What does that song mean?

30 Seconds To Mars: The Kill Meaning


The Kill Lyrics

What if I wanted to break
Laugh it all off in your face
What would you do? (Oh, oh)
What if I fell to the floor
Couldn't take this anymore
What would you do, do, do?

Come break me down
Marry me, bury me
I am finished with you

What if...

  1. 1TOP RATED

    anonymous
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    Sep 29th 2006, 07:36 report


    Leto actually said this song is about your relationship with yourself, and how different sides of you can compete to make you who you really are. And eventually one side will win, and make you who you are.



  2. 2TOP RATED

    anonymous
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    May 13th 2007, 00:29 report


    One, it's not COPYING The Shining..... If you knew anything about 30stm, you would know that the video concept for 'The Kill" is an homage to The Shining. And if you don't know what an homage is then go look it up in the dictionary >.>

    ~~~What if I wanted to break
    Laugh it all off in your face
    What would you do? (Oh, oh)
    What if I fell to the floor
    Couldn't take all this anymore
    What would you do, do, do?~~~

    He's speaking to himself, to the person he wants to be, asking what would happen if he just gave in and laughed at himself for thinking he couldn't?

    ~~Come break me down
    Bury me, bury me
    I am finished with you~~~

    He's challenging himself to change, for better or worse. Taunting that side of him to break down what is there and make something new.

    ~~~What if I wanted to fight
    Beg for the rest of my life
    What would you do?
    You say you wanted more
    What are you waiting for?
    I'm not running from you (from you)~~~

    Again, he asking himself what it would take to change or what would happen if he gave into his other persona. Part of him wants to be more.... To be better, and part of him is through with running from that desire to be better (or worse)

    ~~~Come break me down
    Bury me, bury me
    I am finished with you
    Look in my eyes
    You're killing me, killing me
    All I wanted was you~~~

    The person he is killing him (possibly physically or mentally) and he's finished with the extra baggage he's been carrying around. He's finished with fighting himself.

    ~~~I tried to be someone else
    But nothing seemed to change
    I know now, this is who I really am inside.
    Finally found myself
    Fighting for a chance.
    I know now, this is who I really am.~~~

    This would be the other persona either finally taking over or giving in to who he really is. He's finally found himself and he's fighting to keep it that way.

    ~Revel



  3. 3TOP RATED

    anonymous
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    Nov 22nd 2006, 13:04 report


    The interpretation I have is that this song is about himself and (no one else) mainly his past , its a plit personality song where one talks to himself , noow clearly this Alubum is about a past being forgotten and with "the kill" in the album you can't fully understand the song unless you hear their whole album its a message their sending of a new start with struggles . The kill is one of the struggles of it with the man vs mind kind of theory . He is clearly singing a song with his concience "what if I wanted to break ..." and all the other verses in this song is his negative concience asking him what if he went a certain road . and the chorus is His response to his conscience . " I tried to be comeone else but nothing seem to change .." that whole part and basically him argueing with his conscience .. More or likely for simlicity think of it sort of as when he screams = Himself When its softly sung = Conscience o.o ... lol this song rocks enjoy it



  4.  

    anonymous
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    Feb 18th, 00:13 report


    My thoughts on the song. First he says, what if i wanted to break,laugh it all off in your face what would you do. What if i fell to the floor,could'nt take this anymore,what would you do,do do. for me its a relationship,what if i want to break it off or break like go insane, which would be the laughing. What if i fell to the floor could'nt take this anymore what wld u do. Would u finally see me and realize im hurting here is what hearing. Next. Come break me down bury me bury me i am finished with you. In otherwords he knows nothing he does will matter so im done he days clearly not meaning it. What if i wanted to fight,beg for the rest of my life what would you do. You say you wanted more what are you waiting for im not running from you. Hes asking if hed gonna hv to fihht and beg forever for any affection,love,to be noticed. And obviously his lover speaks as though they need more,maybe commitment wise who knows and he says, u say u want it but ur the one running. Next. look in my eyes youre killing me,killing me,all i wanted was you. Thats pretty easy to understand. I tried to be someone else but nothing seemed to change i know now this is who i really am inside finally found myself,fighting for a chance i kno now this is who i really am. Being in that relationship he had to play the part of someone he wasnt, walk on nails, do what had to be done to keep her and he says while he was doing that and fighting to be what she wanted he found himself and hes not gonna be or pretend to be anyone else no matter that he loves her. But he still tells her shes killing him and he only wanted her again. I can relate for almost three years i did just that. Even had a baby with the jerk but in the end you jv to b true to urself especially when ur doin all of that for someone who doesnt never did,has,or will see you no lmatter who u r or what u do. Thats just my opinipn. pretekkkkthat he loves her.



  5.  

    30SecondsToMars_ADayToRemeber
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    Jan 10th, 10:09 report


    Okay..
    The Kill(Bury Me) is about fighting with yourself.I am absolutely sure about that.
    Jared Leto said that himself.
    The people who keep saying it's about a girl and/or a relationship-I'm sorry but you're wrong.
    And that's just the truth.
    And this is an absolutely amazing song.
    I know it by heart.
    So please stop saying it's about a girl and/or a relationship.
    Thanks.
    XD



  6.  

    anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Apr 21st 2012, 14:15 report


    I personally think that this is about a guy saying all this to a girl, most clearly seen in a few parts:

    "You say you wanted more
    What are you waiting for?
    I'm not running from you"
    -she wanted more from a guy, and the speaker knows that and is saying like "What the hell? I'm just sitting here, I'm what you want!"

    "Look in my eyes
    You're killing me, killing me
    All I wanted was you"
    -he's telling her that he's hurting on the inside, perhaps after she got with yet another jerk, and he's heartbroken more and more each time.

    Every instance of "What would you do, do, do?"
    -he's asking what she would do, if she would even care at all.

    Anyways, it's my all-time favorite song, and 30STM is awesome.

    -BAQ



  7.  

    anonymous
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    Apr 16th 2012, 18:57 report


    I thoink this song has to do with yourself only. Pretty much, you are fighting with yourself to find out who you really are



  8.  

    anonymous
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    Mar 21st 2012, 09:44 report


    I know that Jared enterprets this song as a relationship with one's own self.

    Here is my attempt for the interpretion of the kill:

    What if I wanted to break
    Laugh it all off in your face
    What would you do?
    What if I fell to the floor
    Couldn't take this anymore
    What would you do, do, do?

    Here I think Jared puts his real self, wanting to rebel and end something inside of him, asking the part of himself about to be ended how it would react.

    Come break me down
    Bury me, bury me
    I am finished with you

    I think this 3 verses, are the answer of the part, inviting the real self to destroy and bury it, as if it is this part's desire to be ended. And the same part goes on:

    What if I wanted to fight
    Beg for the rest of my life
    What would you do?
    You say you wanted more
    What are you waiting for?
    I'm not running from you

    I think here Jared gives a voice to the part about to be killed, to express 2 opposite sides: on one hand, it begs in order to stay alive and on the other, it invites him to make the kill by saying to the real self that if he wants more, he shouldn't wait, it is not going to run.

    Come break me down
    Bury Me, bury me
    I am finished with you
    Look in my eyes
    You're killing me, killing me
    All I wanted was you

    Again, the 2 sides of the part about to be killed in the previous verses: one inviting for the kill as if desiring it and the other begging for its life expressing the desire for him.

    I tried to be someone else
    But nothing seemed to change
    I know now, this is who I really am inside.
    Finally found myself
    Fighting for a chance.
    I know now, this is who I really am.

    Finally, I think Jared reveals that the part of himself which has to end is really a part from another one inside of him, not allowing him to be himself. So, the real self explains to the part of the other inside him, which is about to be killed that he can have a chance only if he does this kill and this burial in order to be who he really is.

    I think that in this song Jared sings about his conflict to be himself and through the voice of the part about to be killed expresses both his desire to kill the other but also his desire for the other to go on existing inside of him.

    If we composed the lyrics and the video of the song, we would have more features for the interpretation of the song.

    So, in the video they all go to a deserted hotel and they find a prohibition: not to enter a specific room. The room is entered only by Shannon, who finds a woman and kisses her, while at the same time images of her murdered appear. Tomo only looks inside from the outside of the room and witnesses a bear and himself in a stance insinuating that the bear just had his pinus in its mouth. Jared has nothing to do with the room. He only writes, while the other guy has a relationship with alcohol. Later on, Jared is chasing himself and the images of 2 selves appear for all 4 of them, as well as images of twins, brothers, sisters and couples.

    I think the theme of the video is the relationship between males and females. This is what is hiding in the room. And in the video, we have 2 possibilities happening between them: either the woman is dead or the pinus is bitten by a wild animal. Between these possibilites, we could see a connection: the woman is dead in order to keep her from bitting the pinus. Jared seems to be away of the room, away from the relationship with the woman, resorting to writing and the narcissistic relationship to himself, as well as the 4th guy, who is related to alcohol instead.

    The old guy could be the receptionist or the hotel owner and in this sense could represent the father and the woman of the video the mother. These 2 persons are the only ones in the hotel which the 4 of them visit. In this sense, the room could also represent the room of the mother and the father and the prohibition that exists for the children: they can't be part of the sexual relationship of the parents, and if they do in their phantasy, the danger of the bear exists.

    If we return to the lyrics, we could say that Jared has a dialogue with 2 parts of himself as he puts it, his real self and another part, which has to do with the other, but doesn't let him be himself. He writes, putting his real self speaking to the part that needs to be buried that he can have a chance only if he does this kill and this burial in order for the real self to survive.

    I think that the video explain more about what is killed. I think that the narcissistic end means that the part of the self that relates to the other, in this case the part of a man related to the woman, is buried, sacrificed in order for the self to survive and have a chance to go on in life.

    I think, also, that the video could be more accurate regarding which part of Jared is singing which verses. I think this could be better adjusted to the dialogue between the 2 parts of Jared, coming to life in the song, as I see it.

    I think this is a great song, expressing in every way (lyrics, music, video) deep conflicts in a very true, genuine and direct way.



  9.  

    anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Mar 21st 2012, 07:51 report


    I know that Jared enterprets this song as a relationship with one's own self.

    Here is my attempt for the interpretion of the kill:

    What if I wanted to break
    Laugh it all off in your face
    What would you do?
    What if I fell to the floor
    Couldn't take this anymore
    What would you do, do, do?

    Here I think Jared puts his real self, wanting to rebel and end something inside of him, asking the part of himself about to be ended how it would react.

    Come break me down
    Bury me, bury me
    I am finished with you

    I think this 3 verses, are the answer of the part, inviting the real self to destroy and bury it, as if it is this part's desire to be ended. And the same part goes on:

    What if I wanted to fight
    Beg for the rest of my life
    What would you do?
    You say you wanted more
    What are you waiting for?
    I'm not running from you

    I think here Jared gives a voice to the part about to be killed, to express 2 opposite sides: on one hand, it begs in order to stay alive and on the other, it invites him to make the kill by saying to the real self that if he wants more, he shouldn't wait, it is not going to run.

    Come break me down
    Bury Me, bury me
    I am finished with you
    Look in my eyes
    You're killing me, killing me
    All I wanted was you

    Again, the 2 sides of the part about to be killed in the previous verses: one inviting for the kill as if desiring it and the other begging for its life expressing the desire for him.

    I tried to be someone else
    But nothing seemed to change
    I know now, this is who I really am inside.
    Finally found myself
    Fighting for a chance.
    I know now, this is who I really am.

    Finally, I think Jared reveals that the part of himself which has to end is really a part from another one inside of him, not allowing him to be himself. So, the real self explains to the part of the other inside him, which is about to be killed that he can have a chance only if he does this kill and this burial in order to be who he really is.

    I think that in this song Jared sings about his conflict to be himself and through the voice of the part about to be killed expresses both his desire to kill the other but also his desire for the other to go on existing inside of him.



  10.  

    anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Aug 25th 2011, 14:36 report


    After watching the music video I see it is much deeper. They're placed in a huge hotel will anything they could want. And alll they have is one restriction ...room 622. The first man sees a seductive women and ffollows her into the room. She's flashing images of blood. Eventually curiousity killed them all... they all saw something evil about themselves.
    In a religious point of veiw. The hotel is earth. Adam and eve only had one restriction ... don't eat the fruit from one tree. Just like don't go in one hotel room. Adam ate the fruit eve offered him much like the music video. Then they became aware of good AND bad. Just like each band member once they went in that room.
    Now read the song meaning. Its about seperation and independence from God.
    Those who believe in God are aware of this struggle.



  11.  

    anonymous
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    May 20th 2011, 15:43 report


    I think coming out of the closet is a theme here. Even the music stops, like that moment is a climax and turn of events. Someone, a woman, is hurt badly. Indeed she is slaughtered by it. Also facing addiction (alcohol at the bar). Dressing up and serving the spectacle. This is madness, although it looks flawless.
    Those dancing and kissing twins are the ultimative symbol for narcissism.



  12.  

    anonymous
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    Dec 17th 2010, 17:35 report


    I think that the song is about self hatred and how he can't change himself:
    'I tried to be someone else, but nothing seemed to change. I know now, this is who I really am inside.'



  13.  

    anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Nov 24th 2010, 11:35 report


    No matter wat it is or isn't abt everyone has the right to their own interpretation if the song. Y is every 1 bn so hateful to each other



  14.  

    anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Nov 3rd 2010, 23:40 report


    I honestly think it's about coming out of the closet. Cause in the video, he's giving a guy a blowjob in a bear suit. And eventually, the girl leaves.



  15.  

    GameOver369
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    Oct 4th 2010, 03:10 report


    Yes, this song is about losing your mind. But, doesn't necessarily mean sticking to one thing. Whenever I listen to this song I think about the changes I'm going through. At one point I've lost people I've loved and my closest friends. So I learned from it. And started changing myself. I think of the past. "What if I wanted to break? Laugh it all off in your face." That was me saying "what if I became someone I'm not and rubbed it in their face saying I can change." Should I fight my decisions or just pick and go. In some versions he actually says "marry me, bury me." In which I think is a love/hate relationship within him/yourself. It fits, don't you think?
    30S2M <3<3



  16.  

    whatever123
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    Sep 26th 2010, 20:03 report


    This song is clearly a self-struggle, there's no doubt about that. In essence, "The Kill" is a critical focal point in your own life, when you want it to end because it can't be any better at the other end of the tunnel. When it reaches the bridge, he's discussing that very thing; "I tried to be someone else/but nothing seemed to change/I know now/This is who I really am inside. This is when you lose all hope because you realize that no new path is right for you. You begin to worry that you're going to die in this horrible world and existence. This is when many people would go and commit suicide (yes they would;I actually have met someone who almost took that path). Yet, you persevere through to the end. Here, you have some relief, only to find that the new conflict is almost identical to the previous, and the song ends with its own opening lyrics, bringing a closing mystery to the song, which fits the rest of the album.



  17.  

    anonymous
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    Jul 12th 2010, 08:04 report


    This song is about him letting the darker side to him free while he is asking himself if this is what he should become and that side of him is trying to brake down his normal side. I agree with that one guy partially, when he his is quiet it is the darker side and when he raises his voice it is the normal side.

    "I tried to be someone else, but nothing seemed to change. I know now, This is who I really am inside. I finally found myself, fighting for a chance. I know now, this is who I really am!" In the video the two hims meet and confront eachother and both know who the true one is. although, I'm not quite sure which one it is. In the video they also show that everyone has a duplicate. What this means is that we are all having this battle within our minds. And in some both personalities are used. Or even up to fifteen are used. This as you all should know is skitsofrenia.



  18.  

    anonymous
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    Jun 27th 2010, 10:15 report


    The song has two meanings, one being the obvious relationship issue and not changing for anyone else but the deeper hidden message is the Satanic/Luciferian one. He is saying he's done running from God, being a "god-fearing" person and found who he really is. He said he's going to laugh in your face, meaning God's and stop worshiping a God.



  19.  

    bcinque
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    Jun 23rd 2010, 20:38 report


    I think he is speaking to someone who hurt him and held him back from being who he wanted to be. Someone who tried to control him and wanted him to be someone he is not. perhaps riding him and destroying him.

    what if I wanted to fight
    beg for the rest of my life...
    you say you wanted more
    what are you waiting for?
    Im not running to you

    When youve had enough of someone pushing you to live up to their own standards of excellence and rejecting who you really are..and you let that person know what if...I wanted to be a begger or I want to fight instead of giving in...if you want more than I offer you then leave because Im not going to hide who I am anymore..Im not running from your criticism. In my interpretation, I feel it could be a person in his childhood or someone who took on a role of control over his life.

    come break me down
    youre killing me or
    bury me

    To me this is a taunt to that person..
    go ahead come and tear me down ...all your doing is killing who I am ...your burying me anyway ..I realize that now and Im finished with you. ..you no longer control me.

    lookin my eyes
    youre killing me
    all I wanted was you..
    I tried to be someone else
    but nothing seemed to change
    I know who I really am inside

    The words are so straight forward here
    and towards the end when he tells us he knows who he is..he lets loose and goes off ..to me this signifies the rage he kept inside and the release of finally saying this is who I am.



  20.  

    music21life
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    Apr 20th 2010, 02:25 report


    to the dude who said its about one of the coolest movies ever made yes it was "the shining" but the movie wasn't made by Stephen King it was made by Stanley Kubrick. and the song is about fighting yourself to find who you are.



  21.  

    NinjaTurtle
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    Mar 1st 2010, 15:13 report


    in the vid, JL is arguing with himself, so its probably his good side and bad side fighting over what he should do next. Also, he probably just wan't to be a normal person because of the two versions of him, one of them is all dressed up in a tux, and the other is just a normal guy. i know its all about the vid, but i think that brings the point across better



  22.  

    anonymous
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    Feb 2nd 2010, 08:25 report


    At First I Thought This Song Was About A Girl; Because It Would Make Sence To Think Of It That Way, Because He Said's "You Said You Wanted More; What Are You Waiting For?" &&* With All Honesty I Thought It Was About A Guy Who Was In Love With A Girl &&* She Just Could Not Make Up Her Mind On What She Wanted; && The Guy Was Trying To Change Himself Into What He Thought She Wanted; Also I Thought She Was "The Kill" Because He Saids "look in my eyes your killing me; killing me"
    But:
    On The Other Hand After Seeing the Video And Much Harder Thought It Dose Look Like The Song Is Based Upon Finding Yourself, Being Lost In Your Head, Trying To Find Yourself But Being Faced With Trying To Please Others When The Only Person That Really Maters Is Yourself, && How You See Yourself. Trying To Find Out Who You Really ARE &&* Who You Want To Be; Its Like Looking In The Mirror And Not Knowing Who Your Looking At; Its Trying TO Escape Your Old Ways &&* Move On, From who YOu Were And Who You Are Now.
    Thats Just What I Think; There No Right Or Wrong In A Person's Personal Opinon,
    Nataly-



  23.  

    anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Feb 2nd 2010, 08:25 report


    At First I Thought This Song Was About A Girl; Because It Would Make Sence To Think Of It That Way, Because He Said's "You Said You Wanted More; What Are You Waiting For?" &&* With All Honesty I Thought It Was About A Guy Who Was In Love With A Girl &&* She Just Could Not Make Up Her Mind On What She Wanted; && The Guy Was Trying To Change Himself Into What He Thought She Wanted; Also I Thought She Was "The Kill" Because He Saids "look in my eyes your killing me; killing me"
    But:
    On The Other Hand After Seeing the Video And Much Harder Thought It Dose Look Like The Song Is Based Upon Finding Yourself, Being Lost In Your Head, Trying To Find Yourself But Being Faced With Trying To Please Others When The Only Person That Really Maters Is Yourself, && How You See Yourself. Trying To Find Out Who You Really ARE &&* Who You Want To Be; Its Like Looking In The Mirror And Not Knowing Who Your Looking At; Its Trying TO Escape Your Old Ways &&* Move On, From who YOu Were And Who You Are Now.
    Thats Just What I Think; There No Right Or Wrong In A Person's Personal Opinon,
    Nataly-



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