According to the One Step Closer Songfacts, the vocals were recorded in Mike Shinoda's flat one night while an angry neighbor hammered on the wall. He couldn't hear the actual music, just Chester Bennington screaming into the microphone.
Until 2007, Linkin Park has closed every concert to date with "One Step Closer", excluding Live 8, their live performance at Summer Sonic.
During the 2001 MTV VMA performance of the song, the band had The X-Ecutioners do an extended break before the bridge. This part was somewhat similar to the atmosphere on the remix, with synth parts and faint vocal parts being scratched.
From 2003 to 2007, performances of the song include a verse originally sung by Jonathan Davis in the Reanimation remix of the song before the "Shut up when I'm talking to you!" bridge. At the end of the verse, Bennington then repeats the line "Blood is pouring" while the song builds up to the bridge.
On occasion, Shinoda sings "Blood is pouring" under Bennington's screaming during this part, as is done by Jonathan Davis on the remix. This is half-done on the performance at 2004's Rock am Ring (in that Shinoda only sings the part during the second half of the bridge) and fully done during a performance during 2003's Projekt Revolution tour, which was recorded and included on the "Faint" single and is available as a bonus track for Reanimation when purchased on iTunes. On the single cover, it is called '"One Step Closer" (Reanimated Live)'. During the 2006 live performances in Japan, the Reanimation bridge was played with the main riff of the song.
During the band's 2007 tour, "One Step Closer" became the opening song of Linkin Park's performances, and the Reanimation verse was removed. It also featured a new, extended intro featuring Mike Shinoda on rhythm guitar.
In 2008 it became a new extended outro, and sometimes it was performed as the last song.
One Step Closer
Linkin Park Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm saying everything I've said before
All these words they make no sense
I find bliss in ignorance
Less I hear the less you'll say
But you'll find that out anyway
Just like before
Everything you say to me
Takes me one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to break
I need a little room to breathe
'Cause I'm one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to break
I find the answers aren't so clear
Wish I could find a way to disappear
All these thoughts they make no sense
I find bliss in ignorance
Nothing seems to go away
Over and over again
Just like before
Everything you say to me
Takes me one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to break
I need a little room to breathe
'Cause I'm one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to break
Everything you say to me
Takes me one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to break
I need a little room to breathe
'Cause I'm one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to, break
Shut up when I'm talking to you
Shut up, shut up, shut up
Shut up when I'm talking to you
Shut up, shut up, shut up
Shut up, I'm about to break
Everything you say to me
Takes me one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to break
I need a little room to breathe
'Cause I'm one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to break
Everything you say to me
Takes me one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to break
I need a little room to breathe
'Cause I'm one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to, break
Linkin Park's "One Step Closer" depicts a situation where the artist is feeling overwhelmed by negative thoughts, as the lyrics suggest. The artist is expressing their frustration with someone who seems to be not listening and causing them to feel like they're going to snap. The opening line of the song "I cannot take this anymore" sets the stage for the desperate emotions that follow. The artist then goes on to describe how they are repeating themselves, and how it isn't resulting in any change in the situation. They find comfort in ignoring the issue but the problem persists.
The main chorus of the song, "Everything you say to me takes me one step closer to the edge and I'm about to break," reflects on this frustration, and the idea of the straw that broke the camel's back is evident in the way that the artist cannot cope anymore. They need space to escape this pressure, and the idea of breaking is emphasized by the repetition of the chorus.
The refrain "Shut up when I'm talking to you" can be interpreted as a metaphor for the artist's internal struggle that they don't want others to interfere with. Alternatively, it could portray a situation where someone is not listening and keeps talking, causing the artist to lose their composure.
Overall, this song addresses the struggle of not wanting to acknowledge your emotions and instead choosing to bury them. The longer we keep our issues bottled up, the closer we will get to our breaking point.
Line by Line Meaning
I cannot take this anymore
I am no longer able to endure this situation
I'm saying everything I've said before
I am repeating myself
All these words they make no sense
My words are meaningless
I find bliss in ignorance
I prefer not to know certain information
Less I hear the less you'll say
I expect you to speak less when I am speaking less
But you'll find that out anyway
You will realize this even without me telling you
Just like before
This situation has happened previously
Everything you say to me
Your words affect me emotionally
Takes me one step closer to the edge
Your words bring me closer to the breaking point
And I'm about to break
I am reaching my emotional limit
I need a little room to breathe
I need space to calm down
'Cause I'm one step closer to the edge
I am very close to reaching my limit
I find the answers aren't so clear
I am uncertain about what to do
Wish I could find a way to disappear
I wish to escape the situation
Nothing seems to go away
The problems persist
Over and over again
This is happening repetitively
Shut up when I'm talking to you
Stop interrupting me
Shut up, shut up, shut up
I am getting increasingly annoyed
Shut up, I'm about to break
Your constant talking will push me over the edge
Everything you say to me
Your words carry weight
And I'm about to, break
I am on the verge of an emotional breakdown
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Brad Delson, Chester Charles Bennington, Joseph Hahn, Mike Shinoda, Robert G. Bourdon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@robsonfaria7753
Lyrics
I cannot take this anymore
Saying everything I've said before
All these words, they make no sense
I find bliss in ignorance
Less I hear, the less you say
You'll find that out anyway
Just like before
Everything you say to me
(Takes me one step closer to the edge)
(And I'm about to break)
I need a little room to breathe
('Cause I'm one step closer to the edge)
(I'm about to break)
I find the answers aren't so clear
Wish I could find a way to disappear
All these thoughts they make no sense
I find bliss in ignorance
Nothing seems to go away
Over and over again
Just like before
Everything you say to me
(Takes me one step closer to the edge)
(And I'm about to break)
I need a little room to breathe
('Cause I'm one step closer to the edge)
(I'm about to break)
Everything you say to me
(Takes me one step closer to the edge)
(And I'm about to break)
I need a little room to breathe
('Cause I'm one step closer to the edge)
(And I'm about to-)
Break, break, break...
Shut up when I'm talking to you
Shut up, shut up, shut up
Shut up when I'm talking to you
Shut up, shut up, shut up
Shut up
I'm about to break
Everything you say to me
(Takes me one step closer to the edge)
(And I'm about to break)
I need a little room to breathe
('Cause I'm one step closer to the edge)
(I'm about to break)
Everything you say to me
(Takes me one step closer to the edge)
(And I'm about to break)
I need a little room to breathe
('Cause I'm one step closer to the edge)
(And I'm about to)
Break
@flowwcrew
He screams like a demon
He sings like a angel
He lived like a man
He died like a legend
R.I.P. Chester Bennington
@s0meRand0m129
i dont think death by suicide is count as legend
@Anders708
Legends never die.
@s0meRand0m129
@@Anders708 but chester died
@Anders708
@@s0meRand0m129 He still lives in all our hearts.
@maximlik1451
Chester he was killed, wifes lover.
@Johnny_Savage
The aesthetic of 1999-2003 was so strong and peculiar. Linkin Park, Korn, Fight Club, The Matrix. Those years looked and felt like a truly unique moment in time.
@Sithlord224
This song or one of LP's songs should've been in The Matrix, just sayin 🤷🏻♂️
@friscojones4330
Can we go back..... I miss those times.... my kids don't understand lol
@coleaddison7393
I was born in 1999 but i remember growin listening to LP, KoRn, SOAD, Disturbed, etc and honestly, i miss all of it.