This nu metal track from the album Meteora depicts the experience of a child who doesn’t feel accepted by their parents.

Writing These Lyrics Couldn’t Have Come More Naturally

Just like the song’s general mood and feel, the lyrics make this jam highly recognizable as part of Linkin Parks’ body of work. At the same time, the track also falls right in line with the new collection of songs the band had released for this album.

Both the lyrics and the composition process started with the hook that comes in the song’s intro, and the rest fell right into place. The band said in an interview with Shoutweb that “the song came together quickly and almost effortlessly.”

Straight from the booklet included with their Meteora album, the band also stated that they conceived the song merely a week before they walked into NRG Studios. From there, they started to record right away. At the core of the song’s meaning is the idea of kids who are tired of trying to be the person their parents want them to be.

Numb With Nostalgia

“It’s kind of about those times when you’ve got no feeling left or you just don’t care,” Linkin Park co-leader Mike Shinoda said in that same Shoutweb interview regarding the song’s theme. “It’s almost like exhaustion or something which funny enough is how we felt after touring [Hybrid Theory] last year.”

“Numb” is a song that looks back on the past. “This is how I felt in a relationship, and over time, it’s become this way,” Mike said on an episode of The FADER Interview podcast.

Grappling With Parental Disappointment

The lyrics call out some parents’ unrealistic expectations. In particular, “Every step that I take is another mistake to you,” expresses the feeling of futility when a child feels as if anything they do will never be enough to win their parents over and make them proud.

This sentiment is also reflected in lyrics such as, “Can’t you see that you’re smothering me, holding too tightly, afraid to lose control, ’cause everything that you thought I would be has fallen apart right in front of you.”

These lines refer to parents who are disappointed in their child and the child’s need to be set free from that disappointment. The metaphors of smothering and holding on tightly reflect the feeling of being trapped by this expectation of perfection, which seems inescapable.

“All I want to do is be more like me and be less like you” speaks to the child’s desire for individuality. They don’t want to follow in their parents’ footsteps; rather, they wish to break away.

“But I know I may end up failing too but I know you were just like me with someone disappointed in you”: It’s all too easy for adults to forget what it’s like to be a child – especially parents, ironically enough.

Lyrics

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

Every step that I take is another mistake to you
(Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow)

I’ve become so numb
I can’t feel you there
Become so tired
So much more aware
I’m becoming this
All I want to do
Is be more like me
And be less like you

Can’t you see that you’re smothering me
Holding too tightly, afraid to lose control?
‘Cause everything that you thought I would be
Has fallen apart right in front of you

Every step that I take is another mistake to you
(Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow)
And every second I waste is more than I can take

I’ve become so numb
I can’t feel you there
Become so tired
So much more aware
I’m becoming this
All I want to do
Is be more like me
And be less like you

And I know
I may end up failing too
But I know
You were just like me with someone disappointed in you

I’ve become so numb
I can’t feel you there
Become so tired
So much more aware
I’m becoming this
All I want to do
Is be more like me
And be less like you

I’ve become so numb
I can’t feel you there
(I’m tired of being what you want me to be)
I’ve become so numb
I can’t feel you there
(I’m tired of being what you want me to be)

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Joseph Hahn / Brad Delson / Mike Shinoda / Kanye West / David Farrell / Shawn C Carter / Robert G Bourdon / Chester C Bennington

Numb lyrics © Universal Music – Mgb Songs, Universal Music – Z Songs, Chesterchaz Publishing, Nondisclosure Agreement Music, Big Bad Mr. Hahn Music, Pancakey Cakes Music, Rob Bourdon Music, Kenji Kobayashi Music, Big Bad Mr Hahn Music

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