Formed in 1996, Linkin Park rose to international fame with their debut studio album, Hybrid Theory (2000), which became certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Released during the peak of the nu metal scene, the album's singles' heavy airplay on MTV led the singles "One Step Closer", "Crawling" and "In the End" all to chart highly on the US Mainstream Rock chart. The lattermost also crossed over to the nation's Billboard Hot 100. Their second album, Meteora (2003), continued the band's success. The band explored experimental sounds on their third album, Minutes to Midnight (2007). By the end of the decade, Linkin Park was among the most successful and popular rock acts.
The band continued to explore a wider variation of musical types on their fourth album, A Thousand Suns (2010), layering their music with more electronic sounds. The band's fifth album, Living Things (2012), combined musical elements from all of their previous records. Their sixth album, The Hunting Party (2014), returned to a heavier rock sound, and their seventh album, One More Light (2017), was a substantially more pop-oriented record. Linkin Park went on a hiatus when longtime lead vocalist Bennington died in July 2017. In April 2022, Shinoda revealed the band was neither working on new music nor planning on touring for the foreseeable future.
Linkin Park is among the best-selling bands of the 21st century and the world's best-selling music artists, having sold over 100 million records worldwide. They have won two Grammy Awards, six American Music Awards, two Billboard Music Awards, four MTV Video Music Awards, 10 MTV Europe Music Awards and three World Music Awards. In 2003, MTV2 named Linkin Park the sixth-greatest band of the music video era and the third-best of the new millennium. Billboard ranked Linkin Park No. 19 on the Best Artists of the Decade list. In 2012, the band was voted as the greatest artist of the 2000s in a Bracket Madness poll on VH1. In 2014, the band was declared as "The Biggest Rock Band in the World Right Now" by Kerrang!.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linkin_Park
Studio albums
Hybrid Theory (2000)
Meteora (2003)
Minutes to Midnight (2007)
A Thousand Suns (2010)
Living Things (2012)
The Hunting Party (2014)
One More Light (2017)
Keys to the Kingdom
Linkin Park Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No surprise
Throw the keys to the kingdom down there
Down in my eye
I'm my own casualty
I fuck up everything I see
Fighting in futility
Tell me what's worth fighting for
When we know there's nothing more
Take the hand or fist
Just to sell ourselves for this
The path we least resist
No control
No surprise
Throw the keys to the kingdom down there
Down in my eye
I'm my own casualty
I fuck up everything I see
Fighting in futility
Uh, I give you what you came for
This is not the same though
Got a different method
But I still can bring the pain so
Not all give the same though
I got daddy's same flow
I am sock in catch you never really in my range though
Yes I'm half anglo, half huapango
On primetime, I'ma let that bass bang though
All you fucking lames go
Yelling out the names though
Careful what you shoot, cause you might hit what you came for
(Careful what you shoot, cause you might hit what you came for)
No control
No surprise
Throw the keys to the kingdom down there
Down in my eye
I'm my own casualty
I fuck up everything I see
Fighting in futility
No control
No surprise
Throw the keys to the kingdom down there
Down in my eye
I'm my own casualty
"Keys to the Kingdom" is about the frustration of being in a world where it feels like there is no control and no clear path to follow. The lyrics suggest that throwing the keys to the kingdom down implies giving up control, and being a casualty of one's own choices. The line "I fuck up everything I see" indicates a self-destructive tendency that is at odds with the desire to find meaning in the world. The singer is fighting in futility, with a sense of hopelessness that is underscored by the repetition of "no control" and "no surprise."
The chorus suggests that the struggle for meaning is a final war, with nothing left to fight for. The singer is questioning the worth of this struggle, and wondering whether anything is worth fighting for when there is nothing more to be gained. The line "take the hand or fist just to sell ourselves for this" suggests that the singer is fighting for something that is not truly valuable, and is willing to compromise in order to attain it. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus and the line "I'm my own casualty," implying that the singer's sense of hopelessness persists.
Overall, "Keys to the Kingdom" is a haunting song that captures a sense of despair and frustration that is all too familiar in today's world.
Line by Line Meaning
No control
I have no power or influence over my life
No surprise
I expect nothing from life because I cannot control it
Throw the keys to the kingdom down there
I am giving up my ability to control my life to someone or something else
Down in my eye
I am blinded by my own problems and cannot see the bigger picture
I'm my own casualty
I am hurting myself more than anyone or anything else
I fuck up everything I see
I am causing damage to everything and everyone around me
Fighting in futility
I am struggling to make a difference, but it is all for nothing
It's our final war
Life is a constant battle, and this is the one that will end it all
Tell me what's worth fighting for
I am questioning if there is anything worth fighting for in life
When we know there's nothing more
When we are aware that there is nothing we can do to make a difference
Take the hand or fist
We can either work together or fight against each other
Just to sell ourselves for this
We are sacrificing who we are just to achieve something
The path we least resist
We tend to choose the easiest path, even if it is not the best one
Uh, I give you what you came for
I am trying to please you by providing what you expect from me
This is not the same though
My approach is different from what you know
Got a different method
I am using a unique way to achieve my goals
But I still can bring the pain so
Even though I am different, I can still be as effective as anyone else
Not all give the same though
Not everyone has the same approach
I got daddy's same flow
I am following in my father's footsteps
I am sock in catch you never really in my range though
I am in a different position than you, and I cannot understand your perspective
Yes I'm half anglo, half huapango
I am of mixed race
On primetime, I'ma let that bass bang though
I am going to make sure I am heard and noticed
All you fucking lames go
All of you who are not able to compete with me, leave
Yelling out the names though
You are calling out other people's names, but I am not impressed
Careful what you shoot, cause you might hit what you came for
Be aware of the consequences of your actions, because it might not turn out the way you expected
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Brad Delson, Chester Charles Bennington, David Farrell, Joseph Hahn, Mike Shinoda, Robert G. Bourdon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@haydenscott8969
Lyrics:
(Chester Bennington (Chorus)):
NO CONTROL!!!
NO SURPRISE!!!
Tossed the keys to the kingdom down that,
HOLE IN MY EYE!!!
IM MY OWN!!! CASUALTY!!!
I f*ck up everything I see!
FIGHTING IN FUTILITY!!!
(Small instrumental)
(Mike Shinoda’s soulful lyrics):
It’s our final war...
Tell me what’s worth fighting for,
When we know there’s nothing more?
Take the hand or fist...
Just to sell ourselves for this?
The path we least resist...
(AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH)
(Chester Bennington (Chorus)):
NO CONTROL!!!
NO SURPRISE!!!
Tossed the keys to the kingdom down that,
HOLE IN MY EYE!!!
I’M MY OWN... CASUALTY!!!
I f*ck up everything I see!
FIGHTING IN FUTILITY!!!
(Vintage Mike Shinoda Rap):
Uh, I give you what you came for.
This is not the same tho.
Gotta different method but I still can bring the pain so,
Y’all all got that same flow.
I got that insane flow!
Eyes that can catch you,
But you’re never in my range though.
Yes, I’m half Anglo!
Half fried Panko!
All prime time,
I’mma let that bass bang tho!
All you f*ckin lames go,
Aiming at my name, know,
Be careful what you shoot for cause you might hit what you aim for!
(Be careful what you shoot for cause you might hit what you aim for!)
(Chester Bennington (Chorus)):
NO CONTROL!!!
NO SURPRISE!!!
Tossed the keys to the kingdom down that,
HOLE IN MY EYE!!!
I’M MY OWN... CASUALTY!!!
I f*ck up everything I see!
FIGHTING IN FUTILITY!!!
(ULTRA BADASS INSTRUMENTAL)
(Chester Bennington (Chorus)):
NO CONTROL!!!
NO SURPRISE!!!
Tossed the keys to the kingdom down that,
HOLE IN MY EYE!!!
I’M MY OWN... CASUALTY!!!
I’M MY OWN... CASUALTY!
@rosemariealarcon7617
No control, no surprise!
Took the keys to the kingdom down there
Hold in my eye
I am my own casualty, I fuck up everything I see
Fighting in futility!
And so the final war, tell me what's worth fighting for
When we know there's nothing more
Take the hand of faith, just to sell ourselves for this
The path we least resist
No control, no surprise!
Took the keys to the kingdom down there
Hold in my eye
I am my own casualty, I fuck up everything I see
Fighting in futility!
I give you what you came for, this is not the same though
Got a different method, but I still can bring the pain, so
Y'all all get the same flow, I got Daddy's same flow
I ain't shocking, catching, never really in my range, though
It's a half angle, high fried pain, go
All prime time, Imma let the bass bang low
Are you fucking lame, go, aiming at my name, no
Careful what you shoot for, 'cause you might hit what you aim for
Careful what you shoot for, 'cause you might hit what you aim for
No control, no surprise!
Took the keys to the kingdom down there
Hold in my eye
I am my own casualty, I fuck up everything I see
Fighting in futility!
No control, no surprise!
Took the keys to the kingdom down there
Hold in my eye
I am my own casualty, I'm my own casualty!
I'm not allowed to say certain things
Thank you!
@Maa_aaV
No control, no surprise
Tossed the keys to the kingdom
Down that hole in my eye
I’m my own casualty
I fuck up everything I see
Fighting in futility
We start the final war
Tell me what’s worth fighting for
When we know there’s nothing more
We take the hand or fist
Just to sell ourselves for this
The path we least resist
No control, no surprise
Tossed the keys to the kingdom
Down that hole in my eye
I’m my own casualty
I fuck up everything I see
Fighting in futility
I give you what you came for
This is not the same though
Got a different method but
I still can bring the pain so
Y’all stuck in that same flow
I got that insane flow
High as y’all can get
You’re never really in my range though
Yes I’m half anglo
Half fried panko
All prime-time rhymer
Let the bass bang low
All you fucking lames go
Aiming at my name, know
Careful what you shoot because you might hit what you aim for
(Careful what you shoot because you might hit what you aim for)
No control, no surprise
Tossed the keys to the kingdom
Down that hole in my eye
I’m my own casualty
I fuck up everything I see
Fighting in futility
No control, no surprise
Tossed the keys to the kingdom
Down that hole in my eye
I'm my own casualty
I'm my own casualty
@virajshinde9965
Hunting party is such an underrated album.Its got a experimental original mysterious feel to it.
@blackbird5704
Very true!
@KeltkeGH
Best album since Meteora. Personally I don't think it is underrated at all.
@virajshinde9965
@@KeltkeGH Agree, but this genre is underrated. Rock fan forever. Lp ironically relieves my stress and gives me joy 😊.
@virajshinde9965
@kevin pierson Living Things is experimental. Its got a groove of new age electronica with mix of hard rock. The hunting party is pure Hard Rock. I am myself a hard rock fan, but I think Both albums rock in their own way. Frankly speaking Linkin park is one such rare band who had the guts to experiment with different genres. If a Hard Rock band just stick to Hard rock for all albums, creativity is stiffed. Lp is like soul music for all kind of music fans.
@ptr_does_music7042
Indeed, it took me more than two listens to appreciate all the things going on only in this song. I initially found it annoying. But I wound up loving the strong punk and metal elements of THP
@davidnissim589
We're all talking about Chester & Mike, BUT CAN WE SHOW SOME RESPECT TO BRAD DELSON? This was his album.
@Shreyy17
ROB too!!
@shashwatparth3672
Rob Bourdon
@TheKnightPatriot
This was my favorite song off this record. Not the most popular, but in my opinion one of the more powerful. Chester's screams are unbelievably intense in this one.