99
Linkin' Park Ft. Jay Z Lyrics


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Forfeit the game
Before somebody else
Takes you out of the frame
And puts your name to shame
Cover up your face
You can't run the race
The pace is too fast
You just won't last

You love the way I look at you
While taking pleasure in the awful things you put me through
You take away if I give in
My life, my pride is broken

You like to think you're never wrong
(You live what you've learned)
You have to act like you're someone
(You live what you've learned)
You want someone to hurt like you
(You live what you've learned)
You want to share what you've been through
(You live what you've learned)

You love the things I say I'll do
The way I'll hurt myself again just to get back at you
You take away when I give in
My life, my pride is broken

You like to think you're never wrong
(You live what you've learned)
You have to act like you're someone
(You live what you've learned)
You want someone to hurt like you
(You live what you've learned)
You want to share what you've been through
(You live what you've learned)

Forfeit the game
Before somebody else
Takes you out of the frame
And puts your name to shame
Cover up your face
You can't run the race
The pace is too fast
You just won't last
Forfeit the game
Before somebody else
Takes you out of the frame
And puts your name to shame
Cover up your face
You can't run the race
The pace is too fast
You just won't last

You like to think you're never wrong
(You live what you've learned)
You have to act like you're someone
(You live what you've learned)
You want someone to hurt like you
(You live what you've learned)
You want to share what you've been through
(You live what you've learned)

You like to think you're never wrong
(Forfeit the game) (you live what you've learned)
You have to act like you're someone
(Forfeit the game) (you live what you've learned)
You want someone to hurt like you
(Forfeit the game) (you live what you've learned)




You want to share what you've been through
(You live what you've learned)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Linkin Park Ft. Jay Z's song "99" portray a message about the experience of dealing with toxic relationships. The opening lines of the verse "Forfeit the game, Before somebody else, Takes you out of the frame, And puts your name to shame" imply that the singer is aware of the toxicity of the relationship and is urging himself to end it before it damages his reputation. The chorus then describes how the singer is aware of the way in which his partner takes pleasure in causing him pain, and how he continues to stay in the relationship despite the harm it is causing him. The lines "You want someone to hurt like you, You want to share what you've been through" suggest that the partner is not only causing pain but is also actively seeking someone to share in their own suffering.


Overall, the song's lyrics paint a bleak picture of a toxic and damaging relationship, ultimately encouraging the singer to "forfeit the game" and end the cycle of abuse. It can be seen as a powerful commentary on the dangers of remaining in an unhealthy relationship and the difficulty that can arise when trying to break free from it.


Line by Line Meaning

Forfeit the game
Give up trying to win this relationship game


Before somebody else
End things before the other person has a chance to leave you


Takes you out of the frame
Removes you from the picture of their life


And puts your name to shame
Ruins your reputation by revealing your flaws to others


Cover up your face
Hide your true emotions and vulnerabilities


You can't run the race
You are not capable of keeping up with their expectations and demands


The pace is too fast
The speed at which they want to move is too overwhelming for you


You just won't last
You will ultimately fail to satisfy their needs and expectations


You love the way I look at you
You enjoy the attention and validation I give you


While taking pleasure in the awful things you put me through
You derive happiness from inflicting emotional pain on me


You take away if I give in
You use my vulnerability against me to gain power and control over me


My life, my pride is broken
You have shattered my self-worth and confidence


You like to think you're never wrong
You have a strong sense of arrogance and entitlement


(You live what you've learned)
You behave this way because it's all you know


You have to act like you're someone
You feel the need to present a certain image of yourself to the world


You want someone to hurt like you
You desire to inflict pain on others because of the pain you have experienced


You want to share what you've been through
You want others to understand and empathize with your struggles


You love the things I say I'll do
You enjoy when I make promises to you


The way I'll hurt myself again just to get back at you
I will go to great lengths to seek revenge on you, even if it means harming myself


You take away when I give in
You exploit my vulnerability and trust to take advantage of me


You like to think you're never wrong
You are convinced that your perspective is always correct


(You live what you've learned)
Your past experiences have shaped the way you interact with others


You have to act like you're someone
You put on a façade to impress others and conceal your insecurities


You want someone to hurt like you
You seek to inflict emotional pain on others as a form of revenge or coping mechanism


You want to share what you've been through
You desire to connect with others who have experienced similar traumas as you


Forfeit the game
Abandon the toxic relationship before it's too late


Before somebody else
End things on your own terms, don't wait for the other person to do it


Takes you out of the frame
Prevent the other person from erasing you completely from their life


And puts your name to shame
Don't let the other person tarnish your image and harm your reputation


Cover up your face
Protect yourself from further pain and humiliation


You can't run the race
You are not equipped to handle the emotional demands of this relationship


The pace is too fast
The speed at which the other person is progressing is too much for you to handle


You just won't last
You are not strong enough to endure the hardships of a dysfunctional relationship




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Brad Delson, Chester Charles Charles Bennington, Joseph Hahn, Mike Shinoda, Robert G. G. Bourdon

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@alishaw2454

Chester: screams like the devil incarnate
Chester 2 seconds later: says thank you in the sweetest most innocent voice ever.

@rosek7114

That's what was so awesome about him. The way he could sound so sweet and gentle in one moment and then just sound like an animal in the next.

@martinisfuni

Today I just kept rewinding that part!! lol The "thank you" part in the sweetest voice made me laugh after that hard core devilish sound lol

@fabianlichtin2898

That's exactly why I love Linkin Park

@krabuh

reminds me of this https://youtu.be/VooURQVZz8c mf screams like an actual demon then "thank you good night"

@Truthorfib

The dude is basically Michael Jackson 😂 Crazy wicked singing voice but has an incredibly innocent voice when speaking normally

6 More Replies...

@abeginnerspov5968

Everyone's talking bout how Jay is amazed to hear Chester's screams.

But no one's talking about Mike can spit bars like Jay and making it sound just like a studio record.

@aliciabokor9879

Mike can hang wit the best of em !

@scottatherton1976

Why do you think J did this ?

@MondySpartan

The seeds of Fort Minor was already coming along nicely.

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