Released: 2024
Linkin Park’s ‘Good Things Go’ is a raw, emotional exploration of self-doubt, regret, and the struggle for self-control. The lyrics reveal a deep internal conflict, with the protagonist grappling with their own actions and feelings, ultimately seeking forgiveness and redemption.
Starting off, the repeated line ‘Feels like it’s rained in my head for a hundred days’ sets a tone of emotional turmoil. The rain symbolizes sadness and despair, suggesting the protagonist has been dealing with these feelings for a long time. The mirror reference implies a sense of dissatisfaction with oneself, a longing for change.
‘And I get so tired of puttin’ out fires and makin’ up lies’ – this line indicates the protagonist’s exhaustion from constantly dealing with problems (fires) and not being truthful (making up lies). They’re searching for a light, a sign of hope, but find nothing.
‘And I say I hate you when I don’t, Push you when you get too close’ – here, the protagonist admits to pushing away someone they care about out of fear or self-protection. The ‘laugh when I’m the joke’ line suggests they’re struggling with self-esteem issues, feeling like they’re constantly the target of ridicule.
‘Only you can save me from my lack of self-control, Sometimes bad things take the place where good things go’ – the protagonist acknowledges their lack of self-control and how it leads to negative outcomes. They believe that only this person they’ve pushed away can help them regain control.
‘I’ve asked for forgiveness a hundred times’ – this line shows the protagonist’s desire for redemption. However, their ‘halfway’ apologies suggest they’re not fully owning up to their mistakes, leading to a cycle of guilt and regret.
‘No one’s there when I’ve asked for forgiveness a hundred times’ – this could mean that their pleas for forgiveness are falling on deaf ears, or that they feel alone in their struggle.
‘No, I’m just takin’ a shot, Ah, maybe I’m just too eager, Oh, maybe I lost the plot’ – these lines reveal the protagonist’s self-doubt and confusion. They’re unsure of their actions and motives, questioning whether they’re too impulsive or have lost sight of what’s important.
‘Don’t get too intimate, don’t get too curious, This is just feeling like it’s not that serious’ – here, the protagonist warns against getting too close or invested in them, perhaps out of fear of hurting the other person or being hurt themselves.
‘And I won’t make excuses for the pain I caused us both, So thank you for always standing by me even though, Sometimes bad things take the place where good things go’ – in the end, the protagonist stops making excuses, acknowledges the pain they’ve caused, and expresses gratitude for the person who’s stood by them despite their flaws.
