Politics, environment, God, Sin, repentance, redemption? I say, all of the above. I think that's the beauty of the song. Some have already said that the interpretation is in the eye of the beholder, but I go a little bit further and think two things: (1) interpretation is based on your world-view, and (2) LP is writing with that intent.
What's the song's problem or tension? Guilt over past actions. I'm a Christian, so I am naturally going to interpret this, very easily, as a song about sin, God's forgiveness, and the need to move beyond the guilt. This is not to say that LP is in any way religious, however they have chosen certain phrases ("So let mercy come and wash away..." for example) that they must know will appeal to a religious listener, particularly one that is Christian. If this song was performed by a band in the Christian fringe line Underoath, Head (Brian Welch), or even Lifehouse, how would it be interpreted? It would get heavy play on Christian radio and in Christian Youth Groups.
What's your world-view? Are you a secular-humanist? An environmentalist? Supporter of animal rights? The good thing about the song is that there is a positive message in there for you, too.
And in the end, if you begin to ponder the idea of God and His Grace and Mercy, that's great, too. Have an open mind and heart.
@jayintheuk
I agree with your interpretation of the song. I am not a religious person at all. To me, it meant something a little different. I trouble handling the stress of being a whistle blower, trying for my PhD and all of these things. I was drinking excessively and at times completely out of control. She put up with it until the day she discovered that I had cheated on her and we broke up.
@jayintheuk
I agree with your interpretation of the song. I am not a religious person at all. To me, it meant something a little different. I trouble handling the stress of being a whistle blower, trying for my PhD and all of these things. I was drinking excessively and at times completely out of control. She put up with it until the day she discovered that I had cheated on her and we broke up.
After months had passed, I recently sent this song to my ex-gf (before ever watching the music video). I have been trying to "win her back" since. For me it meant, that everything we think we know about "therapy" is incorrect. Think of AA or NA, "Hi my name is X and I'm an alcoholic". I believe that VERY LINE is the reason programs like AA only have a 3% success rate. Every-time, you say "I am" anything, your brain strengthens those neural connections. Effectively, you become what you believe. Your entire life is based on beliefs, the beliefs that if you sit in a chair you wont fall through it, or hit a wall it will stop you. However, there is nothing innate about these properties. Humans (homo-sapiens) have an incredibly developed per-frontal cortex and I believe that by focusing the energy of this, you can re-wire your brain, your neural connections, almost instantly. I practice meditation for hours, take Omega 3, 6, 8 etc. and then go to sleep. I wake up the next day feeling different.
As Charlie Sheen said once in an interview I had a problem but I don't anymore. I rewired my brain in a nano-second and it was a gone. Of course nobody believed him and thought he was crazy. But I believe that is the moment in my life when I realized that he wasn't crazy, he was right. We all have the power to rewire our brains if we only try.
Instead of saying "I am", or "I have" this to anything negative. You should instead replace this with, "I don't have a problem with X", or "I am not X". Also, use "passed tense" when referring to a problem. "I had a problem with X" etc.
Back to the song:
I believe the Linkin Park discovered the same thing. Listen to the lyrics:
"I'll face myself
To cross out what I’ve become
Erase myself
And let go of what I’ve done"
It seems so simple, "Erase myself", "cross out what I've done". Because it IS that simple.
"Put to rest
What you thought of me
While I clean this slate
With the hands of uncertainty"
He's changed, put to rest what you thought of me. He's cleaning his slate, but he's lost (likely experiencing "lost dreams", as I do all the time). Because he is uncertain of his destination yet he still believes he can clean the slate.
Anyways, maybe this will add something to the way you perceive the world.
@jayintheuk I felt from the minute I heard this song, you could almost say it was a song of repentance. However, having heard the sad news today about the lead singer, I am drawn to the lyric where he talks about erasing himself and although he may have only meant erase what he has become and start again, at this moment in time some may say it was a self prophecy of today. I am so sad, at the loss of this singers life.
@jayintheuk I felt from the minute I heard this song, you could almost say it was a song of repentance. However, having heard the sad news today about the lead singer, I am drawn to the lyric where he talks about erasing himself and although he may have only meant erase what he has become and start again, at this moment in time some may say it was a self prophecy of today. I am so sad, at the loss of this singers life.
Politics, environment, God, Sin, repentance, redemption? I say, all of the above. I think that's the beauty of the song. Some have already said that the interpretation is in the eye of the beholder, but I go a little bit further and think two things: (1) interpretation is based on your world-view, and (2) LP is writing with that intent.
What's the song's problem or tension? Guilt over past actions. I'm a Christian, so I am naturally going to interpret this, very easily, as a song about sin, God's forgiveness, and the need to move beyond the guilt. This is not to say that LP is in any way religious, however they have chosen certain phrases ("So let mercy come and wash away..." for example) that they must know will appeal to a religious listener, particularly one that is Christian. If this song was performed by a band in the Christian fringe line Underoath, Head (Brian Welch), or even Lifehouse, how would it be interpreted? It would get heavy play on Christian radio and in Christian Youth Groups.
What's your world-view? Are you a secular-humanist? An environmentalist? Supporter of animal rights? The good thing about the song is that there is a positive message in there for you, too.
And in the end, if you begin to ponder the idea of God and His Grace and Mercy, that's great, too. Have an open mind and heart.
@jayintheuk I agree with your interpretation of the song. I am not a religious person at all. To me, it meant something a little different. I trouble handling the stress of being a whistle blower, trying for my PhD and all of these things. I was drinking excessively and at times completely out of control. She put up with it until the day she discovered that I had cheated on her and we broke up.
@jayintheuk I agree with your interpretation of the song. I am not a religious person at all. To me, it meant something a little different. I trouble handling the stress of being a whistle blower, trying for my PhD and all of these things. I was drinking excessively and at times completely out of control. She put up with it until the day she discovered that I had cheated on her and we broke up.
After months had passed, I recently sent this song to my ex-gf (before ever watching the music video). I have been trying to "win her back" since. For me it meant, that everything we think we know about "therapy" is incorrect. Think of AA or NA, "Hi my name is X and I'm an alcoholic". I believe that VERY LINE is the reason programs like AA only have a 3% success rate. Every-time, you say "I am" anything, your brain strengthens those neural connections. Effectively, you become what you believe. Your entire life is based on beliefs, the beliefs that if you sit in a chair you wont fall through it, or hit a wall it will stop you. However, there is nothing innate about these properties. Humans (homo-sapiens) have an incredibly developed per-frontal cortex and I believe that by focusing the energy of this, you can re-wire your brain, your neural connections, almost instantly. I practice meditation for hours, take Omega 3, 6, 8 etc. and then go to sleep. I wake up the next day feeling different.
As Charlie Sheen said once in an interview I had a problem but I don't anymore. I rewired my brain in a nano-second and it was a gone. Of course nobody believed him and thought he was crazy. But I believe that is the moment in my life when I realized that he wasn't crazy, he was right. We all have the power to rewire our brains if we only try.
Instead of saying "I am", or "I have" this to anything negative. You should instead replace this with, "I don't have a problem with X", or "I am not X". Also, use "passed tense" when referring to a problem. "I had a problem with X" etc.
Back to the song: I believe the Linkin Park discovered the same thing. Listen to the lyrics:
"I'll face myself To cross out what I’ve become Erase myself And let go of what I’ve done"
It seems so simple, "Erase myself", "cross out what I've done". Because it IS that simple.
"Put to rest What you thought of me While I clean this slate With the hands of uncertainty"
He's changed, put to rest what you thought of me. He's cleaning his slate, but he's lost (likely experiencing "lost dreams", as I do all the time). Because he is uncertain of his destination yet he still believes he can clean the slate.
Anyways, maybe this will add something to the way you perceive the world.
@jayintheuk I felt from the minute I heard this song, you could almost say it was a song of repentance. However, having heard the sad news today about the lead singer, I am drawn to the lyric where he talks about erasing himself and although he may have only meant erase what he has become and start again, at this moment in time some may say it was a self prophecy of today. I am so sad, at the loss of this singers life.
@jayintheuk I felt from the minute I heard this song, you could almost say it was a song of repentance. However, having heard the sad news today about the lead singer, I am drawn to the lyric where he talks about erasing himself and although he may have only meant erase what he has become and start again, at this moment in time some may say it was a self prophecy of today. I am so sad, at the loss of this singers life.