Numb

this song is about someone boy or girl having someone tell them what to do can be a boyfriend girlfriend sibling uncle aunt but is most likely a kid talking to their parent(s). they are so used to it that they are now just functioning on auto-pilot because they are numb. the person expects them to be perfect and live up to their expectation. follow in their footsteps. this most likely being directed to a parent. they have become numb because it is so much more worse than abuse.they are saying that i know that you are doing this because someone did this to you and you let them down now you want me to be perfect for you.

Father and son...Dad tries to make son like him and tries to control him... Sad that so many Fathers do it now...

LOL well, chupmunk777 this is another song i agree with you on. This song is about how people want you to be like them or someone like them but you notice that you cant and you want to be your own person. You get to upset that you cant even take the pressure. That you blow up on them and forget that there a person or your loved one that only wants the best and doesnt want you to go through the same stuff they when through "But I know I may end up failing too".

To me this song is having to live up to the expectations of the people you go to school with, I had no friends and everyone expected me to be just like them, or at least I felt like I had to. Makes you nuts after awhile.

A familiar Linkin Park theme, insecurity and breaking collapsing under too much pressure. Numb voices what someone would say to a person that constantly puts pressure on that person with endless expectations. This song voices the will to independent and live for oneself instead of always having to be worried about disappointing someone.

'I'm tired of being what you want me to be'

It reminds me of how I've been living my whole life. Trying so hard to please someone with everything you do... The lyrics go on, explaining that the person is tired of being told what they were supposed to be. After a while the person finally figures out they need to be who they want to be. They're tired of living up to expectations.

It literally makes you so numb, trying to make others happy while you live a miserable life. You need to be who you want to be, not what others expect of you.

I absolutely love this song. i had heard this thousands of times before but it wasn't until recently that i listened to it and the meaning hit me dead on. basically, it's about a kid whose parents seem to be expecting too much out of him. they want him to grow up as good as they were if not, better. when it says "caught in the undertow" that means that the kid doesn't want "the pressure of walking in your shoes", but he doesn't know how to tell them in fear of disappointing them. i understand that completely. my mom was a solid A student and has been through college twice. my dad was valedictorian in his high school. they want me to be just like they are, organized, straight A's, no late work. but it's too much pressure. and when i tell them they seem disappointed and threaten to take things away.

when it says "I can't feel you there" it means that the kid feels as though the parents aren't as the kid remembers them. they used to be so positive and supportive and now they just want things done the way they want them done. they want to take control and relive their high school or college life through their kids. so they think they can control all of their kids decisions. the kid is feeling like he doesn't know them anymore.

when it says "Every step that I take is another mistake to you" it means the kid feels like every thing he does seems like another mistake or problem that the parents disapprove of. this song applies to my life in many ways but this one is the one that sticks in my brain the most. and i'm sure that there are millions out there that feel this same way. and if you're a parent, look at this song and ask yourself, "could my child even possibly feel this way?'.and keep this song in mind next time you contradict your child.

get over it, nicklav. obviously, this song means a lot to people, and they can really relate to it. so what if you dont understand the feelings behind this song? looks like youre one of the lucky people who have never had your parents or whomever tell you who to be. dont call someone's life mindless crap.

this song like totally explains my life and linkin park is so fuckin awesome

-drumsrock101 i totally agree with you. it's like you want to see your parents proud and happy..but at the same time you want to please yourself and do what you want. it may be wrong or right but we'll learn. we need to make mistakes for ourselves to somewhat get life.