Put 'em up now
Yeah
Yo
This is not the end, this is not the beginning
Just a voice like a riot rocking every revision
Won't you listen to the tone and the violent rhythm
And though the words sound steady
Something empty's within 'em
We say, "Yeah"
With fists flying up in the air
Like we're holding onto something that's invisible there
'Cause we're living at the mercy of the pain and the fear
Until we dead it, forget it, let it all disappear, yeah
Waiting for the end to come
Wishing I had strength to stand
This is not what I had planned
It's out of my control
Flying at the speed of light
Thoughts were spinning in my head
So many things were left unsaid
It's hard to let you go
(Oh) I know what it takes to move on
(Oh) I know how it feels to lie
(Oh) all I wanna do is trade this life for something new
Holding on to what I haven't got
Sitting in an empty room
Trying to forget the past
This was never meant to last
I wish it wasn't so
(Oh) I know what it takes to move on
(Oh) I know how it feels to lie
(Oh) all I wanna do is trade this life for something new
Holding on to what I haven't got (yo, yo)
What was left when that fire was gone
I thought it felt right but that right was wrong
All caught up in the eye of the storm
And tryna figure out what it's like moving on
And I don't even know what kind of things I've said
My mouth kept moving and my mind went dead
So, picking up the pieces now where to begin
The hardest part of ending is starting again
Oh, all I wanna do is trade this life for something new
Holding on to what I haven't got
This is not the end, this is not the beginning
Just a voice like a riot rocking every revision
But you listen to the tone and the violent rhythm (I'm holding onto what I haven't-)
And though the words sound steady, something empty's within 'em (got)
We say, "Yeah"
With fists flying up in the air
Like we're holding onto something that's invisible there
'Cause we're living at the mercy of the pain and fear (holding onto what I haven't-)
Until we dead it, forget it, let it all disappear (got)
About This Song
"Waiting For The End" is a haunting meditation on existential uncertainty and the human tendency to cling to false hope during periods of profound change. The song explores the psychological limbo between destruction and renewal, where the protagonist recognizes that their current reality is crumbling but cannot yet see what will replace it. Lyrically, it delves into the emptiness behind performative resilience-the way people raise their fists and chant slogans while secretly feeling hollow and directionless. The track's musical composition mirrors this emotional complexity, blending electronic elements with organic instrumentation to create an atmospheric soundscape that feels both futuristic and deeply human. Chester Bennington's vocals shift between vulnerable confession and desperate proclamation, while Mike Shinoda's rap verses provide intellectual counterpoint to the emotional intensity. The song's production creates a sense of suspended animation, with layered textures that build and recede like waves of anxiety and acceptance. As part of Linkin Park's conceptual album "A Thousand Suns," it served as a bridge between the band's nu-metal origins and their more experimental electronic direction. The track resonated with listeners who felt trapped in their own transitional periods-whether personal, political, or spiritual-offering validation for the disorienting experience of waiting for clarity that may never come. Its enduring appeal lies in its honest portrayal of uncertainty as a fundamental human condition rather than a problem to be solved.
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