The song was later combined with Jay-Z's song "Encore" to create "Numb/Encore", a massive hit for both artists which was featured on the album Collision Course. A techno remix of "Numb" has received over 3 million views on YouTube. "Numb" was ranked #92 on Rhapsody's list of the Top 100 Tracks of the Decade.
Music Video
Directed by Joe Hahn, the indoor scenes of the music video are set in a church in Los Angeles, while the outdoor scenes are set in Prague, in the Czech Republic. The school interiors, the classroom, the corridor, and the outside playground are set in the Johannes Kepler's High School in Prague.
The video follows the domestic and social problems faced during a day in the life of an unpopular young female student (portrayed by Briana Evigan). The girl apparently spends much of her time drawing pictures, revealing that she probably has dreams of becoming an artist. She is largely ignored and ridiculed at school, considering that when she is told off by the teacher for drawing in class everybody laughs at her, when she trips on the stairs nobody stops to help her up, and when she tries to join a group of girls at a lunch table they immediately get up and leave. Also, there is a scene where her mother is ridiculing her for not being the daughter she wanted. There are also self-inflicted cut marks on her arms, which actually say "NUMB" - the title of the song. She is shown near the end of the video rubbing the marks after a stressful day and then deciding to work off her stress by throwing paint instead. At the end of the video, the girl runs into the church that the band was playing in, almost as if she heard them.
Throughout almost the whole video Chester Bennington has his eyes closed, they can just be seen open when he blinks as he sings the word: "Tightly" from the second verse starting: "Can't you see that you're smothering me?"
MuchMusic's 100 Best Videos ranked it at #40.
The track became one of Linkin Park's most critically-acclaimed songs, as well as one of their most commercially successful, peaking at #11 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 on February 24, 2004, and spending 3 weeks on top of the Mainstream Rock Tracks and 12 weeks on top of the Modern Rock Tracks. "Numb" was the 33rd-best-performing single on the Hot 100 in 2004. It was also successful in Oceania, peaking at #10 in Australia and #13 in New Zealand.
Numb
Jay-ZLinkin Park Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Numb the pain let it rain I'm insane
Numb the pain let it rain I'm insane
Will this pain ever fade
Cus its stuck in the same place
I'm the maze can't escape
Brain hurts heart aches love tossed in the dumpster you left like a monster
You in my headYou in my bed
You in my life
You want this knife
Stab me twice
Killed me once
Killed me twice
What is wrong with my light kill me every night right
Numb the pain let it rain I'm insane
Numb the pain let it rain I'm insane
Numb the pain let it rain I'm insane
Numb the pain let it rain I'm insane
Numb the pain let it rain I'm insane
Numb the pain let it rain I'm insane
I been trapped in chains
You ain't feel the same
When im lit in flames
Who am I to blame
I'm like lil wayne how to love
I can't feel that way
Stay with me for the blurry days
If it rains it pours but our love won't go to war if we stay away from the door
Your like thor on the shirt but my heart got convert into dirt and you left me ongoing like an Amber alert
In the lyrics to "Numb" by Jay-Z and Linkin Park, the repetition of "Numb the pain let it rain I'm insane" reflects a sense of overwhelming emotional distress. This repetition emphasizes the singer's desire to numb themselves from the pain they are feeling. The line "Will this pain ever fade, 'cause it's stuck in the same place" conveys a sense of hopelessness and the feeling of being trapped in a cycle of emotional agony.
The mention of being in a maze and unable to escape suggests a feeling of confusion and entrapment within a challenging situation. The reference to the pain being stuck in the same place further highlights the singer's inability to move past their anguish. The imagery of a heartache and love being discarded like trash conveys a deep sense of betrayal and hurt.
The lines "You in my head, you in my bed, you in my life, you want this knife, stab me twice, killed me once, killed me twice" depict a toxic and destructive relationship. The singer is haunted by the presence of the other person in every aspect of their life, leading to feelings of torment and self-destructive tendencies. The repetition of being killed emphasizes the intensity of the emotional pain the singer is experiencing.
The comparison to Lil Wayne's song "How to Love" suggests a contrast between the singer's inability to feel love and the longing for it. The reference to staying together through blurry days and avoiding conflict reflects a desire to preserve the relationship despite the difficulties. The imagery of love being like a war and the mention of Thor and heart turning to dirt hint at the devastation and abandonment experienced by the singer. Overall, the lyrics of "Numb" portray a raw and intense emotional turmoil, depicting a struggle with pain, betrayal, and a longing for love and understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
Numb the pain let it rain I'm insane
Trying to suppress the hurt by allowing tears to flow but feeling overwhelmed by madness
Will this pain ever fade
Questioning if the emotional pain will ever lessen
Cus its stuck in the same place
Feeling like the pain is stagnant and not improving
I'm the maze can't escape
Feeling lost and unable to find a way out of the confusion
Brain hurts heart aches love tossed in the dumpster you left like a monster
Experiencing mental and emotional anguish due to feeling abandoned and discarded like trash
You in my head
Constantly thinking about the person causing the pain
You in my bed
Feeling their presence even in intimate moments
You in my life
Their influence and impact on every aspect of existence
You want this knife
Feeling like they have the power to hurt at will
Stab me twice
Enduring repeated emotional wounds
Killed me once
Feeling destroyed by their actions
Killed me twice
Facing emotional death more than once
What is wrong with my light kill me every night right
Questioning the source of internal turmoil causing nightly suffering
I been trapped in chains
Feeling bound and restricted by emotional burdens
You ain't feel the same
Realizing the lack of mutual emotions in the relationship
When im lit in flames
Burning with intense emotions
Who am I to blame
Questioning responsibility for the relationship's downfall
I'm like lil wayne how to love
Struggling to comprehend the concept of love like the artist Lil Wayne
I can't feel that way
Unable to reciprocate feelings of love
Stay with me for the blurry days
Urging for support during confusing and difficult times
If it rains it pours but our love won't go to war if we stay away from the door
Acknowledging challenges but hoping to preserve love if conflicts are avoided
Your like thor on the shirt but my heart got convert into dirt and you left me ongoing like an Amber alert
Comparing the person to a powerful figure while feeling abandoned and left to fend for oneself like a missing person
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Jay Jay Wines
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind