Linkin Park
I’ve had this post brewing in the back of my mind for several weeks now. It started when I was driving to work listening to Linkin Park, and I started trying to understand not just the words, but the meaning behind the words. That’s when I started to realize what all their songs are about. So, without further ado, I present you with a list of songs (in the order they appear in my playlist) and their meanings as interpreted by me:
- In The End: Nothing you do matters, in the long run.
- Don’t Stay: You betrayed me, so give me my life back and leave.
- Somewhere I Belong: I can’t justify the way I’m being treated… I want to find somewhere I belong.
- Lying from You: The very worst part of you is me; I have to pretend to be someone I’m not when I’m with you.
- Hit the Floor: All I want is to feel like I’m not stepped on.
- Easier to Run: If I could change I would, but it’s easier to run.
- Faint: This song is about staying with a girl who doesn’t care about him (and he knows it) because he’s all that she’s got.
- Figure.09: By staying with you, I took what I hated and made it a part of me.
- Breaking the Habit: This song is about committing suicide.
- From the Inside: I swear for the last time I won’t trust myself with you.
- Nobody’s Listening (If the title weren’t indication enough): I tried to give you warning but everyone ignores me. (This song is especially sad taken in the context of Breaking the Habit.)
- Session: This song shares a lot of lines with Somewhere I Belong, and it’s about the same thing.
- Numb: Can’t you see that you’re smothering me, holding too tightly, afraid to lose control?
- Given Up: Tell me what’s wrong with me… I’m my own worst enemy.
- Leave Out All the Rest: When it’s my time to die, help me leave behind some reasons to be missed (and leave out all the rest).
- Bleed It Out: “It” being “life”, of course. “Rub myself out and noone cares.” Another suicide song.
- Shadow of the Day: Sometimes goodbye is the only way.
- What I’ve Done: Let mercy come and wash away what I’ve done.
- Hands Held High: (This song is something of a rant against Bush’s War in Iraq, and encourages people to stand for what they want to stand for.)
- No More Sorrow: I’ve paid for your mistakes… your time has come to be replaced.
- Valentine’s Day: Now you’re gone… I never knew what it was like to be alone on a Valentine’s Day.
- In Between: I tried to be genuine, but it was harder than it seemed, and now I’m caught between my lies and the truth. (Song seems to be about a relationship breaking up.)
- In Pieces: I won’t be the one to leave this relationship in pieces (it’s your fault). (Another breakup song.)
- The Little Things Give You Away: I mean nothing to you… you just wanted someone to look up to you.
…
Ok. Well. Looking back on those, I see exactly two songs with a relatively positive message (What I’ve Done and Hands Held High).
Am I the only one wondering whether we should be trying to get psychiatric help for people who write songs like Somewhere I Belong or (worse) Breaking the Habit?
After figuring all this out, I’m not really sure I want to be listening to Linkin Park anymore.
