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.
Well it is probably marketed for angst filled teenagers, so who is to say the lyrics mean anything to the performers to start with? I don’t know about Lincoln Park, but the music industry has probably thousands of songs already written and then performers go through and pick ones they like or think they will sing good.