By Myself

Album: Hybrid Theory (2000)
Play Video
  • What do I do to ignore them behind me?
    Do I follow my instincts blindly?
    Do I hide my pride from these bad dreams
    And give into sad thoughts that are maddening?

    Do I sit here and try to stand it?
    Or do I try to catch them red-handed?
    Do I trust some and get fooled by phoniness
    Or do I trust nobody and live in loneliness?

    Because I can't hold on when I'm stretched so thin
    I make the right moves but I'm lost within
    I put on my daily façade but then
    I just end up getting hurt again

    By myself (myself)
    I ask why, but in my mind find
    I can't rely on myself (myself)
    I ask why, but in my mind I find
    I can't rely on myself

    I can't hold on
    To what I want when I'm stretched so thin
    It's all too much to take in
    I can't hold on
    To anything, watching everything spin
    With thoughts of failure sinking in

    If I turn my back I'm defenseless
    And to go blindly seems senseless
    If I hide my pride and let it all go on
    Then they'll take from me 'til everything is gone

    If I let them go I'll be outdone
    But if I try to catch them I'll be outrun
    If I'm killed by the questions like a cancer
    Then I'll be buried in the silence of the answer

    By myself (myself)
    I ask why, but in my mind find
    I can't rely on myself (myself)
    I ask why, but in my mind I find
    I can't rely on myself

    I can't hold on
    To what I want when I'm stretched so thin
    It's all too much to take in
    I can't hold on
    To anything, watching everything spin
    With thoughts of failure sinking in

    How do you think
    I've lost so much?
    I'm so afraid
    I'm out of touch
    How do you expect
    I will know what to do
    When all I know
    Is what you tell me to

    Don't you (know?)
    I can't tell you how to make it (go)
    No matter what I do, how hard I (try)
    I can't seem to convince myself (why)
    I'm stuck on the outside

    Don't you (know?)
    I can't tell you how to make it (go)
    No matter what I do, how hard I (try)
    I can't seem to convince myself (why)
    I'm stuck on the outside

    I can't hold on
    To what I want when I'm stretched so thin
    It's all too much to take in
    I can't hold on
    To anything, watching everything spin
    With thoughts of failure sinking in

    I can't hold on
    To what I want when I'm stretched so thin
    It's all too much to take in
    I can't hold on
    To anything, watching everything spin
    With thoughts of failure sinking in Writer/s: Brad Delson, Chester Charles Bennington, Joseph Hahn, Mike Shinoda, Robert G. Bourdon
    Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 5

  • Farrah from YesI love when chester (rip) goes "MYSELLLLLLF" it makes me really happy and I like blasting that on full volume into my skull :D
  • Jenessa from Granbury, TxThis song is about the damage that things like anxiety, suicidal thoughts, depression, loneliness, abuse, and low self esteem does to one. RIP CHESTER! Thank you for singing about this kind of stuff and reminding those going through it that they're not alone, very great song though, one of the best from Hybrid Theory album in my opinion
  • River from Gloucester, VaThese lyrics are the remix on Reanimation, not the original, what's up with that?
  • Zero from Nowhere, NjThe lyrics to the chorus are all wrong; they should be:

    I can't hold on (to what I want when I'm stretched so thin)
    It's all too much to take in
    I can't hold on (to anything watching everything spin)
    with thoughts of failure sinking in.

    and the beginning of the bridge:

    How can I escape? I've lost so much.
    I'm so afraid. I'm out of touch.
    How do you expect I will know what to do
    when all I know is what you tell me to?
  • Effy E. Goodwin from Cov, United KingdomThis song can easily be related to by those who feel very lonely ande have experienced bullying, social isolation or abuse and cover it up, but go home to hurt themselves in some form or another.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")Song Writing

Director Mark Pellington on Pearl Jam's "Jeremy," and music videos he made for U2, Jon Bon Jovi and Imagine Dragons.

Why Does Everybody Hate Nu-Metal? Your Metal Questions Answered

Why Does Everybody Hate Nu-Metal? Your Metal Questions AnsweredSong Writing

10 Questions for the author of Precious Metal: Decibel Presents the Stories Behind 25 Extreme Metal Masterpieces

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & PalmerSongwriter Interviews

Greg talks about writing songs of "universal truth" for King Crimson and ELP, and tells us about his most memorable stage moment (it involves fireworks).

Paul Williams

Paul WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

He's a singer and an actor, but as a songwriter Paul helped make Kermit a cultured frog, turned a bank commercial into a huge hit and made love both "exciting and new" and "soft as an easy chair."

Harry Wayne Casey of KC and The Sunshine Band

Harry Wayne Casey of KC and The Sunshine BandSongwriter Interviews

Harry Wayne Casey tells the stories behind KC and The Sunshine Band hits like "Get Down Tonight," "That's The Way (I Like It)," and "Give It Up."

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And Hell

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And HellSongwriter Interviews

Guitarist Tony Iommi on the "Iron Man" riff, the definitive Black Sabbath song, and how Ozzy and Dio compared as songwriters.