Mike Shinoda wrote this and Chester resonated with the song so much that it brought him to tears. It was such a relatable song for him which is why it seems like the lyrics were about him.
Depression and addiction look so similar. The torment, the shame and the pain sounds just alike. I've struggled with both and have resonated with these lyrics in both phases of my life. I miss this man tremendously. If he didn't make it out, what fucking chance do I have, someone who's father and brother ended the way he did?! UGH.
@@dephii6908 Please don't give up. I know all about deep dark depression, being abused as a young child and the mental and physical pain. Your life is worth living. You more than likely don't know why but God has a purpose for you to still be here. You are worthy to carry on. It took me years to realize why but He did for me. Just take every day one day at a time. I'll pray for you.
@@dephii6908 chester held his hand into my depression and helped me make my way out i always thought it was a shame that he didnt make it out himself. but there is always hope. straighten your back lift up your chin. there is always hope. you can beat depression i promise, i did it myself.
You know, I agree with you. Everytime somebody tells me: It will get better... I just... I mostly get angry. Does it? How do you know? When? How long does the suffering needs to continue? Do I need to struggle thru a live of pain for the hope that someday it might be better? I can only tell you what's holding my head above water....kinda... It's the fact that I would cause pain and maybe even depression to people I genuinely care for. I wish I would live and decide for myself.... But man, the thought of just not having that pain anymore truly seems like a gift.
I always heard this song as a tragedy. Given the final words of the bridge "I'll never fight again, and this how it ends" along with the overall hopeless feeling throughout the song, I took breaking the habit to be not breaking the habit that's causing my pain, but breaking the habit of trying to fight it. Powerful song and tremendous vocals. RIP Chester
Chester did take his own life in the end, and this live version, along with the album cut, really shows his personal pain, especially in hindsight. R.I.P. Chester
It is quite chilling to really feel the emotion and pain in the lyrics and his delivery in retrospect. This man was in absolute agony. Ironically, his expression of the mental anguish he was battling is the only reason we were blessed with his music. RIP Chester
I call bullshit dude. How the hell do you hang yourself with broken ribs? If you have ever had broken ribs you know it's pretty much impossible to raise your hands over your chest let alone hang yourself...
This song is about hating yourself for not being able to forgive yourself... But he's trying to "Break the Habit" of that... What a treasure we lost in Chester... Another poet who weaved such beautiful art out of such profound tragedy!! I am still moved to tears by this song, so many years later... RIP
When I was in middle school this band legitimately kept me going when I didn't see a point in being alive and the world is worse off for the lose of Chester
Agree with you. In a letter Chester wrote to Chris Cornell, he said he can't imagine a world without Chris in it. Well I can't nor want to imagine a world Chester in it. May they both rest in Paradise.
@@Bakemer94 I think both are great but I've noticed MrLboyd has chosen live versions quite often. Maybe it's to avoid claims, maybe to get a better feel for their live talent. Either way I'm super happy to see it.
usually I wish he would react to the studio version but this intro, plus the fact that he started over from the top once the instrumental dropped, that was perfect
I've always taken it as breaking a cycle of abuse and negative selfish behavior... take the bands whole early body of work... it was very much, my parents berate me bc their parents berated them... one reason I felt listening to them was personal... I've found a way to break the habit, break the cycle.. I'm a proud father of 4 kids and lucky enough to have a beautiful loving wife... I've broken my own cycle
The habit wasn’t able to be broken. He killed himself in July 2017. The saddest part is he gave a voice and purpose to so many others who suffered and he helped pull us out of our despair. He’ll never live to see how much he meant to the world and how many of us were saved from ourselves because of him and his beautiful voice. You covering this means a lot. It’s hard to explain how impactful his music was, but it means the world to see others listening to it and honoring it. Thank you so much 🙏🏻
Linkin Park is Nu Metal and Nu Metal is a style derived from a combination of Punk, R&B and Metal, it was huge in the 2000s and both Linkin Park and Slipknot were leading the charge in that new genre, along with Korn and Limp Biskit, all bands that you have been introduced to.
Korn was the father of NM.... they literally coined the name. LP is not NM, Slipknot is not NM commenting straight from Taylor " We are metal metal" also coining the phrase as true metal.
@@UltimateGamerCC hey, you can label them as whatever you want lol just saying Nu Metal is not respected in the Metal community. Is Lamb of God NM? By you saying they are labeled as such puts them in with bands like System of Down and limp bizkit. I am not arguing you are correct but I will never say LoG or SK is Nu metal... fucking POD🤣🤣🤣
You’re bang on. He was an addict before LP and this was his way of celebrating his breakaway from it. There are so many emotional versions of this where he breaks down because he’s struggled with it eternally and ended up losing his fight with depression, likely caused partly by his damage from the strain his past life put on him.
I’m so thankful I got to see them play live twice! Their shows were amazing, they all had their own specialties that complimented each other so well, and seemed like they genuinely enjoyed putting on a good show! My mom actually worked security at the amphitheater where they had their shows, she said she had a conversation with Chester when she saw him walking his dog before one the show.
Chester's voice was always incredible. It's so sad that we lost him so early in life. This song is definitely about addiction, I felt those vibes the very first time I heard this song, when Meteora was first released.
I’ve never picked up on it before, but this song has some “He Stopped Loving Her Today” vibes. I love Linkin Park’s ability to take extremely heavy content and convey related emotions, while making surprisingly catchy music.
Chester was physically abused growing up and he used substances to deal with the issues he talks about it and interviews one in particular he said I don't want to feel feelings anymore the thoughts that go through my head nobody needs to be in my head
5 years since we lost this legend. Its heart warming to see the comments and knowing how many fans keep his voice as parts of their life. Hope he knows how much hes loved and how much he was loved in life
Years in hindsight listening I still have the same feeling. This song wasn't about drugs. It was still about being damaged and not fitting in. I'm sure you can attribute it to drugs, however during that time and age I feel it was more the voice of an unaccepted teen or pre-teen. Personally in that Era I was a preteen/teen. And I was weird and angry. I didn't know why I was made fun of and hurt, and my family didn't care. So I turned to music and this song encapsulated my feelings perfectly.i felt alone and misunderstood. Then I heard this song from Mike and Chester and I realized I wasn't alone. So I did what the song said and I broke the habit. I chose life over meaningless death. Although the song and lyrics sound opposite it actually inspired me to live. For the first time in my life I knew someone had felt my pain and they survived. So I broke the habit and I survived. And in breaking that habit of wanting to give up I now have a happy life. If I didn't have Chester and Mike to relate to I would have given up. Rip Chester ( I don't think you took your own life(( Rip Chris I also don't think you took your own life.)) Thank you both for showing me I'm not the only one who hurts, and thank you Mike. Thank you Mike for being the heart beat of Likin Park.
I feel like this song is about ending substance abuse and breaking the cycle of abuse. I cried when I found out he took his life, his music as a teen helped me with my depression.
I think you'll be hard-pressed to find any linkin park song that wasn't made with a deep passion or meaning, it's just who they were. Rest in piece Chester
Mr LBoyd, i think you nailed your analysis of the song regarding addiction, chester was addicted to many things but the song also relates to self harm, and as a recovering alcoholic, this song is an anthem, breaking the habit is more than just giving up drugs or alcohol, its about the craziness of addiction and what it can make you do, even when you want to live, it can take you away. the line I don't know what's worth fighting for, is in my view waving the white flag and giving up the addiction and accepting help.
incredible song and amazing performance. I've seen them live twice and this song live always brings me to tears. incredibly personal song to Chester and he couldn't even finish it in the studio as he would get too emotional and it took a while to get it done. he's emotions really come through in his singing especially live. my first time hearing this live I got chills. RIP Chester. you saved my life.
Yes Mr. L Boyd, he did extinguish his own life, sadly five years ago. He lost his battle with depression. R.I.P. Chester. Great reaction 🙋🏻♀️👍🏼👏🏼👌🏼💜🇨🇦
I come from a similar background that the song describes, in a way. The confusion that comes from mental illness, and the addiction to self-harm in any form, drug abuse or more physical forms. That alongside the defeated feeling that I'm trapped inside this cycle that never ends really gets to you. You get tired of feeling sick of yourself, tired of fighting for happiness that you feel won't ever really arrive. Coupled with the explosive temper described with, "I don't know why I instigate, and say what I don't mean," it becomes lethal. You give up, you quit. You decide to allow yourself to die because living is unbearable at this point with the sadness and rage that's built up inside. The line, "I'll paint it on the walls," likely refers to suicide by gun. "Painting the walls with my brains," is a common way to refer to it. The next line, "'Cause I'm the one at fault," describes how they know their actions are affecting the people around them negatively, that they're disgusted by the things they say when they can't control what's going on inside their mind and accept the blame fully with their act of penance. I barely survived. Seeking help is just the start on a long, long road. Don't let yourself die like I almost did. Don't take your life from a world that could benefit from your brilliance. Live.
With the retrospect of his death, this song feels more like him dealing with his fight against depression. And with TresTrefusis commentary it makes more sense.
Y'know, I always interpreted this song WAY more positively than others. The declaration that he'll never fight again is indicative that he DID break the habit (he was a Meth head in high school iirc). He doesn't fight with it anymore because he beat it-it has no hold on him anymore to fight with him.
I've always heard this song with an intentional double meaning. Depending on the moment and where you are when hearing it, it could be either meaning. This song was brilliantly written that it wasn't one or the other, but rather, this song is always both, and only has definitive meaning in the mind of the hearer.
This is the first song that I ever heard on RU-vid. I used to sing it in my backyard while pretending fallen tree branches were swords in my hands. I had to ask my mom what "instigate" meant, because I'd never heard it before. My favorite part was: "But now I have some clarity... to show you what I mean." That fact hits me in the gut sometimes. So much is different now. Time marches on.
Truly a powerful song and in my opinion one of the best songs not only in LP but of all time. Please react to Qwerty summer sonic Tokyo LIVE next. Shows off more of Chester's insane vocals
To me, it's about who I am versus who I want to be. So I'm breaking the habit of who I am to make way for who I want to be. Chester was gifted. If I was asked today who would you like to meet, first is Carl Sagan, Chris Cornell, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Chester Bennington. Only one of them is alive today, wish all were, so much knowlege to be absorbed.
I love this song and the raw passion that is carried in every word. I always interpreted it to be someone who has reached their breaking point (I thought an abusive relationship), and has decided enough is enough and breaking the cycle of abuse through their own efforts, 'never fight again'. The phrase 'this is how it ends' I always took to mean a decision that the behaviour will never happen again. Sounds like I was mistaken, that would be too bad. My interpretation is more of someone taking their life back. RIP Chester.
Just discovered you a few days ago and easily have to be one of my favorite reactors to music i've seen. you really seem to grasp the meaning behind songs and appreciate the artistry and storytelling behind the beats, behind the words, etc. so for that sir, thank you and especially thank you to the love you show to Linkin Park, been my favorite band since they came out. all that said i wanted to know if you could possibly react to some songs from Mike Shinoda's other group Fort Minor as well, mainly "Remember The Name" "Kenji" and "Red to Black"
it is about it but it also isn't about narcotic abuse. The Music Video for this song is AMAZING and if you liked this song you need to watch the video.
Definitely not about addiction, unless it helps people that perceive it that way. It's more to do with depression, anger inside, being confused, involuntarily toxic and feeling guilty for it when he's finally alone in his room, knowing he's in the wrong when left by himself. Drugs and alcohol may become a factor later, but this is how it starts.
You should definitely check out any (or all) of the songs from Collision Course, the collaboration they did with Jay-Z. It’s one of the best musical experiments ever done in my opinion. Love your reactions and look forward to more.
Linkin Park es mi primer grupo favorito, me acompaño en mi adolescencia y hasta hoy los sigo escuchando. Chester esta en el cielo cantando con los angeles. Breaking The Habit fue una cancion, que siempre fue dificil cantar para chester ya que, Mike la hizo para ayudar a Chester a salir de situaciones de Drogas que tenia muy fuertes en su momento.
Original version was the song that turned me into the underground metal head i am now. Seeing the music video at 13 in summer of 04...this changed everything
You should also check out the live version of The Little Things Give You Away and One More Light. There emotions in his voice when he sings these is so heartfelt. It's so sad that we lost him for such a sad reason and that we will never be able to experience these full effect of his amazing talent.
