In The Memory
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 is there
The memory won’t escape me
But why should I care
[Chorus x2]

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 question
Forcefully, the power of suggestion
Then with the eyes shut / looking thought the rust and rot
And dust / a small spot of light floods the floor
And pours over the rusted world of pretend
The eyes ease open and its dark again

[Chorus x1]

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 till the wind is gone
The memory now is like the picture was then
When the paper’s crumpled up it can’t be perfect again

[Chorus x2]

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
I’m telling you that
I see it right through you
[x7]

In the memory you’ll find me
Eyes burning up
The darkness holding me tightly




Until the sun rises up
[x2]

Overall Meaning

Linkin Park’s song In The Memory is a melancholic reflection on the struggles of remembering the past. The singer begins by describing how they are lost in thought, unable to remember the core of their memories. Despite this, the picture of what they cannot remember still haunts them. This suffering is further intensified as the singer describes a place that is so dark that they cannot see the end. They feel helpless in the face of an all-encompassing darkness that breaks down their defenses.


The singer then describes the pollution and chaos they see around them, in a world where things never seem to go right. The wheels go round and round, and the singer is left screaming about the ups and downs. Despite all the destruction, the singer still clings to memories of a time when things were better, represented by the small spot of light that floods the floor. The memory is like a crumpled piece of paper, a metaphor that shows how the memories are faded and imperfect. In the end, the singer accepts that they are trapped in the darkness, and that the only escape is to wait for the sun to rise again.


Line by Line Meaning

From the top to the bottom
Starting from the highest point and reaching the lowest


Bottom to top I stop
Moving back upwards, but pausing abruptly


At the core I’ve forgotten
Having lost something valuable, deep inside


In the middle of my thoughts
While contemplating and reflecting


Taken far from my safety
Taken outside my comfort zone, into danger


The picture is there
The image is imprinted in my mind


The memory won’t escape me
The recollection of it is still vivid and strong


But why should I care
However, there is no reason for me to worry about it


There’s a place so dark you can’t see the end
A very dark and endless place


Skies cock back and shock that which can’t defend
The inescapable fear that is overwhelming


The rain then sends dripping / acidic question
The rain implies something questioning and insidious


Forcefully, the power of suggestion
It imposes its power upon our mind


Then with the eyes shut / looking thought the rust and rot
Closing my eyes and visualising decay and corrosion


And dust / a small spot of light floods the floor
Amid the murky and dusty space, a glimmer of light illuminates the ground


And pours over the rusted world of pretend
It brightens up the worn-down, imaginary world


The eyes ease open and its dark again
After the light fades, everything returns to darkness


In the memory you’ll find me
Looking back to the time that I reminisce


Eyes burning up
With strong emotions that are overwhelming


The darkness holding me tightly
Feeling trapped and restricted by the darkness


Until the sun rises up
Hoping for a brighter future


Moving all around / screaming of the ups and downs
The turmoil and instability that surrounds us


Pollution manifested in perpetual sound
The constant noise that fills the air


The wheels go round and the sunset creeps behind
Time keeps moving on relentlessly


Street lamps, chain-link and concrete
The desolate, urban scenery that dominates


A little piece of paper with a picture drawn floats
A fragile piece of evidence of a past memory


On down the street till the wind is gone
It drifts away, erasing the remnants of the past


The memory now is like the picture was then
The memory has now become like the image itself


When the paper’s crumpled up it can’t be perfect again
Once a memory is damaged, it cannot be completely restored


Now you got me caught in the act
I am now exposed and vulnerable


You bring the thought back
Thinking about it again triggers memories


I’m telling you that
Revealing the truth


I see it right through you
I understand what you are really trying to do or say




Contributed by Samantha P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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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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