I Can't Hold On
Linkin Park Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

You tried to find the reason why it all went away
And you think of want you could have done differnet
When you thought you were complete
You opened up your eyes

When you thought you had it all
That's when you lost it
If you want to hold on to everything
You will fall

You go around chasin things that disappear
You can't get enough cause you want it all
When you thought you were ok
You opened up your eyes

When you thought you had it all
That's when you lost it
If you want to hold on to everything
You will fall

When you thought you had it all
That's when you lost it
If you want to hold on to everything
You will fall

When you thought you had it all
That's when you lost it




If you want to hold on to everything
You will fall

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Linkin Park's song In Your Eyes are about loss and the difficulty of coming to terms with it. The singer sings about trying to understand why things ended, and thinking about all the things they could have done differently. The song suggests that we often become complacent and take things for granted when we feel like we have everything we need. But the moment we let our guard down, we can lose it all.


The lyrics focus on the idea that it's impossible to hold on to everything, and that the more we try to grasp, the more likely we are to fall. This concept is explored through the repeated refrain: "If you want to hold on to everything, you will fall." The words suggest that life is about learning to let go, accepting that losses are a part of the human experience, and focusing on what we still have.


The song also touches on the theme of chasing after things that ultimately disappear. The singer suggests that we can't get enough of what we're pursuing, and that this endless pursuit leaves us feeling unsatisfied and unfulfilled.


Overall, the lyrics of In Your Eyes speak to the universal experience of loss and the human struggle to come to terms with it. The words are powerful and impactful, and the repetition of certain phrases underscores the message that we need to learn to let go.


Line by Line Meaning

You tried to find the reason why it all went away
You attempted to discover the cause for the loss of what you once had


And you think of what you could have done different
You contemplate how things could have been different if you had taken another course of action


When you thought you were complete
When you were convinced that you had achieved satisfaction with life


You opened up your eyes
You finally perceived the reality, rather than being blinded by your assumptions and beliefs


When you thought you had it all
When you believed that you possessed everything you needed


That's when you lost it
That is precisely when you experienced a loss of what you had, likely because you were not aware of the possibility of it being lost


If you want to hold on to everything
If you desire to maintain possession of everything that you value


You will fall
You will inevitably experience a loss or a failure, because no one can possibly keep everything perfect forever


You go around chasing things that disappear
You perpetually pursue things, which are destined to disappear at some point


You can't get enough 'cause you want it all
You are endlessly unsatisfied because your desires are too grand, leading to insatiable yearning


When you thought you were okay
When you felt that everything was stable and under control


You opened up your eyes
You discovered what was hindering your progress and that something was indeed lacking


When you thought you had it all
When you believed that you possessed everything you needed


That's when you lost it
That is precisely when you experienced a loss of what you had, likely because you were not aware of the possibility of it being lost


If you want to hold on to everything
If you desire to maintain possession of everything that you value


You will fall
You will inevitably experience a loss or a failure, because no one can possibly keep everything perfect forever


When you thought you had it all
When you believed that you possessed everything you needed


That's when you lost it
That is precisely when you experienced a loss of what you had, likely because you were not aware of the possibility of it being lost


If you want to hold on to everything
If you desire to maintain possession of everything that you value


You will fall
You will inevitably experience a loss or a failure, because no one can possibly keep everything perfect forever




Contributed by Alaina C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@jswiss8k

Linkin Park "By Myself"
From Hybrid Theory

What do I do to ignore them behind me?
Do I follow my instincts blindly?
Do I hide my pride from these bad dreams
And give in to sad thoughts that are maddening?
Do I sit here and try to stand it?
Or do I try to catch them red-handed?
Do I trust some and get fooled by phoniness
Or do I trust nobody and live in loneliness?
Because I can't hold on when I'm stretched so thin
I make the right moves but I'm lost within
I put on my daily facade but then
I just end up getting hurt again
By myself (myself)

I ask why, but in my mind
I find I can't rely on myself (myself)
I ask why, but in my mind
I find I can't rely on myself

I can't hold on
To what I want when I'm stretched so thin
It's all too much to take in
I can't hold on
To end things watching everything spin
With thoughts of failure sinking in

If I turn my back I'm defenseless
And to go blindly seems senseless
If I hide my pride and let it all go on
Then they'll take from me 'till everything is gone
If I let them go I'll be outdone
But if I try to catch them I'll be outrun
If I'm killed by the questions like a cancer
Then I'll be buried in the silence of the answer
By myself (myself)

I ask why, but in my mind
I find I can't rely on myself (myself)
I ask why, but in my mind
I find I can't rely on myself

I can't hold on
To what I want when I'm stretched so thin
It's all too much to take in
I can't hold on
To end things watching everything spin
With thoughts of failure sinking in

How do you think
I've lost so much
I'm so afraid
I'm out of touch
How do you expect
I will know what to do
When all I know
Is what you tell me to

Don't you
I can't tell you how to make it
No matter what I do
How hard I
I can't seem to convince myself
I'm stuck on the outside
Don't you
I can't tell you how to make it
No matter what I do
How hard I
I can't seem to convince myself
I'm stuck on the outside

I can't hold on
(To what I want when I'm stretched so thin)
It's all too much to take in
I can't hold on
(To anything watching everything spin)
With thoughts of failure sinking in

I can't hold on
(To what I want when I'm stretched so thin)
It's all too much to take in
I can't hold on
(To anything watching everything spin)
Without some failure sinking

Songwriters: Brad Delson / Chester Charles Bennington / Joseph Hahn / Mike Shinoda / Robert G. Bourdon



@sanjaykumarb

[Verse 1: Mike Shinoda]
What do I do to ignore them behind me?
Do I follow my instincts blindly?
Do I hide my pride from these bad dreams
And give in to sad thoughts that are maddening?

Do I sit here and try to stand it?
Or do I try to catch them red-handed?
Do I trust some and get fooled by phoniness?
Or do I trust nobody and live in loneliness?

Because I can't hold on when I'm stretched so thin
I make the right moves, but I'm lost within
I put on my daily façade, but then
I just end up getting hurt again

[Pre-Chorus: Mike Shinoda & Chester Bennington]
By myself (Myself) I ask why
(But in my mind, I find) I can't rely on myself
(Myself) I ask why
(But in my mind, I find) I can't rely on myself

[Chorus: Chester Bennington & Mike Shinoda]
I can't hold on (To what I want when I'm stretched so thin)
It's all too much to take in
I can't hold on (To anything, watching everything spin)
With thoughts of failure sinking in

[Verse 2: Mike Shinoda]
If I turn my back, I'm defenseless
And to go blindly seems senseless
If I hide my pride and let it all go on
Then they'll take from me 'til everything is gone

If I let them go, I'll be outdone
But if I try to catch them, I'll be outrun
If I'm killed by the questions like a cancer
Then I'll be buried in the silence of the answer

[Pre-Chorus: Mike Shinoda & Chester Bennington]
By myself (Myself) I ask why
(But in my mind, I find) I can't rely on myself
(Myself) I ask why
(But in my mind, I find) I can't rely on myself

[Chorus: Chester Bennington & Mike Shinoda]
I can't hold on (To what I want when I'm stretched so thin)
It's all too much to take in
I can't hold on (To anything, watching everything spin)
With thoughts of failure sinking in

[Interlude: Mike Shinoda]
How do you think I've lost so much?
I'm so afraid that I'm out of touch
How do you expect I will know what to do
When all I know is what you tell me to?

[Bridge: Mike Shinoda & Chester Bennington]
Don't you (Know)
I can't tell you how to make it (Go)
No matter what I do, how hard I (Try)
I can't seem to convince myself (Why)
I'm stuck on the outside

Don't you (Know)
I can't tell you how to make it (Go)
No matter what I do, how hard I (Try)
I can't seem to convince myself (Why)
I'm stuck on the outside

[Chorus: Chester Bennington & Mike Shinoda]
I can't hold on (To what I want when I'm stretched so thin)
It's all too much to take in
I can't hold on (To anything, watching everything spin)
With thoughts of failure sinking in

I can't hold on (To what I want when I'm stretched so thin)
It's all too much to take in
I can't hold on (To anything, watching everything spin)
With thoughts of failure sinking.



All comments from YouTube:

@wunderkatna

Chester's voice is a masterpiece in itself

@JagoTFC

In Hybrid Theory and Meteora only

@user-wf9vv8xn5e

@@JagoTFCminutes to midnight, the hunting party…

@dudedope2586

​@@JagoTFCunderestimation

@krafuae

@@JagoTFC man...

@monkeyman_lol

@@JagoTFC really in any album

3 More Replies...

@SarcasmOpenWorld

“Do I trust some, and get fooled by phoniness, or do I trust no one and live in loneliness?” – Linkin Park

@saab9387

damn thanks for pointing that out

@whatburnsneverreturns

Damn didn't know Linkin Park was his name.

@kingjones325

Mike Shinoda*

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