Lost in the Echo
Linkin Park Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Yeah, yo

You were that foundation
Never gonna be another one, no
I followed, so taken
So conditioned, I could never let go
Then sorrow, then sickness
Then the shock when you flip it on me
So hollow, so vicious
So afraid, I couldn't let myself see
That I could never be held
Back or up, no, I'll hold myself
Check the rep, yep, you know mine well
Forget the rest let them know my hell
Damn, I'm back yep, my soul ain't sell
Kept respect up, the best they fell
Let the rest be the tale they tell
That I was there, saying

And these promises broken
Deep below
Each word gets lost in the echo
So one last lie I can see through
This time I finally let you
Go, go, go

Test my will, test my heart
Let me tell you how the odds gonna stack up
Y'all go hard, I go smart
How's that working out for y'all in the back, huh?
I've seen that frustration
Been crossed and lost and told no
And I've come back unshaken
Let down and lived and let go
So you can let it be known
I don't hold back, I hold my own
I can't be mapped, I can't be cloned
I can't C-flat, it ain't my tone
I can't fall back, I came too far
Hold myself up and love my scars
Let the bells ring wherever they are
'Cause I was there saying

In these promises broken
Deep below
Each word gets lost in the echo
So one last lie I can see through
This time I finally let you go

Go
Go
Go
Go
Go

No, you can tell 'em all now
I don't back up, I don't back down
I don't fold up, and I don't bow
I don't roll over, don't know how
I don't care where the enemies are
Can't be stopped, all I know, go hard
Won't forget how I got this far
For every time, saying

And these promises broken
Deep below
Each word gets lost in the echo
So one last lie I can see through
This time I finally let you
(Go) go
(Go) go
(Go) go
(Go) go
(Go) go




(Go) go
(Go) go

Overall Meaning

The first verse introduces the idea of following someone blindly and being so conditioned to them that it's difficult to let go. The second half of the verse describes the shock and devastation of being betrayed by this person. The chorus speaks to broken promises and words getting lost in the echo, conveying a sense of hopelessness and frustration. The second verse is a powerful response to this betrayal, declaring the singer's strength and resilience. The repetition of "go" at the end of the song reinforces this sense of forward movement and refusing to be held back by anyone or anything.


The lyrics can be interpreted in a few different ways. One is a personal relationship gone sour, with the betrayal coming from a significant other or friend. Another interpretation could be about the music industry and the struggle to hold on to one's artistic integrity while still pleasing record labels and other industry professionals. Finally, the lyrics could be about society as a whole and the disconnection and disillusionment that comes with trying to fit in and follow the crowd.


Line by Line Meaning

You were that foundation
You were the stability and support in my life


Never gonna be another one, no
No one else can replace you or what you provided


I followed, so taken
I was captivated by you and willingly followed your lead


So conditioned, I could never let go
I was so used to relying on you that I couldn't imagine life without you


Then sorrow, then sickness
Then came the sadness and then the illness


Then the shock when you flip it on me
And then the shock when you turned against me


So hollow, so vicious
I felt hollow and you acted with cruelty


So afraid, I couldn't let myself see
I was too scared to see what was happening


That I could never be held
I realized that I could never be controlled by you


Back or up, no, I'll hold myself
I will stand on my own and hold myself accountable


Check the rep, yep, you know mine well
I have a reputation of standing firm and you are aware of it


Forget the rest let them know my hell
I don't care about what others think, I'm going to be honest about my pain


Damn, I'm back yep, my soul ain't sell
I may have been knocked down, but I'm back and my soul is not for sale


Kept respect up, the best they fell
I maintained my self-respect and those who tried to bring me down failed


Let the rest be the tale they tell
Let others talk and speculate, it doesn't matter to me


And these promises broken
All these promises that were once made


Deep below
Buried deep down inside


Each word gets lost in the echo
Each promise gets forgotten and never fulfilled


So one last lie I can see through
I can see through the last lie and deception


This time I finally let you
This is the moment I finally let you go


Test my will, test my heart
Challenge me and see what I'm made of


Let me tell you how the odds gonna stack up
I'll show you how I will overcome the odds


Y'all go hard, I go smart
You may try to overpower me, but I'll outsmart you


How's that working out for y'all in the back, huh?
Your previous strategies didn't work, did they?


I've seen that frustration
I've seen that you're frustrated with me


Been crossed and lost and told no
I've had to deal with betrayal and failure, but I won't give up


And I've come back unshaken
I'm back stronger and more determined than ever


Let down and lived and let go
I've experienced disappointment but learned to move on


So you can let it be known
You can tell everyone


I don't hold back, I hold my own
I won't hold back, I'll stand my ground


I can't be mapped, I can't be cloned
I can't be defined or copied


I can't C-flat, it ain't my tone
I can't be silenced, it's not in my nature


I can't fall back, I came too far
I won't give up now, I've come too far


Hold myself up and love my scars
I'll hold my head high and embrace my imperfections


Let the bells ring wherever they are
Let's celebrate and make noise regardless of location


'Cause I was there saying
Because I was there, I spoke up


No, you can tell 'em all now
Go ahead and tell everyone


I don't back up, I don't back down
I won't retreat or give in


I don't fold up, and I don't bow
I won't give up or submit


I don't roll over, don't know how
I won't give up or be defeated


I don't care where the enemies are
I'm not afraid of my enemies


Can't be stopped, all I know, go hard
I can't be stopped, I will persevere


Won't forget how I got this far
I won't forget the journey that brought me here


For every time, saying
I say this every time


And these promises broken
All these promises that were made and not kept


Deep below
Buried deep within me


Each word gets lost in the echo
Each promise is forgotten and fades away


So one last lie I can see through
This is the last deception that I can see through


This time I finally let you
This is the moment I finally let you go


Go
Leave my life


Go
I don't need you anymore


Go
Get out of my life


Go
I won't hold on any longer


Go
I'm done with this chapter of my life


Go
This is goodbye


Go
Don't ever come back




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
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@midgardianloki

To this day, this song and this music video don't fail to amaze me.

First off, how the entire music in the video perfectly fits the song title, through the tunes echoing throughout the track.

And then there's the video, which perfectly, again, correlates to the song title and its meaning: how the "angel" (guy with the briefcase handing out pictures) is there for the purpose of helping trapped souls (the people in the abandoned buildings) who had passed away but aren't yet free from the chains of attachment they have to their loved ones (the people appearing from the first set of pictures), and so, they wander about in the abandoned locality desperately.

Their "each word gets lost in the echo" because their cries and shouts cannot be heard by their loved ones who have survived them and who also are trying to cope with their passing.

And how towards the end when all of them realize the importance of having to let their living counterparts go so they can move on and continue to live on in the world, the angel utters the chants leading to the spirits finally turning to ashes, therefore being finally free, turning into a picture, not more than a memory.

The impact Linkin Park has had as a group of artists, to me personally, is severe, unique, irreplaceable. Their lyrics and distinctive sound conveying powerful messages on our relations, feelings, hurt, kindness and love.



@metawolf987

I don't know what this song means to other people, but to me, it deals with death, loss, grief, acceptance, and moving on.

The story in the music video as I see it: The young man with the suitcase is a Reaper Of Souls. He has come to Earth, the plane of the living, to take those who have shed their mortal coil, for they do not belong in the plane of the living anymore. However, these souls are trapped, unable to move on, emotionally tethered to the loved ones they can no longer reach in their current ethereal state.

To help these trapped souls move on, the Reaper shows each soul the reason they are trapped. Photographs representing the loved ones they can no longer reach, but still cannot let go of. These "photographs" however, are actually "portals" that transport the souls to the living loved ones they left behind. At first glance, it seems as if the portals brought the living to the dead. However, upon deeper thought, it can be interpreted that the souls are visiting their living relatives in a "dream state". I don't know who believes what, but I, personally, believe that spirits can visit us in our dreams and even communicate with us.

Anyway, as each soul interacts with their living loved ones, it becomes clear that the living have also not let go of the dead. However, each one of the living finally approaches their breaking point. As the photographs of the living start to disappear, I believe this symbolizes the reality that the dead can no longer reach/coexist alongside their surviving loved ones as they once could. It could also symbolize that as the living are about to let go of the dead, the living will finally be completely out of reach for the dead.

Once each person finishes letting go of the loved one they lost, the dead can no longer remain on the plane of the living. The Reaper feels the moment approaching, and prepares himself. One by one, each soul shatters and disperses into a cloud of dust, and the souls become photographs themselve. This time the photographs of the dead most likely representing that they are now nothing more than a memory. Perhaps the photographs of the living were also memories. Memories which were links to the souls of the living. The Reaper's job now complete, he collects the souls and leaves.



@fernandosms4762

You were that foundation
Never gonna be another one, no
I followed, so taken
So conditioned I could never let go
Then sorrow, then sickness
Then the shock when you flip it on me
So hollow, so vicious
So afraid I couldn’t let myself see

That I could never be held
Back or up no, I hold myself
Check the rep
Yep, you know mine well
Forget the rest
Let them know my hell
There and back
Yet my soul ain’t sell
Kept respect up
The best they fell
Let the rest be the tale they tell
That I was there saying

And these promises broken
Deep below
Each word gets lost in the echo
So one last lie
I can see through
This time I finally let you go
Go, go

Test my will, test my heart
Let me tell you how the odds gonna stack up
Y’all go hard, I go smart
How’s that working out for y'all in the back, huh?
I’ve seen that frustration
Been crossed and lost and told no
And I’ve come back unshaken
Let down and lived and let go

So you can let it be known
I don’t hold back, I hold my own
I can’t be mapped, I can’t be cloned
I can’t C-Flat, it ain’t my tone
I can’t fall back, I came too far
Hold myself up and love my scars
Let the bells ring wherever they are
‘Cause I was there saying

And these promises broken
Deep below
Each word gets lost in the echo
So one last lie
I can see through
This time I finally let you go
Go, go

No, you can tell 'em all now
I don't back up, I don't back down
I don't fold up and I don't bow
I don't roll over, don't know how
I don't care where the enemies are
Can't be stopped
All I know go hard
Won't forget how I got this far
But every time saying

And these promises broken
Deep below
Each word gets lost in the echo
So one last lie
I can see through
This time I finally let you go
Go, go



@theharshtruthoutthere

Quran readers, believers still in hell after time on earth. Heaven is for the Christians who do the WILL OF GOD:
- KEEP
- PREACH
- WATCH,
- EXPOSE
Matthew 7:21
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

muslims are out from heaven, they are in hell,
new agers out from heaven, in hell,
ignorants out from heaven, in hell
indus, out from heaven, in hell,
atheists, out from heaven, in hell,
lukewarm Christians, out from heaven, in hell.

Bible clears out who go into heaven, FEW.
So, why keep following many, if only few shall go into heaven?

Matthew 7:13
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Matthew 7:14
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.


Psalms 27:11
Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.


Proverbs 1:15
My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:
Proverbs 4:14
Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.



@itsma3l501

[Shinoda:]
(yeah) (yo)
You were that foundation
Never gonna be another one, no.
I followed, so taken
so conditioned I could never let go
Then sorrow, then sickness
then the shock when you flip it on me
So hollow, so vicious
so afraid I couldnt let myself see
That I could never be held
Back up, no, Ill hold myself.
Check the rep, yep you know my rail
Forget the rest let them know my hell
Damn, Im back yep, my stories sell,
Kept respect up the vets stay their,
Let the rest be to tell they tale
That I was there saying…

[Chorus]
[Chester:]
And these promises broken
deep, below
Each word gets lost in the echo
So one last lie I can see through
This time I finally let you
Go, go, go.

[Shinoda:]
Test my will, test my heart
Let me tell you how the odds gonna stack up
Yall go hard, I go smart
Hows it working out for yall in the back, huh?
Ive seen that frustration
big cross, their lost but dont know
And Ive come back unshaken
Let down, Ive lived and let go
So you can let it be known
I dont hold back, I hold my own
I cant be mad, I cant be calm
I cant sing flat, it aint my tone
I cant fall back, I came too far
Hold myself up and love my scars
Let the bells ring wherever they are
Cause I was there saying...

[Chorus]
[Chester:]
And these promises broken
deep,below
Each word gets lost in the echo
So one last lie I can see through
This time I finally let you go!!!
Go, go, go.

[Shinoda:]
No, you can tell em all now
I dont back up, I dont back down
I dont fold up, and I dont bow
I dont roll over, dont know how
I dont care where the enemies are
Cant be stopped, all I know: Go Hard!
Wont forget how I got this far
And every time, saying…

[Chorus]
[Chester:]
And these promises broken
deep,below
Each word gets lost in the echo
So one last lie I can see through
This time I finally let you
Go, go, go. (Go, go, go)



@arrax8241

Lost In The Echo - Linkin Park Lyrics

You were that foundation
Never gonna be another one, no
I followed, so taken
So conditioned I could never let go
Then sorrow, then sickness
Then the shock when you flip it on me
So hollow, so vicious
So afraid I couldn't let myself see
That I could never be held
Back up, no, I'll hold myself
Check the rep, yep you know my rail
Forget the rest let them know my hell
Damn, I'm back yep, my soul ain't sell,
Kept respect up the vets stay their,
Let the rest be to tell they tale
That I was there saying

And these promises broken
Deep, feeble
Each word gets lost in the echo
So one last lie I can see through
This time I finally let you
Go, go, go

Test my will, test my heart
Let me tell you how the odds gonna stack up
Y'all go hard, I go smart
How's it working out for y'all in the back, huh?
I've seen that frustration
Big cross, they're lost but don't know
And I've come back unshaken
Let down, I've lived and let go
So you can let it be known
I don't hold back, I hold my own
I can't be mad, I can't be calm
I can't sing flat, it ain't my tone
I can't fall back, I came too far
Hold myself up and love my scars
Let the bells ring wherever they are
'Cause I was there saying

And these promises broken
Deep, feeble
Each word gets lost in the echo
So one last lie I can see through
This time I finally let you
Go, go, go

No, you can tell 'em all now
I don't back up, I don't back down
I don't fold up, and I don't bow
I don't roll over, don't know how
I don't care where the enemies are
Can't be stopped, all I know go hard!
Won't forget how I got this far
And every time, saying

And these promises broken
Deep, feeble
Each word gets lost in the echo
So one last lie I can see through
This time I finally let you
Go, go, go



All comments from YouTube:

@aprilpugh8035

WHO'S STILL HERE IN 2024??

@ervinm.5065

I don't know, It suddenly popped in my mind after years and I decided to listen to it

@DarkeMinos-vw1ts

Me

@anisarik4587

I didn't even leave....

@appadhoodylan3777

Here mate😊❤

@suvituulikkivahanen2600

Here forever❤

12 More Replies...

@aakashsharma3557

he saved most of us from depression but couldn't save himself 😢😢

@Addicted2wowlulz

Aakash Sharma very sad news... truly

@aldopolo6272

fuck, it's true... shit... that's very hard

@patrickrnorthforest2184

Aakash Sharma your comment is so true 😥

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