What does Cold mean?

Breaking Benjamin: Cold Meaning

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Album cover for Cold album cover

Cold Lyrics

Crowded streets are cleared away
One by One
Hollow heroes separate
As they run

You're so cold
Keep your hand in mine
Wise men wonder while
Strong men die

[Chorus]

Show me how it ends it's alright
Show me how defenseless you really...

  1. 1TOP RATED

    #1 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
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    Apr 30th 2008 !⃝

    Ben stated in his blog, that he has been off drugs for 7 months, meaning that up until 7 months before he wrote the blog, he was using drugs. Therefore, it is not too far a stretch to believe that he is using the Salem Witch Trials in a couple of ways to discuss drug (although not necessarily Heroin) addiction. The way this society treats drug addicts is much like a witch hunt, throwing people in prison rather than offering treatment, for instance. Also, the drugs themselves act like witch hunters and executioners. clinging to the addict, entrapping the addict, eventually killing the addict. I did find interesting the theory that there could be a relationship between the band's wiccan symbol and Ben's choosing to use the Salem Witch Trials to symbolize a relationship with drugs, however, it so happens that the famous Salem Witch Trails actually took place in Massachusettes, not Pennsylvania, so I'm not sure the band being from Pennsylvania was that significant.

  2. 2TOP RATED

    #2 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Oct 24th 2007 !⃝

    Well, I didn't just go off of the lyrics, but also the video and the various intricate clues found within, namely the symbol on the rock that the man, who was to be condemned, was carrying. The symbol is of wiccan origin, that of a wiccan clover; this is also the band's popular symbol on most of their albums and all their merchandise. The era the video is placed in is also indicative of the witch trials. Finally, and probably on the most important points, is that almost all the band members are from Pennsylvania, particuarly the area concerned for witch hunts, and they all belong to a cuningly disguised oragnization called the Ke'Kuhn, which, after painstaking hours of research, I managed to discover is unofficially involved with the occult. Hate to say it folks, but looks like that 13 yo kid you were all persecuting was right all along, except this isn't about Salem, it's about Pennsylvania. Oh, did I forget to mention that one of the first witch discoveries in Berks County, Penn. was none other than, 'Benjamin' Millard. His wife Jane was tortured to death, suspected of being a witch. I guess you could say they Broke Benjamin. But, hey that's just what my research turned up, and besides, if these guys wanted everyone to know this stuff, it probably would have been a lot easier to find. Seriously though, if you just watch the video one time, it will pretty much be clear what message is being sent. I welcome any and all criticism.

  3. 3TOP RATED

    #3 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Apr 25th 2008 !⃝

    The song can be applied to the Salem witch hunts, but like lots of music videos, that doesn't mean it was the original meaning.

    And I'm only 13 too, doesn't mean I go about spewing "I am better than thou" crap all over the place

  4. anonymous
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    Mar 9th 2020 !⃝

    Every single interpretation is wrong except for the person who commented on Jun 4th, 2017 (though this person is also half wrong). Yes Ben used the movie 28 days later as inspiration BUT Ben was in New York when he wrote the song. It was wintertime, really cold, and the singer was lonely. Stuck in a Manhattan hotel, he felt cut off from the world as he tried to write the We Are Not Alone record. It was a difficult time for him.

    "So Cold" took off, becoming Breaking Benjamin's first platinum record. Looking back at the song in 2020, Burnley told Apple Music: "I'm glad I was in that dark space, because I owe my whole career to it."

  5. anonymous
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    Jun 4th 2017 !⃝

    Ben Burnley stated that the lyrics were inspired by the movie 28 Days Later.

  6. GrungeKing913
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    Aug 16th 2013 !⃝

    This song definitely has something to do with some kind of war or something. ("Crowded streets are cleared away one by one...you're so cold). And not to pin anything on the person who posted this, but the title is "So Cold".

  7. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    May 3rd 2012 !⃝

    At first I always thought It was about the holocaust and the German military campaign across Europe. I guess its easy to get the holocaust mixed up with the Salem witch trials because there really isn't that many differences between them.

  8. anonymous
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    Apr 11th 2012 !⃝

    First of all this song is called So Cold not Cold.

    Now on to what i think it's about.
    I think it's about two things
    First it's about how screwed up the world is and how we don't have real heroes, "hollow heroes seperate" and how soldiers die every day "strong men" while pundits and morons in no danger speculate why they're fighting and tell them to go fight "wise men" Ben illistrates this with a story a strong man and his weak freind his freind is being destroyed by the world and the strong man is trying to save him "you're so cold keep you're hand in mine" the strong man is asking the wise men to show how defensless they really are and he's trying to bring the down to his level "that's all right lets give this another try" he's also begging the wise men to tell him how it will end for the sake of his freind, he's asking if it will be alright in the verses, in the outro though he finds out how it ends and lies to his freind as he dies they way he screams it's all right sounds wrong in the end his freind is crushed by the weight of the world and dies the last thing he hears is the strong man tell him it's alright

  9. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Apr 6th 2012 !⃝

    I just want to comment on the "idea" that this song is linked with wicken sybols and salem witches. Do some research on this band... they are all proclaimed Christian not Wicken and there are many many posts and interviews online with the band members that show how serious their faith is. Given that information we are all sinners and I see this song as a personal struggle with addiction.

  10. anonymous
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    Dec 2nd 2011 !⃝

    theres alot of possible meanings, only ben burnley or whoever wrote this song knows the real meaning.

  11. anonymous
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    Oct 4th 2011 !⃝

    All of you that are bashing the little kid are the biggest dumb asses I have ever seen. Yes critics you are kind of right that it is about having a little bit to do with a girl but it was mostly about the witch trials just look at the #1 voted interpretation. Also if you are so smart how come your interpretation didn't get #1. So next time you decide to bash someone make sure you read up on your idea just to make sure you don't look like a dumb ass but I guess it's too late.

  12. anonymous
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    Aug 22nd 2011 !⃝

    Cold the song be about 9/11?

  13. anonymous
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    Aug 8th 2011 !⃝

    I think this song is about
    ''How Cold is our world'' violent,death,see how your friends dies on your ayes and it makes author suffer,and our world really is cold-full of pain and hate.But if you ask me about song,i tell you that it was just another reason to make money,but yet i like this song anyway,it is so dramatic,especially when that guy dies in the end of video,i wish there were a lot more that kind songs..Ty..

  14. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Aug 7th 2011 !⃝

    I believe that the song is about when Jesus got put to death on the cross. Everything adds up, but to save being controversial when the video was on television, etc...they played it out at a witch trial death. Think about it, everything this man did, jesus did, carried the cross, dying, showing the world how defenseless he really was...satisfying an empty inside, he knew he was gods son, but to satisfy everyone, he allowed himself to die for our sins...to make him look human, people didnt believe that he was the son of god. his mother was in the crowd of people that left their locations and stormed to see the event, hence the streets becoming empty. it all just plays out as and adds up to jesus being put to death and the events that took place on his way to the top of the hill to be mounted. think about it. i know everyone will disagree..but i also know that one smart optimistic person will agree and help me prove my point.

  15. anonymous
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    Jul 11th 2011 !⃝

    Well ben was an alcoholic, so quite possibly, thats what this song is about

  16. anonymous
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    Jul 2nd 2011 !⃝

    I think the song has 2 meanings on purpose. I think it's about LOVE. About having too many defenses and pushing away those who try to love them. This is paralleled to the persecution theme of the video which seems to be another point of the song.


    Crowded streets are cleared away
    One by One

    --> Pushing away everyone who could hurt you.

    Hollow heroes separate.
    As they run

    --> Those with out the will to risk loving someone with defenses up don't want to bother.

    You're so cold
    Keep your hand in mine
    Wise men wonder while
    Strong men die

    --> The "smart" don't fight a loosing battle, but the strong who risk give it a try and get their heart broken.

    [Chorus]

    Show me how it ends it's alright

    -->Telling the person to be real, look in the mirror, it's okay.

    Show me how defenseless you really are
    satisfied and empty inside
    Well, that's alright, let's give this another try

    -->It's okay now, let's give the love thing a real try.

    If you find your family, don't you cry
    In this land of make-believe, dead and dry

    -->Don't break down if you find love in this often fake and disingenuous world.

    You're so cold, but you feel alive
    Lay your hand on me one last time

    -->Your cold and guarded, but I know what's inside. I'll give one last try if you...

  17. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Jun 17th 2011 !⃝

    First...you people are morons. Sorry, but so true. Not every dark song in the world is about heroin. Witch trials? Puleeze. For crying out loud... Read the lyrics, watch the video, use your brain. The stone is any stone that makes one cold, dead and empty inside, a grudge, a weight, an addiction, a whatever that pulls you down. It's alright, we all have some. Show the narrator how vulnerable you are, ie... Open up and let it go so that you can move on and give this life another try. Rebirth.

  18. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Dec 30th 2010 !⃝

    It does seem to be persecution of some sort and the singer and his companion are next in line to be killed. here is how I see it.

    Crowded streets are cleared away
    One by One
    -Each victim is picked off the street

    Hollow heroes separate
    As they run
    -the heroes are ones who are afraid to speak up less they be judged. The are hollow having no guts, just a shell of a hero. they run for cover as the town is swept by the persecutors. Brave until its their turn.

    You're so cold
    Keep your hand in mine
    -She or he is the next victim in line and is cold with fear.


    Wise men wonder while strong men die
    -No hidden meaning here. Some people are starting to wake up and realize that they are doing wrong here.

    [Chorus:]
    Show me how it ends it's alright
    -the victim comforting himself/herself

    Show me how defenseless you really are
    -the persecutor saying, if you die, then I was wrong about you (witch hunt?)

    satisfied and empty inside
    -persecutors are happy that they killed one but didn't bring any joy because the person was innocent...

    Well, that's alright, let's give this another try
    -...but they will give it another go with someone else.

    If you find your family, don't you cry
    -find them in the cemetary

    In this land of make-believe, dead and dry
    -One cant believe this is happening

    You're so cold, but you feel alive
    Lay your hand on me one last time
    -one last time before you are killed

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