In The End

Song Meaning of In The End by Linkin Park, and what it is about

The challenges that lead singer Chester Bennington experienced as a child are reflected in the lyrics. He was bullied a lot.

Lead singer Chester Bennington of the band initially didn't like the song and didn't want it to be on Hybrid Theory. The band's initial name was "Hybrid Theory." They made the choice to make it the album's title.

Bennington, in contrast to the rest of the band, didn't like the song at first and didn't want it to be a single, let alone be included on the album. He realised he wasn't good at picking singles when it turned out to be a hit.

"I basically decided at that point I don't know what the f--k I'm talking about, so I leave that to other people who are actually talented at somehow picking songs that people are going to like the most," he explained in a 2014 interview. "It also gave me a good lesson, as an artist, that I don't necessarily have to only make music, in my band, that I want to listen to. More often than not, something that I like, very few other people like, and something that those people like is something that I kind of like, or don't like at all. And that's cool, it gives me a new appreciation for the songs. But, you know, now I love 'In The End' and I think it's such a great song."

The song peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 and in the top ten of many international music charts.

In The End lyrics by Linkin Park

[Chester Bennington:]

It starts with one

[Mike Shinoda:]

One thing I don't know why

It doesn't even matter how hard you try

Keep that in mind, I designed this rhyme

To explain in due time

[Chester Bennington:]

All I know

[Mike Shinoda:]

Time is a valuable thing

Watch it fly by as the pendulum swings

Watch it count down to the end of the day

The clock ticks life away

[Chester Bennington:]

It's so unreal

[Mike Shinoda:]

It's so unreal, didn't look out below

Watch the time go right out the window

Trying to hold on, but didn't even know

I wasted it all just to watch you go

[Chester Bennington:]

Watch you go

[Mike Shinoda:]

I kept everything inside and even though I tried, it all fell apart

What it meant to me will eventually be a memory of a time when I tried so hard

[Chester Bennington:]

I tried so hard

And got so far

But in the end

It doesn't even matter

I had to fall

To lose it all

But in the end

It doesn't even matter

[Mike Shinoda:]

One thing, I don't know why

It doesn't even matter how hard you try

Keep that in mind, I designed this rhyme

To remind myself how I tried so hard

[Chester Bennington:]

I tried so hard

[Mike Shinoda:]

In spite of the way you were mocking me

Acting like I was part of your property

Remembering all the times you fought with me

I'm surprised it got so far

[Chester Bennington:]

Got so far

[Mike Shinoda:]

Things aren't the way they were before

You wouldn't even recognize me anymore

Not that you knew me back then

But it all comes back to me in the end

[Chester Bennington:]

In the end

[Mike Shinoda:]

You kept everything inside and even though I tried, it all fell apart

What it meant to me will eventually be a memory of a time when I tried so hard

[Chester Bennington:]

I tried so hard

And got so far

But in the end

It doesn't even matter

I had to fall

To lose it all

But in the end

It doesn't even matter

I've put my trust in you

Pushed as far as I can go

For all this

There's only one thing you should know

I've put my trust in you

Pushed as far as I can go

For all this

There's only one thing you should know

I tried so hard

And got so far

But in the end

It doesn't even matter

I had to fall

To lose it all

But in the end

It doesn't even matter