Forgotten
Linkin Park Lyrics


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From the top to the bottom
Bottom to top I stop
At the core I've forgotten
In the middle of my thoughts
Taken far from my safety
The picture's there
The memory won't escape me
But why should I care?

From the top to the bottom
Bottom to top I stop
At the core I've forgotten
In the middle of my thoughts
Taken far from my safety
The picture's there
The memory won't escape me
But why should I care?

There's a place so dark you can't see the end
(Skies cock back) and shock that which can't defend
The rain then sends dripping acidic questions
Forcefully, the power of suggestion
Then with the eyes shut looking through the rust and rot, and dust
A small spot of light floods the floor
And pours over the rusted world of pretend
And the eyes ease open and it's dark again

From the top to the bottom
Bottom to top I stop
At the core I've forgotten
In the middle of my thoughts
Taken far from my safety
The picture's there
The memory won't escape me
But why should I care?

In the memory you'll find me
Eyes burning up
The darkness holding me tightly
Until the sun rises up

Moving all around
Screaming of the ups and downs
Pollution manifested in perpetual sound
The wheels go 'round and the sunset creeps
Behind street lamps, chain-link, and concrete
A little piece of paper with a picture drawn
Floats on down the street 'til the wind is gone
And the memory now is like the picture was then
When the paper's crumpled up it can't be perfect again

From the top to the bottom
Bottom to top I stop
At the core I've forgotten
In the middle of my thoughts
Taken far from my safety
The picture's there
The memory won't escape me
But why should I care?

From the top to the bottom
Bottom to top I stop
At the core I've forgotten
In the middle of my thoughts
Taken far from my safety
The picture's there
The memory won't escape me
But why should I care?

In the memory you'll find me
Eyes burning up
The darkness holding me tightly
Until the sun rises up

Now you got me caught in the act
You bring the thought back
Telling you that I see it right through you
Now you got me caught in the act
You bring the thought back
Telling you that I see it right through you
Now you got me caught in the act
You bring the thought back
Telling you that I see it right through you
Now you got me caught in the act
You bring the thought back
Telling you that I see it right through you
Now you got me caught in the act
You bring the thought back
Telling you that I see it right through you
Now you got me caught in the act
You bring the thought back
Telling you that I see it right through you
Now you got me caught in the act
You bring the thought back
Telling you that I see it right through you

In the memory you'll find me
Eyes burning up
The darkness holding me tightly
Until the sun rises up

In the memory you'll find me
Eyes burning up




The darkness holding me tightly
Until the sun rises up

Overall Meaning

Linkin Park’s song, “Forgotten,” talks about the feeling of being lost and missing a connection to something once known. The lyrics explore the feeling of being disconnected from reality and being in a dark place where the end cannot be seen. The song highlights the idea of losing oneself in deep thought and being taken away from one’s safe haven. Moreover, the song describes a particular memory as something that won’t escape someone's mind, but questions why they should care. The song explores the contrast between the dark, rusty, rotting environment and a small spot of light that floods the floor and pours over the rusted world of pretend.


Furthermore, the song’s lyrics also express the idea of pollution manifested in perpetual sound, which brings a sense of chaos to the environment. The song talks about how society is caught in the perpetual motion of life, and how it is challenging to escape these cycles. The song talks about a little piece of paper with a picture drawn floating down the street, an example of the mundane things in life, which can be the source of hope and beauty, symbolized by the eyes ease opening and letting the light in.


Overall, "Forgotten" is a song about the feeling of being lost, disconnected, and uncertain about the world. It explores how memories can inform who we are, and more importantly, who we can become.


Line by Line Meaning

From the top to the bottom
The singer is describing a journey from the highest point to the lowest point.


Bottom to top I stop
The singer is describing a stop at the lowest point during their journey to the highest point.


At the core I've forgotten
The singer has reached the center of their journey, but has forgotten what they were searching for.


In the middle of my thoughts
The artist is lost in thought as they try to remember what they are searching for.


Taken far from my safety
The artist feels like they have been taken away from a place of safety during their journey.


The picture's there
The memory of what the singer was searching for is still present in their mind.


The memory won't escape me
The singer is unable to forget the memory of what they were searching for.


But why should I care?
The artist questions the importance of the memory and whether it is worth pursuing or not.


There's a place so dark you can't see the end
The artist is describing a dark and endless place, which may be a metaphor for a state of depression or despair.


(Skies cock back) and shock that which can't defend
The sky is portrayed as being aggressive and attacking something that is unable to defend itself.


The rain then sends dripping acidic questions
The rain is described as acidic and is metaphorical for something that is causing the singer to continuously question themselves.


Forcefully, the power of suggestion
The cause of the artist's self-doubt is very strong and persuasive.


Then with the eyes shut looking through the rust and rot, and dust
The singer is describing a moment of introspection where they are looking inward to try and make sense of their thoughts.


A small spot of light floods the floor
The singer is describing a moment when a glimmer of hope or clarity is found.


And pours over the rusted world of pretend
The light serves to reveal everything as it truly is, and not how it is being pretended to be.


And the eyes ease open and it's dark again
Despite the moment of clarity, the artist is still struggling with darkness and uncertainty.


In the memory you'll find me
The artist is suggesting that their true self can be found within their memories.


Eyes burning up
The singer's emotions are very intense and passionate.


The darkness holding me tightly
The singer feels trapped and helpless in a state of darkness.


Until the sun rises up
The artist is hopeful that their situation will change and get better.


Moving all around
The artist is describing a sense of chaos and disorientation around them.


Screaming of the ups and downs
The artist is overwhelmed by the unpredictable nature of life.


Pollution manifested in perpetual sound
The noise and chaos around the singer is adding to their feelings of confusion and despair.


The wheels go 'round and the sunset creeps
The passage of time continues, despite the artist's struggles.


Behind street lamps, chain-link, and concrete
The singer is describing a world that is dark and oppressive, with no easy way out.


A little piece of paper with a picture drawn
The singer is describing a small, insignificant object that carries great meaning for them.


Floats on down the street 'til the wind is gone
The small object is being carried by the wind, and the singer is powerless to control its journey.


And the memory now is like the picture was then
The memory of the object is still vivid and clear, just as it was in the past.


When the paper's crumpled up it can't be perfect again
The artist is acknowledging that the object, like all things, is vulnerable to damage and cannot be restored to its original state once it is damaged.


Now you got me caught in the act
The singer is addressing someone who has caught them in a compromising situation.


You bring the thought back
The other person has triggered the singer's memory of something they had forgotten.


Telling you that I see it right through you
The artist is accusing the other person of being transparent and insincere.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Brad Delson, Chester Charles Bennington, Dave Farrel, Joseph Hahn, Mark Wakefield, Mike Shidona, Robert G. Bourdon

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@eman5230

Love how the beginning gets straight to the point. Gets me freaking hyped.

@bryanreamy3214

Exactly. people don't understand why I'm already headbanging before the song starts playing.

@larsulcer7156

@@bryanreamy3214 That's because the song starts before you

@ddog2549

SAME

@VLNC_-ci8pf

samee

@tomgreenfan

Sky's cick back

13 More Replies...

@MattCantuMusic

2:18 is definitely my favorite part of the song. I love the “oooooooooOOooo”s that Chester is doing underneath mikes rapping. That chord progression just screams late 90’s - early 2000’s alternative. Then it blends right into that last chorus. Truly one of the greatest songs ever written and one of the reasons why Hybrid Theory is perfect

@hyakugame

is this a copypasta

@tyronelewis5110

@@hyakugame LMFAO i could definitely see this being a copypasta

@rezei

unironically i agree, i go back and play that part atleast 5 times after listening the first playthrough

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