When you were standing in the wake of devastation
When you were waiting on the edge of the unknown
And with the cataclysm raining down, insides crying save me now
You were there impossibly alone.

Do you feel cold and lost in desperation
You build up hope but failure's all you've known
Remember all the sadness and frustration
And let it go, let it go.

And in the burst of light that blinded every angel
As if the sky had blown the heavens into stars
You felt the gravity of temper grace falling into empty space
No one there to catch you in their arms

Do you feel cold and lost in desperation
You build up hope but failure's all you've known
Remember all the sadness and frustration
And let it go, let it go.

Do you feel cold and lost in desperation
You build up hope but failure's all you've known
Remember all the sadness and frustration
And let it go,

Let it go
Let it go
Let it go
Let it go

Do you feel cold and lost in desperation
You build up hope but failure's all you've known
Remember all the sadness and frustration
And let it go, let it go.



Lyrics submitted by MusicFREAK20

Track duration: 04:57

"Iridescent" as written by Chester Charles Bennington, Robert G. Bourdon, Brad Delson, Mike Shinoda, Dave Farrell, Joseph Hahn

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Iridescent song meanings
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23 Comments

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  • 0
    My Interpretation:It's obviously about moving on from something, but parts of the first verse (wake of devastation, impossibly alone, etc.) makes me think about someone who lost their family in a tragic disaster.
    Flag FruitCakeson May 21, 2013   Link
  • +1
    Song Meaning:It's about letting go and moving on. It's pretty straight forward if you ask me.
    Flag pmahoneson January 10, 2013   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation:I'm going to write this as if I was explaining it about me or about you.

    I(You) wish or hope for something in life(hoping or planning) for a certain thing to happen in my(your) future. Sort of like achieving a destiny. I(You) plan for this destiny of mine(yours) and I(you) hope or wish for, I(you) fail at it and then I(you) just turn to my(your) sorrowness or mistakes for help. This song is trying to make me(you) remember the mistakes I(you) made, but to let go of it, move on from it and learn from it.

    Bottom line: Don't let the negative things in life bring me(you) down, let go of it. I(you) will just keep hurting myself(yourself) over and over again, sort of like holding onto pain. Let the pain go away and move onto whats pleasing.
    Flag gurton November 01, 2012   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:A Thousand Suns defines what this song is about. You idiots just gotta read something every once in a while.
    Flag Natlaofatlantison September 17, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:My interpretation of this song regarding people who were abused as children and are finally trying to get past it.
    "You were standing in the wake of devastation
    You were waiting on the edge of the unknown
    With the cataclysm raining down
    Inside's crying save me now
    You were there impossibly alone"

    -I believe this verse is regarding how the person went through the abuse begging for someone to save them and yet they continued to go through the cycle of abuse.

    "And in a burst of light that blinded every angel
    As if the sky had blown the heavens into stone
    You felt the gravity of tempered grace
    Falling into empty space
    No one there to catch you in their arms"

    - I believe that this verse describes how it's hard to keep faith in religion when you're going through something so traumatic. And again how no one is there to save you.

    "Do you feel cold and lost in desperation
    You build up hope but failure's all you've known
    Remember all the sadness and frustration
    And let it go
    Let it go"

    - I believe that this verse discusses how one must forget the past and look towards the future.

    It's a great song and this is just my interpretation, I'm sure there are many more.
    Flag penguin461on April 03, 2012   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:What's so great about this album is that a lot of the songs can be interpreted so many ways. I think the aforementioned war/nuclear war theme is definitely a part of it, but for this song specifically, try considering it as a metaphor of a rough time in a relationship. With that in mind, here's my metaphorical interpretation of the song:

    "You were standing in the wake of devastation
    You were waiting on the edge of the unknown
    With the cataclysm raining down
    Inside's crying save me now
    You were there impossibly alone"

    ---These lines are unquestionably feelings of unequal emptiness experienced after a rough or possibly abrupt breakup, or even the death of a loved one.


    "And in a burst of light that blinded every angel
    As if the sky had blown the heavens into stone
    You felt the gravity of tempered grace
    Falling into empty space
    No one there to catch you in their arms"

    ---This verse is him rethinking what happened, maybe there was a specific event that was so significant that it ended the relationship. Its impact (so great that it "blinded every angel" and "had blown the heavens into stone") is that the relationship came to an unexpected end because this event happened. And once it happened, the significant other was suddenly gone for whatever reason, and was no longer there to support him (as in the line "no one there to catch you in their arms")


    "And finally the chorus:
    Do you feel cold and lost in desperation
    You build up hope but failure's all you've known
    Remember all the sadness and frustration
    And let it go
    Let it go"

    ---It's like someone trying to push them to overcome the seemingly impossible difficulties of their life right now to move on. When I listen to this, I think of this as some sort of inner passion or strength that won't let the person succumb to the depression, possibly a guardian angel that will look after him even when he is completely alone.


    This is a truly beautiful song and the lyrics are truly powerful. Behind 'Waiting for the End', this is my 2nd favorite song from 1000 Suns.
    Flag seve43on September 02, 2011   Link
  • +2
    My Interpretation:
    I've got it!

    I've been studying the holy hindu text, 'The Bhagavad Gita'. This song is about the Bhagavad Gita!
    The words 'In a burst of light that blinded all angels, as if the sky had blown the heavens into stars' is actually in the translation I own. And Mike Shinoda himself said in an interview that some elements of 'A Thousand Suns' are based on the Bhagavad Gita.
    Flagged soloman56on July 13, 2011   Link
  • -5
    General Comment:This is one more attempt from far away powers to suggest/brainwash people to let go of their current religion. Very men or women realize what's been going on in the music industry this past 60 years.. it's a shame.

    If not simply ask yourselves why is there a freaking snake on top of one of the musicians and at the same time they imitate Christ's last supper, and at the same freaking time they repeat: LET IT GO..

    Nuclear war? Jesus.. you have to be fucking blind..
    Flagged marcelotinellion June 29, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:It's weird, I think the song has a much more ubiquitous meaning than just nuclear war. It could certainly be interpreted as someone witnessing a nuclear explosion, or even just a missile strike or bombing run or something. But I feel like it could describe many other situations, especially with the "remember all the sadness and frustration/and let it go" in the chorus.

    I think that still keeping in line with the rest of the album, it could simply be about letting go of some pressure, kind of like Robot Boy in the album, and it could be taken as breaking away from pressures put on society. When I listen to this song, I think about a period of calm in the storm:

    "And in a burst of light that blinded every angel
    As if the sky had blown the heavens into stone
    You felt the gravity of tempered grace
    Falling into empty space"

    I think especially about the myriad of issues that we face today; while some people may panic, and others may just not care. But whoever may be described in the song looks through the issue and becomes enlightened, acting past the worry and sadness, and feeling pure and free.

    Or at least that's what I think of.
    Flag Secondnpieon March 22, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Aw, I thought I was unique, 'cause it about made me cry too. At least the opening did. personally, I like how it sounds in the beginning more than the rest. You know, kinda sad and slow... didn't realize Mike could sing so well, even after hearing In Pieces!

    As far as an interpretation, I see how well the song fits literally, but it seems like there's a more realistic emotional metaphor. Like having experienced personal tragedy, then facing a dilemma of whether or not it's worth going on. But the end of the chorus then feels like the character decides against anything drastic, remembers the sadness and frustration, and lets it go. Or maybe he kills himself, hell, I don't know.

    I kinda thought it was about someone surviving a nuclear explosion but then continuing life as normal, but having an irradiated glow and being "iridescent." Lawl.
    Flag airsoftking13on December 28, 2010   Link

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