What does Numb mean?

Linkin Park: Numb Meaning

Album cover for Numb album cover

Song Released: 2003


Covered By: Dead By April (2017)


Get "Numb" on MP3: Get MP3 from iTunes

Numb Lyrics

Tired of being what you want me to be
Feeling so faithless lost under the surface
Don't know what you're expecting of me
Put under the pressure of walking in your shoes
(Caught in the undertow just caught in the undertow)
Every step that I...

  1. anonymous
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    Jul 19th 2014 !⃝

    Well, this song sounds like someone is pressured by someone.

    For example, a child with orientation of homosexual to homophobic parents, a black in majority is white(or vice verse if you want), your effort not acknowledge even if its the most best than other, whatever that involve expectation that too difficult to archive.

    In conclusion, its about someone tired and give up hope to express that someone in question, until certain turning point that made everyone regret it

  2. anonymous
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    Jun 22nd 2014 !⃝

    It's about a boy/girl who tries their best to succeed in life, although by doing what THEY like. (art, music, dance, etc.) But, their parents don't approve of this. Their parents scold them for taking a step that they think is appropriate, because from the day they were born, the had high expectations of the child, to be a straight-A student, and never fail. The boy/girl then speaks up to their parents and decides to be what THEY want to. They are "Numb" from all their parent's disrespect and disapproval.

  3. jixyoo
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    Oct 30th 2013 !⃝

    It expresses how no one thinks you are good enough and puts these expectations on you and as you struggle to fulfill these expectations you become tired of it and fight to be your self.

  4. anonymous
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    Oct 24th 2013 !⃝

    to me this song is about bulling and being put under pressure. he wants to be himself and someone else wants him to be like them. he's becoming less of them and growing apart from them.

  5. anonymous
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    Sep 15th 2013 !⃝

    I think it is an expression of dealing with Asperger's Syndrome... In my opinion, several songs by Linkin Park represent someone within the band struggles with it. I'm encouraged by his success in spite of it though...

  6. anonymous
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    May 24th 2013 !⃝

    This song is not about an isolated event or story, such as a teen against their parents or a man against his controlling ex girlfriend. It is more broad than that and has a much bigger picture to it. It is a song of freedom, where the chains of confinement, belittling, and faithlesness are broken. It doesnt matter what type of event you personally connect it to; we all have that one incedent that comes to mind. we've all been smothered, hurt, and put under pressure to the point we dont care anymore.

  7. anonymous
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    May 8th 2013 !⃝

    I think this song is about bullying and depression.

  8. Rebel
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    Apr 17th 2013 !⃝

    I dont think the girl was depressed. She just accepted the reality that she's different. The word "Numb" on her arm might have been a hallucination showing that shes accepted herself, even if no one else has. The fact that it was cut in could symbolize the pain that others are inflicting on her. And in the end, when she runs into the empty church, no one is there, which could mean that no one will ever understand her- but she can make herself heard (reason for the equipment still being there).

    Hope that makes sense

  9. anonymous
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    Dec 30th 2012 !⃝

    Chester is actually telling us to be ourselves because he says "I'm tired of being what you want me to be
    Feeling so faithless, lost under the surface
    Don't know what you're expecting of me
    Put under the pressure of walking in your shoes
    (Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow)
    Every step that I take is another mistake to you
    (Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow)" that is the true meaning of numb

  10. anonymous
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    Jul 24th 2012 !⃝

    People pressuring you to live up to ridiculous expectationss.

  11. anonymous
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    May 18th 2012 !⃝

    The song numb is very emotionally draining. If applied to the audience, which is mostly teenagers, the interpretation of it is basically as follows:
    The story is about a teenager that has spent their time living up to the expectations of parents or just society in general. The first line expressing that the narrator is already fed up with the demands. "put under the pressure of walking in your shoes", is a quote from the song that leads us to infer who the narrator dedicated the song to. In a teenager's perspective this could be their parents or a sister/brother. The song also mentions that every time they do something, the opposing force seems to never be satisfied or sees those actions as mistakes, that everything they tried to do was unappreciated or degraded.
    This is my personal interpretation bit I'm only seventeen so this song always means different things as the day goes on. This song means a lot to me.

  12. anonymous
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    May 13th 2012 !⃝

    this song to me, is about pain. songs have many meanings to them, and everyone interprets them differently. from my point of view this song is a being hurt so much that it stops affecting you. its like having an extremely pain tolerance up to the point where you cant feel anything. not even yourself. its like if all of your nerve cells all of a sudden went dead but you can still move. its about standing up for yourself too. there are points in this song where it sounds almost like a conversation. "cant you see that your smothering me" is like an open you eyes moment for me. "i'm tired of being what you want me to be" is also like stand up moment. its kind of like im done doing what you want. let me be me. this is by far one of the most beautiful songs written that i know. if you like the meaning of this song, you should check out this piano version of it. it shows the true beauty. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FAvWYv613I

  13. Maditheninjia
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    May 6th 2012 !⃝

    i like this song and think personally it is about anyone presuring you to be who your not and then you try to do and or be what they want you to and say your doing it all wrong and this person just becomes numb to the world and as a reply to the person who comminted at Jul 22nd 2006, 02:10 that is messed up she needs to get over it not all twins have the exact same personality some might but what she said is just way out of line and messed up you are who u want to be so don't let her change that at all

  14. anonymous
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    May 1st 2012 !⃝

    The song is about a person who feels pressured and thinks that they aren't the person others want them to be. They are confused and overwhelmed by the demands of others. They try to regain apart of themselves they lost trying to be someone they aren't. They feel so worthless that they lose hope in who they are

  15. anonymous
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    Apr 28th 2012 !⃝

    thoughts of a child of narcissistic parent(s)...i know cuz i'm one...believe me, it's the worst kind of life any human being can be in. it lowers ur self-esteem until u get to a point where it no longer exists & then u begin to hate urself & u eventually entertain the thought of committing suicide.




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