"Given Up", along with the hit singles "What I've Done" and "Bleed It Out", made its live debut on April 28, 2007 in Berlin, Germany. Live performances of these three songs at the AOL sessions were released on AOL on May 5, 2007. The performance of the song is available on the "Bleed It Out" CD single.
"Given Up" is one of the heavier songs on the album. It notably features a eighteen second-long scream by Chester Bennington before the final chorus, as well as a steady guitar riff for the choruses of the song. The scream is split into two 9 second long screams when performed live allowing Chester to catch his breath, although he has completed the full scream in various live performances. It dawns a distinctive jingle sound during the verses and intro, generated by the jingling of guitarist Brad Delson's keys and a steady clapping beat by Mike Shinoda. The song was made available as a single on March 3, 2008. It is included as a master track in the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Nintendo Wii versions of the music video game Rock Revolution. The song was also used in the trailer and commercials for the action film Crank 2: High Voltage, in which Bennington makes a cameo.
In June 2007, the official Billboard website gave information stating that "Given Up" and "Shadow of the Day" would be the next two singles from Minutes to Midnight, following "What I've Done". This proved incorrect after "Bleed It Out" was promoted to single status. On January 24, 2008, it was announced that "Given Up" would be the band's next single after "Shadow of the Day", released on October 16, 2007. The single was released as digital download on February 17, 2008 along with a cover art.
On Chester Bennington's official blog, he stated when the video was being shot and that it features live performance from the band. Bennington told the crowd at the MEN Arena and the O2 Arena during shows on January 27 and 29 that the performance of "Given Up" was recorded for use in the video although cameras were also visible during the performance of the song at the concert on January 28 at the O2 Arena. Linkin Park had officially finished filming the video on February 6, according to Billboard. The video premiered on the band's official website on March 3, 2008 at 4p.m. Pacific Standard Time (Midnight UTC). The video was uploaded to the band's YouTube channel on March 4, 2008. The video was directed by Mark Fiore, the band's videographer.
The video consists of live clips from the shows (stated above) and has been edited together in a sharp, rugged manner which contains short cut scenes with many special effects mainly altering the coloring. Transitions between cut scenes are in a style of warn analog tape distortion giving the video an even more rugged, tough appearance. Bennington performs his seventeen-second scream perched on the guard rail, inches from the audience. Throughout the video several flash scenes appear such as a cowboy, hippopotamus and quotes from "Magical Thinking: True Stories" (chapter "Commercial Break") a book by the Augusten Burroughs. Frames from the Linkin Park videos "One Step Closer", "Papercut", "What I've Done", "Numb", and "Breaking the Habit" can also be seen through out the video.
Given Up
Linkin Park Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Another day's been laid to waste
In my disgrace
Stuck in my head again
Feels like I'll never leave this place
There's no escape
I'm my own worst enemy
I'm sick of feeling
Is there nothing you can say?
Take this all away
I'm suffocating
Tell me what the fuck is wrong with me
I don't know what to take
Thought I was focused, but I'm scared
I'm not prepared
I hyperventilate
Looking for help somehow, somewhere
And no one cares
I'm my own worst enemy
I've given up
I'm sick of feeling
Is there nothing you can say?
Take this all away
I'm suffocating
Tell me what the fuck is wrong with me
God
Put me out of my misery
Put me out of my misery
Put me out of my
Put me out of my fucking misery
I've given up
I'm sick of feeling
Is there nothing you can say?
Take this all away
I'm suffocating
Tell me what the fuck is wrong with me
The lyrics to Linkin Park's song "Given Up" are about a person who feels trapped and hopeless, stuck in their head and unable to escape their own negative thoughts. The lyricist describes waking up in a sweat, feeling like they've wasted another day and are stuck in a place with no escape. They feel like their own worst enemy and have given up, feeling sick of the constant negative feelings they experience. The chorus repeats the plea for someone to take away the suffocating feeling and help them understand what's wrong with them.
The verse of the song describes a person who is scared and not prepared for their own thoughts and feelings. They are hyperventilating and seeking help but feel like no one cares. In the bridge, the lyrics become more desperate, the person begging for God to put them out of their misery.
Overall, "Given Up" is a powerful song about mental illness and the struggle of feeling trapped in one's own thoughts. It's a plea for help and understanding from someone who is struggling to find a way out of their own despair.
Line by Line Meaning
Wake in a sweat again
Starting the day with restlessness and unease
Another day's been laid to waste
Feeling that another day has gone by unproductively
In my disgrace
Feeling ashamed and embarrassed
Stuck in my head again
Unable to shake off negative thoughts and feelings
Feels like I'll never leave this place
Feeling trapped and hopeless about the current situation
There's no escape
Feeling powerless to change the circumstances
I'm my own worst enemy
Realizing that one's own thoughts and actions are causing harm
I've given up
Losing hope and motivation
I'm sick of feeling
Tired of experiencing negative emotions
Is there nothing you can say?
Feeling that no one can provide comfort or support
Take this all away
Wishing for an end to the pain and suffering
I'm suffocating
Feeling overwhelmed and unable to breathe
Tell me what the fuck is wrong with me
Questioning why one feels this way and seeking answers
God
Expression of frustration and despair
Put me out of my misery
Desire for an end to the emotional pain
Put me out of my fucking misery
Stronger emphasis on the need for relief from emotional pain
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Brad Delson, Chester Charles Bennington, Dave Farrell, Joseph Hahn, Mike Shinoda, Robert G. Bourdon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@simonelgatoblanco494
Linkin Park - Given Up Lyrics
Wake in a sweat again
Another day's been laid to waste
In my disgrace
Stuck in my head again
Feels like I'll never leave this place
There's no escape
I'm my own worst enemy
I've given up
I'm sick of feeling
Is there nothing you can say?
Take this all away
I'm suffocating!
Tell me what the fuck is wrong with me!
I don't know what to take
Thought I was focused, but I'm scared
I'm not prepared
I hyperventilate
Looking for help somehow, somewhere
And no one cares
I'm my own worst enemy
I've given up
I'm sick of feeling
Is there nothing you can say?
Take this all away
I'm suffocating!
Tell me what the fuck is wrong with me!
God!
Put me out of my misery
Put me out of my misery
Put me out of my...
Put me out of my fucking misery!
I've given up
I'm sick of feeling
Is there nothing you can say?
Take this all away
I'm suffocating!
Tell me what the fuck is wrong with me!
@jessyheisenberg5968
Wake in a sweat again
Another day's been laid to waste
In my disgrace
Stuck in my head again
Feels like I'll never leave this place
There's no escape
I'm my own worst enemy
[chorus]
I've given up
I'm sick of feeling
Is there nothing you can say
Take this all away
I'm suffocating
Tell me what the fuck is wrong
With me
[end chorus]
I don't know what to take
Thought I was focused but I'm scared
I'm not prepared
I hyperventilate
Looking for help somehow somewhere
And no one cares
I'm my own worst enemy
[chorus]
I've given up
I'm sick of feeling
Is there nothing you can say
Take this all away
I'm suffocating
Tell me what the fuck is wrong
With me
[end chorus]
[bridge]
Goddddddd!!!!
Put me out of my misery
Put me out of my misery
Put me out of my
Put me out of my fucking misery
[end bridge]
[chorus]
I've given up
I'm sick of feeling
Is there nothing you can say
Take this all away
I'm suffocating
Tell me what the fuck is wrong
With me
[end chorus]
@misschiefvr6432
Wake in a sweat again
Another day's been laid to waste
In my disgrace
Stuck in my head again
Feels like I'll never leave this place
There's no escape
I'm my own worst enemy
I've given up
I'm sick of feeling
Is there nothing you can say?
Take this all away
I'm suffocating
Tell me what the fu*k is wrong with me?
I don't know what to take
Thought I was focused but I'm scared
I'm not prepared
I hyperventilate
Looking for help somehow somewhere
And no one cares
I'm my own worst enemy
I've given up
I'm sick of feeling
Is there nothing you can say?
Take this all away
I'm suffocating
Tell me what the fu*k is wrong with me?
God!
Put me out of my misery
Put me out of my misery
Put me out of my—
Put me out of my fu**ing misery
I've given up
I'm sick of feeling
Is there nothing you can say?
Take this all away
I'm suffocating
Tell me what the f**k is wrong with me?
@flameosaurus1832
That 17 second scream is (in my opinion) the ultimate example of how talented Chester was.
@nyannaaung2544
Pure emotion and energy in that scream. Gives me goosebumps everytime.
@marcbarantes7342
Its 18...
@hfestag
It wasn't the scream that shows his talent. It was being able to do that then turn around and sing the softest notes you would think angel would sing.
@nero8041
fry scream doesn't take much air
@hfestag
@@nero8041 but it strains your vocal cords and switching from a low note from the scream to the higher notes of the singing takes talent. Have you ever tried to scream that long then turn around and sing soft notes right after? It takes major talent.
@GbrCaz
Chester Bennington: screams
Me: aggressively whispers
@thelight6090
true :p
@geloscringe
The same skksksksks
@namelessking111
Same lols, couldn't even keep up with his 17 seconds scream still XD