The lyrics are based on the struggles lead singer Chester Bennington went through growing up. He was often picked on.

This video was shot on a Los Angeles sound stage. The statue's head, where the band is performing, was built there, but the rest was CGI. The areas where Mike is standing "in the desert" are real - he was sitting on real grass and he was walking on real stones, but they were about 10 feet by 5 feet. The rest was, you guessed it, CGI. Halfway through filming, directors Joe Hahn and Nathan Cox decided to set water pipes off above the band, so they all got completely soaked. Nathan could see how irritated the band were by this, so he invited his friend (who's in a Bluegrass band) over and he performed some Linkin Park songs, including an hilarious version of "Crawling." In the video, if you look very closely, you can see Joe's belt buckle, which says "MR HAHN." The song is about feeling like there's no point in living, and was originally seen as being very negative, so the video was very positive. It's like a cycle of life (the song starts and ends with the piano) - the desert is very dead, but the rain comes and at the end, there's flowers and rivers and butterflies. (thanks, Abbey - Essex, England)

In March 2001, 15-year-old Charles Andrew Williams shot and killed 2 of his classmates at his high school in Santee, California. He left a note for his father with the lyrics to this as an attempt to explain his feelings. The key lines were "I tried so hard and got so far, but in the end, it doesn't really matter."

The video was shot in a California desert while the band was between stops on the 2001 Ozzfest tour.

This was the #1 selling album of 2001.

This was the third single from Linkin Park's first album. Their first 2 singles were "One Step Closer" and "Crawling." All 3 songs explore the dark side of growing up.

"Hybrid Theory" is the original name of the band. They decided to use it as the album title.

This was released as a single about 9 months after the album. It took a while for the album to catch on, but it eventually sold very well.

On their 2002 album Reanimation, this was remixed by Kutmasta Kurt with vocals by Motion Man. The title was changed to "Enth E Nd," and it was given a hip-hop sound.

At the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards, this won for Best Rock Video. Sammy Hagar and David Lee Roth, who were touring together at the time, presented the award. Before announcing the winner, Roth asked Hagar what his favorite Linkin Park song was, and Hagar said he didn't know any Linkin Park songs.

Linkin park are the BEST ROCK BAND IN THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Max, Sydney, Australia

This has to be one of my 15 all-time favourite songs, from one of my all-time favourite bands. Does the end piano remind anyone else of the end of Ozzy's Killer Of Giants?
- Ashley, Moncton, Canada

This video was not filmed in a desert. It was filmed on a green screen which Mr. Hahn and Nathan "Karma" Cox later edited.
- Kelly, HybridGirl_Kelly, LA

This is the greatest song full stop.....
- zhaoy, sydney, Australia

When i first heard linkin park i didnt really like at first but now they are one of my favorit bands in the world my friend got me hooked on to this song and instantly i loved it and it will remain the greatest song ever but in the end it dosnt even matter
- Jeremy, Sawyer, MI

its actually a really well written song whether you like them or not
- jack, faraham, England

I love this song, but I hate the video (as with most their videos). What the heck was with the giant whale things??
- steven, harrison, OH

i like the demo if this song too ryan. but all i can say about this song is that i love it and the lines "i put my trust in you, pushed as far as i can go" reminds me of a personal battle with loved ones that ive had and i was in awe at how raw and true those lyrics were to my life.
- Kayla, Rancho Cucamonga, CA

you guys have to hear the in the end demo "The Untitled"
- Ryan, pembroke pines, FL

Tom from Towbridge, I could not agree more if you paid me to. Linkin Park is nowhere near the stature of bands from the past. They are at the top when it comes to today's bands (which I have to admit isn't saying much), but they cannot compare with the bands that tom listed.
- Matt, Millbrae, CA

this song makes me cry everytime i hear it. it was my cousins favorite song and she was listening to it the moment she died, and the line that was playing when she died is so ironic its scary. "Wasted it all just to watch you go ". which she did. i love this song, i had no idea who "these linkin park ppl" were until the day my cousin died. now they are my favorite band ever.
- sara, anoka, MN

I think that this is an amazing song but, alot of the vocals is not chester. It is alot more mike if anything and out of the two mike is the better vocals in my opinion. Chris, midland, TX
- Ryan, nowhere, CA

I agree with Scott, LP aren't posers not only wouold they not be in a band they wouldn't want ppl like you hating them. So get a life LOSER! Froot Loops Cereal
- Rynn, Rogers, AR

I think Linkin Park is a great band. This songs shows that sometime in life things aren't always gonna be great.So are the other songs, too. Their music helped me deal with things. lexi
- Alexandria, Phoenix, AZ

This is the only Linkin Park song I like, I think the lyrics are really true. And like other people have said "In the end it doesn't even matter"
- Melita, Wilts, England

There's a theory out there that it's actually about Mario Cart Racing.
- Annabeth, Kutztown, PA

haha yeah... I like LP a lot, but to say a band with only 2 studio albums (thats about 25 songs that hadnt been remixed) is the greatest ever... Pshh. They're one of my favorites but I dare not say that they are as great as say, Nirvana or Zeppelin.
- Rob, Castaic, CA

Don't forget Rush. The entire video wasn't Computer-Generated. Besides the band scene, the scenes of Mike over the cracked rocky ground was partially real. The sky around him was CG, and the ground was probably extended. They mix real and fake all the time in movies.
- Dude, TX, TX

Nevermind, I missed Rush.
- Dude, TX, TX

Justine, are you serious? I've got nothing against you saying Linkin Park are your favourite band but you can't honestly be suggesting that they are better than The Beatles, Black Sabbath, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Guns N' Roses, Nirvana, The Clash, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Rush, Cream, Jimi Hendrix, Metallica, Iron Maiden, The Who, The Ramones, oh i can go on forever. The point is, you clearly possess little knowledge of rock music. I'm 17 and am a Linkin Park fan but I am not that dillusional as to believe that they are better than all the aforementioned bands. If you like Linkin Park, then check out Beastie Boys, Rage Against the Machine and Depeche Mode because LP would not exist without them.
- Tom, Trowbridge, England

It's an awesome song and will remain so.
- Dylan, St. Charles, MO

THIS is the BEST song EVER.... and LP is the best band known to mand kind, and if any 1 says anything diff like they suck or somethin than they ar ass holes cause LINKIN PARK is the best and there music is soooo touching and it ROCKS too at least they sing about what they feel right lol....
- justine, fredericton, CA

I'm not the biggest Linkin Park fan but this song is very good.
- Tom, Trowbridge, England

This song is one of the best, it talks universally about what people feel on the inside at one point or another in their lives. We all want to let go sometimes, just because we feel overwhelmed, but this song is telling us to hold on, even if it doesn't matter. In the end, it doesn't matter, but at least it happened...Amazing song...amazing band, they know what they are doing! LOVE YOU GUYS! LP ROX!
- Sara, Killeen, TX

This song makes you wonder what can you do in life that will really matter in the end. I love the synthesizer and learned to play it on the piano. 8notes.com is such a cool place. I love the way they divided the timing for singing between Mike and Chester. The music video is awesome!
- Gabe, Utica, NY

I like Linkin Park as much as the next guy, but I don't think they're lyrics are very credible, when Chester sings then yes, you can tell he means it, but not as much when Mike.
- the jorge, Hell, Other

Austin,Linkin Park are not posers.If they were,they would not be a band.
- Scott Baldwin, Edmonton, Canada

I agree with Sarah, how could you think the video was shot on a real background. I love this song because it gives equal mic time to Chester and Mike, and shows how their voices complement each other. I also agree with Shaun, that LP writes music that can touch ppl in a variety of situations.
- Rabi, Zionsville, IN

I always felt this song was about being taken advantage of in a relationship--but with taking a closer look I can also see the struggles of a child searching for acceptance
- mandy, n/a, MA

I used to hate Linkin Park when they first came out, but I never knew that their lyrics had so much meaning in my situations that I get into. This is one of the main songs that used to get to me when my b/f dumped me a while ago. I agree with Shaun about the meanings and all.
- Tiffany, Covington, GA

I think this is on of the best songs they made. It reminds me of guy fighting in a battle and falls and loses everything.
- A DBZ fan, Jackson, MI

I feel that it really doesn't matter too much what the song was written about, I feel many of Linkin Park's songs are written to be interpretted by the person listening. So many people out there can find lots of LP songs that they feel describes how they feel so well, I think that's the beauty of their music is it so well fits into what you feel and describes you. All their songs people can relate with.
- Shaun, Shelbyville, KY

IT ROX, it's as simple as that
- Cassandra, Melbourne, Australia

I can really relate to this song with what I've been through. I must say way before it was released as a single I told my bro that it was gonna be a huge hit, and I was right...
- Daisy, Ikast, Denmark

The song is really the writer saying that he took his chances, he had his share of pain and suffering. He too didn't see certain things coming, but in the end nothing matters. The hurt or the happiness. In the end it amounts to nothing, so it's not gonna help beating yourself up about things.
- Chronometer, Somerset West, South Africa

Actually, the song seems like it's about a breakup...the lines "I put my trust, in you" and "What it meant to be, will eventually be, a memory" signify that there was a relationship involved. So I don't think it was supposed to be about him getting picked on; it was about him breaking up with his girlfriend.
- Nick, Edmonds, WA

Although this song is very 'dark', it is also a great 'feel-good' song in an odd way. I feel i can relate to every word in the song and "it all comes down to me in the end". i found iut hard to say what i mean in this post, i hope that other people know what im talkin about.
- Andy, Halifax, England

They Are Posers!
- Austin, orem, UT

I haven't been a big fan of Linkin Park but when I stumbled upon this song one time I was surprised. I loved this song and I downloaded the video to this song, the video is a great video. I say that "In The End" has to be one of my favorite songs of all times!
- Jared, Norwalk, OH

I'm not a Linkin Park fan by any means, in fact, I hate their other music. But this song was very appealing to me, especially in light of my recent nihilistic-type views, for in the end, it doesn't matter.
- Justin Gregg, Harrah, OK

Few artists and songs have a deep impact on me, but Linkin Park and this song do. I just wanted to clear up a couple of mistakes here, though: The video was *not* shot in a California desert. It's computer-generated. DJ Joe Hahn came up with the concept and he co-directed the video with Nathan "Karma" Cox.
- Sarah, Morganville, NJ

This song is amazing and really makes you think. It has meant so much to me this past year and kind of explained what I was going through. Linkin Park is great!!!
- Karly, Denver, CO

This song not only represents the dark side of growing up, but for some people very specific times in there life. From friends to family to life it's self, this song is a great expression. Lodi, California, USA.
- Omar, Santa Clara, CA

by mezadel on 02-18-2002 @ 03:26:28 PM
The nice thing about lyrics is their ability to mean something different to everyone. Most people have said they relate to this song in terms of boyfriend/girlfriend relationships. Why not? The lyrics can certainly be seen that way. He is singing to someone... that is obvious. Likewise the interpretation that he is singing about life and death, and how the things we do in life don't matter in the end is also a very valid interpretation. The song being about Chester's addiction to coke is also a possibility. The point of this website, I I expect, is to raise awareness about the different aspects of this song. Not to diss it, or to compare it with Nsyncs bubblegum "hip pop". The point is to tell people what you hear of yourself in this song... it has the ability to affect someone deeply at the very roots of their emotional stability. With respect to the interpretations of others (you can agree with me or not) I see the song like this:
The singer is angry. Hurt and pain radiates from his voice, and it is emphasized by the heavy drumbeats and guitar strains. It doesn't matter, he says. In the end it doesn't even matter. Haven't we all felt that way? At least once in our lives haven't we felt that someone is "mocking" us, "acting like I was part of your property" and people who you fought with (your parents? Boyfriend, girlfriend? Teachers? Friends?)"I've put my trust in you..." we all trust someone, even if it's only ourselves. We always get let down, by ourselves or by others (perhaps you expected a better grade than you got... or perhaps your parents got divorced, or your significant other left you) at some point because it's a part of being human. "Time is a valuable thing, watch it fly by as the pendulum swings..." As humans, we are fleeting creatures. We have less than a century to accomplish something worthwhile. That accomplishment could be in a medicinal cure, leading a country-- or even loving someone, raising a child to be better off than you were. We only have so long to do these things, and always we see the prospect of death looming ahead. And it's when we fail that songs like this come into play... I could've done better, I tried so hard to make it work, to do things right... now I failed, I'm out of time, it doesn't even matter...
The first half of the song is in reference to the permanent time frame which we have in life to accomplish something. The seconf half refers to the specific event itself... which will mean different things to everyone. Agree with me or not, this is my opinion.