Papercut
Linkin Park(린킨 파크) Lyrics

Why does it feel like night today?
Something in the air feels off today and it's making me feel like it's nighttime, even though it's not.

Something in the air's not right today
There's something wrong today, something strange in the atmosphere.

Why am I so uptight today?
I'm feeling particularly tense and anxious today, and I'm not sure why.

Paranoia's all I got left
I'm so anxious and stressed out that all I have left is irrational paranoia.

I don't know what stressed me first
I can't pinpoint exactly what's making me this anxious and stressed out.

Or how the pressure was fed
I don't know how this pressure and anxiety built up in me.

But I know just what it feels like
Even though I can't identify the cause of my stress, I know exactly what it feels like.

To have a voice in the back of my head
I have a nagging, criticizing voice inside my head that won't go away.

Like a face that I hold inside
It feels like there's a face inside of me that represents all of my inner demons.

A face that awakes when I close my eyes
This face inside me feels like it comes alive whenever I close my eyes.

A face watches every time I lie
The face inside me is attached to my guilt and shame, and it watches me whenever I'm dishonest.

A face that laughs every time I fall
This face inside me revels in my failures and humiliations.

(It watches everything)
This face inside me is always keeping an eye on everything I do and think.

So I know now when it's time to sink or swim
I know that when I'm in a tough situation, it's up to me to either rise to the occasion (swim) or fail (sink).

That the face inside is hearing me
No matter what happens, the face inside me is always there, listening to everything I say and think.

Right beneath my skin
This face inside me feels like it's always just below the surface, waiting to take over.

I know I've got a face in me
I'm not alone in having this kind of inner demon- everyone has their own face inside them.

Points out all my mistakes to me
This face inside me never lets me forget my shortcomings and errors.

You've got a face on the inside too
The person listening to this song almost certainly has their own internal demon in the same vein as the one described in the lyrics.

Your paranoia's probably worse
The person listening to this song might be feeling even more paranoid than the singer is.

I don't know what set me off first but I know what I can't stand
The singer can't say what specifically set off their paranoia or anxiety, but they know what they're not willing to tolerate or endure any longer.

Everybody acts like the fact of the matter is
People around the singer seem to think that there's an objective standard or threshold for what's worth getting worked up over, but this isn't true at all.

I can't add up to what you can but
The singer feels like they don't measure up to the standards of those around them, but they don't care- those standards don't matter to them.

Everybody has a face that they hold inside
The face inside the singer is not unique- everyone has their own personal demon or inner monster.

A face that awakes when I close my eyes
The singer's inner demon is most potent when they're trying to sleep or relax.

A face that watches every time they lie
Lying seems to be a triggering factor for the singer's internal demon- it becomes most active when they're being dishonest.

A face that laughs every time they fall
This inner demon seems to revel in the singer's failures and humiliations.

(It watches everything)
The inner demon is always keeping guard over the singer's thoughts and actions.

So you know that when it's time to sink or swim
Everyone will, at some point, face a difficult or trying situation where they'll have to either succeed or fail.

That the face inside is watching you too
No matter what happens, everyone has their own internal monster that's always keeping them in check.

Right inside your skin
This inner demon is always lurking just below the surface, waiting to take control.

The sun goes down
The end of the day is approaching.

I feel the light betray me
As the day winds down, the singer's paranoia and anxiety seem to be getting more intense, to the point where even the light seems to be betraying them.

It's like I can't stop what I'm hearing within
No matter how hard the singer tries to ignore or silence their internal monster, it won't stop chattering and critiquing them.

It's like I can't stop what I'm hearing within
Even though the singer has repeated this line before, it's important to emphasize how overpowering and inescapable the voice inside them truly feels.

It's like I can't stop what I'm hearing within
Repeating this line again further highlights the artist's desperation and frustration.

It's like the face inside is right beneath my skin
No matter what happens, the demon inside the singer always feels close enough to the surface that it could take over.