Linkin Park is set to blow our eardrums tomorrow night during their One More Light World Tour in the Ziggo Dome. If you’re asking me, Linkin Park seriously rockkks, but read they are so much more than just a band.

Linkin Park is like that older friend who understand us better than we do ourselves. They provide the musical therapy everyone needs once in a while, no matter what genre your loyalty lies with. The band manages to combine rock, rap and electronica, and have streamed into other music avenues like hiphop.

While their debut album, Hybrid Theory had elements of rap, we’ve witnessed the band transition to electronic in A Thousand Suns, and now to pop in One More Light. They’ve collaborated with artists ranging from Jay-Z to Paul McCartney. Even Martin Garrix wants in. Does this mean their songs have reached more listeners than just rock fans? We think so.

Linkin Park’s lyrics carry clear messages about their observations. Their aim is to inspire and the entire band stands for each political, social or societal message they make. Here are the five Linkin Park songs that show that they are doing more than just rocking out.

5. Numb (Meteora, 2003)

This Linkin Park classic is from their second album which was a mix of rock, rap and metal. It’s about growing out of an environment and wanting to move on. The theme is general enough that it could be about leaving home or breaking up.

Numb starts off with a protagonist confessing his feelings, and goes on to explain why he needs a change. Just before the song closes the lyrics say that he’s willing to take a risk even if it means failing.

I’m tired of being what you want me to be
Feeling so faithless, lost under the surface
Don’t know what you’re expecting of me
Put under the pressure of walking in your shoes

(Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow)
Every step that I take is another mistake to you
(Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow)

I’ve become so numb
I can’t feel you there
Become so tired
So much more aware

Can’t you see that you’re smothering me
Holding too tightly, afraid to lose control?
‘Cause everything that you thought I would be
Has fallen apart right in front of you

And I know
I may end up failing too
But I know
You were just like me with someone disappointed in you
Numb – Linkin Park

The lyrics sound like a plead to someone who needs to let you go. Sure Mum/Dad/best friend/lover may want what’s best for you, but sometimes they need to let you make your own mistakes.

4. Robot Boy (A Thousand Suns, 2010)

The electronic style of this song is seriously cyberpunk. It reminds me of a retired superhero. Imagine a matured Astro Boy who’s done with cleaning up the mess of someone else’s party.

Seriously, if you don’t pull your own weight, why should I? When was the last time we spoke anyway? The lyrics say it all.

You say
You’re not gonna fight
‘Cause no one will fight for you
And
You think
There’s not enough love
And no one to give it to
And

You’re sure
You’ve hurt for so long
You’ve got nothing left to lose

You think
Compassion’s a flaw
And you’ll never let it show
And
You’re sure
You’ve hurt in a way
That no one will ever know
But
Some day
The weight of the world
Will give you the strength to go
Robot Boy – Linkin Park

Sometimes the things that hurt us will make us stronger later on.

3. The Catalyst (A Thousand Suns, 2010)

This song might explain a little more about what the weight of the world might actually hold. Like the rest of the fourth album, A Thousand Suns, The Catalyst is about morality, war, and apocalyptic prophecy. What will be the consequences of humanity’s suffering? Honestly, it’s hard to write about these lyrics without falling into an existential crises.

God bless us every one
We’re a broken people living under loaded gun
And it can’t be outfought
It can’t be outdone
It can’t be outmatched
It can’t be outrun
No

God save us every one
Will we burn inside the fires of a thousand suns
For the sins of our hand
The sins of our tongue

The sins of our father
The sins of our young
No
The Catalyst – Linkin Park

Linkin Park definitely gives us something to think about with these lyrics, thanks guys.

2. What I’ve Done (Minutes To Midnight, 2007)

Linkin Park starts to get down to business in this song. What I’ve Done is a song that takes responsibility for global crimes committed by humanity. Rather than asking for acceptance from other people, the band stands up to advocate for environmental, political and societal problems.

MTV praised the band for the bravery of the message in this song which they described as: “The destructive power of man versus the unyielding beauty of nature, and where it all will undoubtedly end (hint: we lose).”

In this farewell
There’s no blood, there’s no alibi
‘Cause I’ve drawn regret
From the truth of a thousand lies

So let mercy come and wash away
What I’ve done
I’ll face myself
To cross out what I’ve become
Erase myself
And let go of what I’ve done
And let go of what I’ve done

*

I start again
And whatever pain may come
Today this ends
I’m forgiving what I’ve done
What I’ve Done – Linkin Park

What’s more powerful than taking responsibility, asking for forgiveness and promising a better future?

1. Battle Symphony (One More Light, 2017)

Linkin Park was full of surprises with the poppy style of their latest album, One More Light. The powerful messages in their lyrics are still there which could be why their latest music speaks to new and existing fans.

Battle Symphony seems to summarise What Linkin Park is all about. This is the band explicitly stating that they are fighting a battle with their music. It’s about believing in your own strength. They believe in theirs.

They say that I don’t belong
Say that I should retreat
That I’m marching to the rhythm
Of a lonesome defeat
But the sound of your voice
Puts the pain in reverse
No surrender, no illusions
And for better or worse
When they turn down the lights

I hear my battle symphony
All the world in front of me
If my armor breaks
I’ll fuse it back together
Battle symphony
Please just don’t give up on me
And my eyes are wide awake
Battle Symphony – Linkin Park 

Maybe the musical transition from rap to electronic metal, and now pop is a result of the band’s messages from their earlier songs. The music style from Numb to Battle Symphony is very different, but this is a band that frankly doesn’t like “getting caught in the undertow”.

Linkin Park’s styles have all changed very much over time. But their political, social and societal messages have had recurring themes. They’ve broken out of boxes again and again as they changed from hip hop to metal, rock to pop. As a result, the band has a broad range of listeners who are all receiving the same messages of hope, strength and encouragement. This is the power of their music. You can find it all in the lyrics.

Want to read more articles like this?

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– Numb is written by Brad Delson / Chester Charles Bennington / Dave Farrell / Joseph Hahn / Mike Shinoda / Robert G. Bourdon © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management
– Robot Boy is written by Brad Delson / Chester Charles Bennington / Dave Farrell / Joseph Hahn / Mike Shinoda / Robert G. Bourdon © Universal Music Publishing Group.
– The Catalyst is written by Robot Boy is written by Brad Delson / Chester Charles Bennington / Dave Farrell / Joseph Hahn / Mike Shinoda / Robert G. Bourdon © Universal Music Publishing Group.
– What I’ve Done is written by Brad Delson / Chester Charles Bennington / Dave Farrell / Joseph Hahn / Mike Shinoda / Robert G. Bourdon © Universal Music Publishing Group.
– Battle Symphony is written by Jonathan Ian Green / Chester Bennington / Robert G. Bourdon / Bradford Philip Delson / David Farrell / Joseph Hahn / Mike Shinoda © Universal Music Publishing Group.

📸: Unknown