Linkin Park - In The End
"It starts with one thing I don't know why It doesn't even matter how hard you try keep that in mind I designed this rhyme To explain in due time All I know Time is a valuable thing Watch it...
"It starts with one thing
I don't know why
It doesn't even matter how hard you try keep that in mind
I designed this rhyme
To explain in due time
All I know
Time is a valuable thing
Watch it fly by as the pendulum swings
Watch it count down to the end of the day
The clock ticks life away "
Whilst perusing the internet, I read a rumour that Linkin Park are good lyricists (“What I’ve Done, Na Na Na Na” – talent personified) – and apparently that In The End was the best example of this. Being the curious chap I am, I thought I would give these lyrics a go, and see what I can make of them. First things first, like all “great” (read: popular) modern day artistes, it appears that ambiguity is the order of the day. It starts with one thing. What thing? Indeed, even ver’ Park don’t seem to know what this particular thing is, and as such have tried to move on whilst clearly just exposing gaping holes in their work. The song itself is given a lengthy introduction (much of which rhymes – bonus points). It appears that the song was designed to be an explanation; but an explanation of what?
Well, ver’ Park are giving us their one (and apparently, according to a confession within this piece, only) pearl of wisdom – time is indeed a valuable thing. As for watching a pendulum swing, well, I have to admit I feel that Linkin Park are pigeon holing their fans somewhat here – whilst the Linkin Park fans I know probably enjoy watching a good ol’ bit of pendulum swinging, I would assume that the vast majority of 14 year old nu-metal fans are not massively into savouring the delights of the average pendulum. So, in a decent chunk of airtime, there hasn’t really been any startling revelations – only the nugget of wisdom that time is valuable. Which anyone who has ever chatted to their grandparents at length has probably learnt. But ultimately, nothing much has happened so far.
“It's so unreal
Didn't look out below
Watch the time go right out the window
Trying to hold on, but didn't even know
Wasted it all just to watch you go
I kept everything inside and even though I tried, it all fell apart
What it meant to me will eventually be a memory of a time when;”
And on we go with the time theme! It appears that we have stumbled on the only group of clock enthusiasts currently making music. This lyricist appears to have spent a significant amount of time (time wasted he feels) watching someone; who this is however is ambiguous. A person close to him? Or, I would like to think, are Linkin Park doing something very clever here and including a critique of the “15 Minutes of Fame” celebrity culture in a piece about time?
“I tried so hard
And got so far
But in the end
It doesn't even matter
I had to fall
To lose it all
But in the end
It doesn't even matter”
…right. In a song where nothing in particular has happened so far, we have a chorus where…nothing in particular happens. There are any number of things that Chester (who calls their kid Chester, seriously?) could be singing about here. He could be talking about climbing a sheer vertical scale. He could be talking about a limbo contest. He could be talking about the washing up (which I argue does matter, because without clean utensils, crockery and cutlery the Kitchen is hardly a lovely place to be – unless you of course like me eat off paper plates, in which case you are very intelligent indeed). But ultimately appears that whatever they are singing about, it doesn’t really matter. Which is pretty much the only observation made so far.
“One thing, I don't know why
It doesn’t even matter how hard you try, keep that in mind
I designed this rhyme, to explain in due time
I tried so hard
In spite of the way you were mocking me
Acting like I was part of your property
Remembering all the times you fought with me”
And the band still doesn’t entirely know why they have written this song, or what they are writing about. To compensate for this they have decided to repeat a part of the first verse – an acclaimed idea in songwriting if your looking for padding. Very wise indeed. It appears though that FINALLY something has been revealed, observed, confessed! The lyricist seems to be bitter that someone has been mocking him (jokingly or otherwise). It would appear that the lyricist was this persons Bitch, fighting with him and also apparently being owned (though not under contract law) by this particular chap.
“I'm surprised it got so (far)
Things aren't the way they were before
You wouldn't even recognize me anymore
Not that you knew me back then
But it all comes back to me (in the end)
You kept everything inside and even though I tried, it all fell apart
What it meant to me will eventually be a memory of a time when I”
Linkin Park seem to be stating the obvious here, surprised as they are that this song has gotten this far and not been ditched. Things are apparently not the way before – well, change happens. Indeed, the lyricist has gotten a new look and appears to be talking to a new friend. This new friend has been keeping back what is presumably an opinion on this new look, and this has been most displeasing to the lyricist.
“I’ve put my trust in you
Pushed as far as I can go
And for all this
There's only one thing you should know”
Another inconsequential verse then, with In The End in general being a musical definition for ambiguity and lack of meaning. In this song Linkin Park have shared a mere pearl of wisdom, and some memories of not being entirely in control of yourself. That, really, has been that.
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