a fucking arsonist (hey)
I'm a rocket scientist (hey hey)
(Hey ay, ay)
If crazy equals genius (hey)
You can set yourself on fire (hey ay)
But you're never gonna burn, burn, burn (hey ay)
You can set yourself on fire (hey ay)
But you're never gonna learn, learn, learn hey!
You can set yourself on fire (hey)
You can set yourself on fire (hey)
You can set yourself on fire (hey)
You can set yourself on fire
And I said (hey ay, ay)
If crazy equals genius (hey ay, ay)
If crazy equals genius
Then I'm a fucking arsonist (hey)
I'm a rocket scientist (hey hey)
(Hey ay, ay)
If crazy equals genius (hey)
You can set yourself on fire (hey ay)
But you're never gonna burn, burn, burn (hey ay)
You can set yourself on fire (hey ay)
But you're never gonna learn, learn, learn hey!
@ellensapphirebridge7846
Kid: Hey whatcha singing?
Me: Crazy=Genius
Kid: Oh.. who sings that?
Me: P!ATD
Kid: Oh isn’t that the person who made like High Hopes or something?
Me: Yes but they have a lot more...
Kid: I don’t like his voice.
Me: gasp Well......... I guess you can have an opinion.
LIEK THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED
@kara9088
Lyrics: You can set yourself on fire
You can set yourself on fire
She said at night in my dreams
You dance on a tightrope of weird
Oh but when I wake up you're so normal that you just disappear
You're so straight like commuters with briefcases towing the line
There's no residue of a torturer inside your of eyes
She said you're just like Mike
Love but you wanna be Brian Wilson, Brian Wilson
Said you're just like Mike
Love but you'll never be Brian Wilson
And I said (hey ay, ay)
If crazy equals genius (hey ay, ay)
If crazy equals genius
Then I'm a fucking arsonist (hey)
I'm a rocket scientist (hey hey)
(Hey ay, ay)
If crazy equals genius (hey)
You can set yourself on fire (hey ay)
But you're never gonna burn, burn, burn (hey ay)
You can set yourself on fire (hey ay)
But you're never gonna learn, learn, learn hey!
She said darlin' you know
How the wine plays tricks on my tongue
But you don't seem to change when you stuff all of
your feelings with drugs
Other boys you may have dated serrated your heart with a slice
But the cut of your love never hurts baby, it's a sweet butter knife
She said you're just like Mike
Love but you wanna be Brian Wilson, Brian Wilson
Said you're just like Mike
Love but you'll never be Dennis Wilson
And I said (hey ay, ay)
If crazy equals genius (hey ay, ay)
If crazy equals genius
Then I'm a fucking arsonist (hey)
I'm a rocket scientist (hey hey)
(Hey ay, ay)
If crazy equals genius (hey)
You can set yourself on fire (hey ay)
But you're never gonna burn, burn, burn (hey ay)
You can set yourself on fire (hey ay)
But you're never gonna learn, learn, learn hey!
You can set yourself on fire (hey)
You can set yourself on fire (hey)
You can set yourself on fire (hey)
You can set yourself on fire
And I said (hey ay, ay)
If crazy equals genius (hey ay, ay)
If crazy equals genius
Then I'm a fucking arsonist (hey)
I'm a rocket scientist (hey hey)
(Hey ay, ay)
If crazy equals genius (hey)
You can set yourself on fire (hey ay)
But you're never gonna burn, burn, burn (hey ay)
You can set yourself on fire (hey ay)
But you're never gonna learn, learn, learn hey!
@emptyhead8832
You can set yourself on fire
You can set yourself on fire
She said at night in my dreams
You dance on a tightrope of weird
Oh but when I wake up you're so normal that you just disappear
You're so straight like commuters with briefcases towing the line
There's no residue of a torturer inside your of eyes
She said you're just like Mike
Love but you wanna be Brian Wilson, Brian Wilson
Said you're just like Mike
Love but you'll never be Brian Wilson
And I said (hey ay, ay)
If crazy equals genius (hey ay, ay)
If crazy equals genius
Then I'm a fucking arsonist (hey)
I'm a rocket scientist (hey hey)
(Hey ay, ay)
If crazy equals genius (hey)
You can set yourself on fire (hey ay)
But you're never gonna burn, burn, burn (hey ay)
You can set yourself on fire (hey ay)
But you're never gonna learn, learn, learn hey!
She said darlin' you know
How the wine plays tricks on my tongue
But you don't seem to change when you stuff all of
your feelings with drugs
Other boys you may have dated serrated your heart with a slice
But the cut of your love never hurts baby, it's a sweet butter knife
She said you're just like Mike
Love but you wanna be Brian Wilson, Brian Wilson
Said you're just like Mike
Love but you'll never be Dennis Wilson
And I said (hey ay, ay)
If crazy equals genius (hey ay, ay)
If crazy equals genius
Then I'm a fucking arsonist (hey)
I'm a rocket scientist (hey hey)
(Hey ay, ay)
If crazy equals genius (hey)
You can set yourself on fire (hey ay)
But you're never gonna burn, burn, burn (hey ay)
You can set yourself on fire (hey ay)
But you're never gonna learn, learn, learn hey!
You can set yourself on fire (hey)
You can set yourself on fire (hey)
You can set yourself on fire (hey)
You can set yourself on fire
And I said (hey ay, ay)
If crazy equals genius (hey ay, ay)
If crazy equals genius
Then I'm a fucking arsonist (hey)
I'm a rocket scientist (hey hey)
(Hey ay, ay)
If crazy equals genius (hey)
You can set yourself on fire (hey ay)
But you're never gonna burn, burn, burn (hey ay)
You can set yourself on fire (hey ay)
But you're never gonna learn, learn, learn hey!
@_m.i.a.g.r.a.c.e_
Brendon's logic concerns me...
"You can set yourself on fire, but you're never gonna burn."
"I'm all dressed up and naked."
"I'm not as think as you drunk I am."
@fancypancakeabs3476
At least you know hes not crazy...or smart aparentlly.
@Somethingbaddotjpeg
He also walks up the sides of buildings
@kaiklingbeil8906
@@Somethingbaddotjpeg yezz
@memegoddess8014
He also got killed and shapeshifted
@alisashams1193
“I’m all dressed up and naked” is a reference to a children’s story. Basically, in the story, the king wants new clothes and these two people come and pretend to be weavers. They tell the king it’s gold wool—but it’s invisible for stupid or incompetent people.
Later, they’re using the loom with nothing, but officials say nothing to avoid being seen as stupid. Later, the ‘weavers’ mimic putting clothes on the king and the king goes out in his ‘new clothes’—basically naked. Nobody knows anything until a child points out he’s wearing nothing as he’s walking and showing off. Yet the king still proudly walks with his ‘new clothes’ like it’s nothing.
This is what the song ‘Emperor’s New Clothes’ is sort of centered on, or it’s central idea.
As for ‘I’m not as think as you drunk I am’ is referencing the fact that he is drunk :)
@enhaworld
I feel like if there is ever a video for this song, Brendon would actually set himself on fire
@imogen9176
They announced that all the songs on this album would have music videos!
@adriana4793
DarknessDrawings when?!?! I don’t remember that!
@imogen9176
adriana gomez I don’t fully remember, I just remember him saying there would be music videos for the whole album.