ATS Song Analysis

[LPFreak64]

I decided to do a song-by-song analysis of A Thousand Suns. The band kept saying that it wasn't a concept album, but that there was one common thread throughout the entire album. That thread is a thick one. Death, destruction, redemption, hope, love, hate, kindness, and loneliness are all the main themes of this album. Here are my thoughts on each song of A Thousand Suns.

 

1. The Requiem - This is an introduction into a strange new world. The drum beat gets your pulse racing and then the haunting vocals come in to add a sense of eeriness. This introduction brings you to a world of panic and fear. Only one voice can be heard after the haunted voices, a lone girl. "God save us, everyone", she says. Apparently, God didn't. Now starts the story of A Thousand Suns.

 

02. The Radiance - The panicked pace continues, but send us back to the time where the world's destruction began. The atomic bomb has been created and Robert Oppenhimer's words are forever marked in history. After "the destroyer of world's" line, silence falls, and we fast forward to our current generation.

 

3. Burning in the Skies - The journey starts with a story of hopelessness. The song is pretty straight-forward with its meaning. We have started destroying what we don't deserve. We are spilling blood of the innocent to make the fire rise. We are burning our bridges and we can't go back to what we once were. The line "I filled my cup with the rising of the sea, and poured it out in an ocean of debris.", is clearly talking about the recent oil spill. We are destroying the world for our own fires.

 

04. Empty Spaces - Silence. Crickets. Then bombs off in the distance. The sounds of nature and war. This interlude is about the beauty of nature and how it is being destroyed by man.

 

05. When They Come For Me - This is more of a song about Linkin Park personally. This is a stand against the fans that want them to stay Nu-Metal. Mike keeps telling them to "Catch Up, Mother Fucka!". Chester says, "When they come for me, I'll be gone". They are both talking about the nu-metal fans. When the nu-metal fans go to look for Chester, he'll be gone. Also, at the same time, this song can be about running from your past. Linkin Park doesn't want to go back to the way they were just like the people who created the atomic bomb want to go back to before a world of destruction.

 

06. Robot Boy - A stand needs to be taken by someone, but no one will make one. Everyone is so self-centered and egotistical, they won't even fight for what is right. The monotone singing adds to the name of the song. All of the Earth have, mentally, become robots. The weight of the world is keeping them from doing what is right. Nobody shows their feelings anymore and it is what is causing us to kill each other. In the end, it ironically turns out that all the destruction will create the person to save them all.

 

07. Jornada del Muerto - In this song "Lift Me Up, Let me go" is being sung in Japanese by Mike Shinoda. The song's title is the place where the first atomic bombs were tested. In WWII, the Americans used the atomic bombs on the Japanese. The words are sung in a haunting way. It is almost like the spirits are crying from the Jornada del Muerto. They are begging to be set free from this world of pain and suffering. During the synthesizer solo, one can almost see the souls transcending into the heavens.

 

08. Waiting For The End - The rap vocals, in the beginning, are about celebrating what the have created for the world. He is throwing fists into the air, forgetting the pain and the fear, thinking that this is the answer to all of the world's problems. The sung vocals are about the complete opposite. It is about regrets and moving on from this life. He is struggling with a life that is no longer his to hold. In the end, however, the rap vocals end up agreeing with the sung vocals. "What was left when that fire was gone?" is saying that even after celebrating their creation, they were still left with nothing. They were caught up in the storm of celebrating and didn't see what they had done. They finally decide to pick up the pieces and start over again.

 

09. Blackout - This song is about someone who lied and cheated to get what they want. Chester sees through the lies and calls the person out. In the chorus, Chester is screaming about the person's ego. He is telling them to push it back down, inside of their self. Chester is trying to help the person out and is offering redemption. At the end of the song, the person gets redemption. Their past is overwritten, and their future is blazing in colors. Now they can come down and collect the life that they let go.

 

10. Wretches and Kings - To stay popular and rich, WBR will do anything. They talk like they know music, but they don't. LP's new music makes WBR say "whoa", but they still push for LP to make music the old way. LP is gonna get what they want, but WBR wants to take the music and make it into what they want to hear. And if LP does what they say, then they won't be released from WBR. LP is telling WBR that they aren't releasing the album or making any music unless they say so. This makes WBR out of control. The chorus means that this is the last time for WBR. Steel unload = Music release. The animals = LP. Wretches and Kings = WBR. Mike is fronting the attack against WBR.

---ANOTHER MEANING---

10. Wretches and Kings - The Government is collapsing. Martial Law has been put into effect. Everyone must fend for their selves. During the speech at the beginning, the machine is the Government. Mike's rap is talking about how the people are going to rise up, and let the guns unload. Chester is giving a waring to all Wretches & Kings, we are coming for you. When Mike says, "If you fear what I feel", he is trying to rally his troops together. His fear is the destruction of a nation.

 

11. Wisdom, Justice, and Love - Light and dark, life and death, and creation and destruction are the main focuses in this interlude. Any Martin Luther King Jr. speech can give inspiration to millions of people. However, when words become twisted, deranged, and sound like Satan, something of beauty can be destroyed completely.

 

12. Iridescent - This song is about being alone in your final moments, but finding the strength to let go all of your regrets and sadness. This song is a song of redemption and hope. The line "In a burst of light that blinded every angel / As if the sky had blown the heavens into stars" is talking about when the atomic bomb was dropped. The song also calls back to track #4 - "Empty Spaces" in the line "You felt the gravity of tempered grace / Falling into empty space". The chorus at the end sounds as if a choir of angels are singing down from the heavens to "Let It Go".

 

13. Fallout - Echos of the past are dominant in this song. It recalls all of the death and destruction they have caused. There will be no redemption, no hope, and no savior to rescue you. You have burned your bridges. You will lose everything. The end is now.

 

14. The Catalyst - Atomic bombs, Minutes to Midnight, A Thousand Suns, J. Robert Oppenheimer.....it all adds up to the destruction of Earth and of mankind. If you're in your final seconds of life, you're going to be doing one of two things, shouting for help (praying, trying to prevent your own death, or literally shouting for help) or cursing the one(s) who made you (parents, teachers, leaders, or God / Gods). This song dives into both sides and is a literal cry for help from the ones who have destroyed themselves. They are not saying that they actually believe in a God, but are saying that if their is one, to bless them and to save them. The song is also a journey. It starts with people wanting blessings for what they have created. The first time around he says "We were broken people", after then it is "We're a broken people". They start realizing what they have done and created. The song build up to where it is almost out of control and then explodes with the intensity and beauty of a thousand suns and then you hear "Lift me up, Let me go". This is the lyrical form of death. It paints a picture of all of mankind finally realizing that this is the end and there is nothing else to be done but let go and die.

 

15. The Messenger - There is only a sole survivor of the world's destruction. They realize that when your alone, all you need is love to keep you alive. They know that love is the key and if the world had realized it sooner, they all would have be saved. Now it seems like it is too late, but "The Messenger" decides to spread the message of love to the new world.

Edited October 21, 2010 by LPFreak64

[LPlover]

Man... i'm speechless... reading this made me love A Thousand Suns even more... this is the best thing i've ever read . Great job youu beautifully described the journey that ATS brings us in.

[DecanoLP]

Wow, I'm really impressed. This is a really good interpretation of all these songs, I completely agree with all of them.

 

Great job man

[LPxDC]

I swear you should be a journalist. I love this desciption. One of (if not the) best

[leftshoe18]

Reading this made me feel like When They Come for Me and Wretches and Kings really don't fit in with the rest of the album.

 

Well-written and I like the interpretations.

[appukhare]

Very well written. Great job!

[Twiilite]

I agree with everything you described. Honestly, when the track titles were released online waaaay back (wow, it's been so long now) and I saw Fallout and The Messenger, I had a suspicious feeling that Fallout would be about the bomb dropping, and The Messenger would be about a survivor delivering a hopeful message. But you expanded on so much more. Impressive stuff!

[arbiter]

I disagree that "When They Come For Me" is against their old school fans. I am an old school fan and i didn't feel that song was directed at me. I think the song was more directed at the "fans" who can't keep up with the inevitable fact that the band is more than just Hybrid Theory and will branch out their wings to make other things besides Hybrid Theory and just want them to keep chugging out Hybrid Theory and nothing else even though reality dictates otherwise. Basically the childish group of people who don't care that the band gets bored doing the same things just like they do doing the same things. And that group of people is made up of more than just old school fans.

 

If you think the song is directed at you, then it probably is.

Edited October 4, 2010 by arbiter

[LPFreak64]

I disagree that "When They Come For Me" is against their old school fans. I am an old school fan and i didn't feel that song was directed at me. I think the song was more directed at the "fans" who can't keep up with the inevitable fact that the band is more than just Hybrid Theory and will branch out their wings to make other things besides Hybrid Theory and just want them to keep chugging out Hybrid Theory and nothing else even though reality dictates otherwise. Basically the childish group of people who don't care that the band gets bored doing the same things just like they do doing the same things. And that group of people is made up of more than just old school fans.

 

If you think the song is directed at you, then it probably is because it.

Yep, especially after all that Mike and Chester have said in the past week, but I'm not gonna change my original analysis. They really are directing it at a specific group of people and if you feel like you are apart of them, then you probably are.

[Anality]

I guess I'll take a shot at making my own ANALysis Anality style

 

A Thousand Suns: (Analyzed by Anality... anally)

 

1. "The Requiem" - GLaDOS

 

2. "The Radiance" - creepy scientist talks about stuff for awhile

 

3. "Burning in the Skies" - Mike has deadwood, lol dysfunction

 

4. "Empty Spaces" - 18 secs (lol secs)

 

5. "When They Come for Me" - "a tough one to swallow" thats what she said

 

6. "Robot Boy" - this song was probably about an anatomically correct android that was created as a pleasure model

 

7. "Jornada del Muerto" - Mike singing in Japanese probably in reference to his heritage

 

8. "Waiting for the End" - Mike tries some weed (which explains his accent) and Chester tries to forget doing things hes not proud of

 

9. "Blackout" - Chester screaming after being date raped which is why the song is called Blackout and why the song begins with I'm stuck in the bed you made.

 

10. "Wretches and Kings" - the song starts off with Mario Savio explaining how to use a vibrator. Mike raps about some stuff and Chester sings about LP being "Animals that take control"

 

11. "Wisdom, Justice, and Love" - Martin Luther King talks like a malfunctioning robot (could he have been the Robot Boy?)

 

12. "Iridescent" - The most powerful song on the album

 

13. "Fallout" - transition into The Catalyst

 

14. "The Catalyst" - "The sins of our hand" that is all

 

15. "The Messenger" - LP's first song about love itself

Edited October 4, 2010 by Anality

[LPlover]

I guess I'll take a shot at making my own ANALysis Anality style

 

A Thousand Suns: (Analyzed by Anality... anally)

 

1. "The Requiem" - GLaDOS

 

2. "The Radiance" - creepy scientist talks about stuff for awhile

 

3. "Burning in the Skies" - Mike has deadwood, lol dysfunction

 

4. "Empty Spaces" - 18 secs (lol secs)

 

5. "When They Come for Me" - "a tough one to swallow" thats what she said

 

6. "Robot Boy" - this song was probably about an anatomically correct android that was created as a pleasure model

 

7. "Jornada del Muerto" - Mike singing in Japanese probably in reference to his heritage

 

8. "Waiting for the End" - Mike tries some weed (which explains his accent) and Chester tries to forget doing things hes not proud of

 

9. "Blackout" - Chester screaming after being date raped which is why the song is called Blackout and why the song begins with I'm stuck in the bed you made.

 

10. "Wretches and Kings" - the song starts off with Mario Savio explaining how to use a vibrator. Mike raps about some stuff and Chester sings about LP being "Animals that take control"

 

11. "Wisdom, Justice, and Love" - Martin Luther King talks like a malfunctioning robot (could he have been the Robot Boy?)

 

12. "Iridescent" - The most powerful song on the album

 

13. "Fallout" - transition into The Catalyst

 

14. "The Catalyst" - "The sins of our hand" that is all

 

15. "The Messenger" - LP's first song about love itself

Best analysis ever

[Lotsa_spaghetti]

I guess I'll take a shot at making my own ANALysis Anality style

 

A Thousand Suns: (Analyzed by Anality... anally)

 

1. "The Requiem" - GLaDOS

 

2. "The Radiance" - creepy scientist talks about stuff for awhile

 

3. "Burning in the Skies" - Mike has deadwood, lol dysfunction

 

4. "Empty Spaces" - 18 secs (lol secs)

 

5. "When They Come for Me" - "a tough one to swallow" thats what she said

 

6. "Robot Boy" - this song was probably about an anatomically correct android that was created as a pleasure model

 

7. "Jornada del Muerto" - Mike singing in Japanese probably in reference to his heritage

 

8. "Waiting for the End" - Mike tries some weed (which explains his accent) and Chester tries to forget doing things hes not proud of

 

9. "Blackout" - Chester screaming after being date raped which is why the song is called Blackout and why the song begins with I'm stuck in the bed you made.

 

10. "Wretches and Kings" - the song starts off with Mario Savio explaining how to use a vibrator. Mike raps about some stuff and Chester sings about LP being "Animals that take control"

 

11. "Wisdom, Justice, and Love" - Martin Luther King talks like a malfunctioning robot (could he have been the Robot Boy?)

 

12. "Iridescent" - The most powerful song on the album

 

13. "Fallout" - transition into The Catalyst

 

14. "The Catalyst" - "The sins of our hand" that is all

 

15. "The Messenger" - LP's first song about love itself

 

LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Malvarr]

WOW.

[LPPRJKT4]

Wow, this is deep! Makes you wonder if LP unintentionally made it a concept record after all!

[Anality]

Wow, this is deep!

yes, yes it is

[ThePretender]

I disagree that "When They Come For Me" is against their old school fans. I am an old school fan and i didn't feel that song was directed at me. I think the song was more directed at the "fans" who can't keep up with the inevitable fact that the band is more than just Hybrid Theory and will branch out their wings to make other things besides Hybrid Theory and just want them to keep chugging out Hybrid Theory and nothing else even though reality dictates otherwise. Basically the childish group of people who don't care that the band gets bored doing the same things just like they do doing the same things. And that group of people is made up of more than just old school fans.

 

If you think the song is directed at you, then it probably is.

I think the song is more directed at the critics.

[bigbadzosch]

dude i enjoyed to read your analysis much. great job !!!

i agree with you at everything and also you opened my mind to some stuff i didn't think like that but agree on your interpretation so thank you

[mlplus44]

Great analysis it makes a lot of sense!

[Geki]

Seldom do I ever agree with others interpretations of songs, but I do here for the most part. The album is so deep when you really analyze it... I agree with what you said about The Requiem and The Radiance a lot, as well as Wisdom, Justice And Love as well. And mostly all the others... This album is about the destruction of mankind, which can happen at any given moment. The Radiance really does bring us back to a time when it all started, the making of the first Atomic Bomb.......

[[High_Voltage]]

does anyone else think robot boy may have something to do with the little boy?

 

Wow, this is deep!

that's what she said!

not

 

but it is

Edited October 24, 2010 by High_Voltage

[Anality]

does anyone else think robot boy may have something to do with the little boy?

 

 

 

that's what she said!

not

 

but it is

uh... improve ur english?

i didn't understand a thing u said

[[High_Voltage]]

uh... improve ur english?

i didn't understand a thing u said

uhhhh

what did'nt you understand dude?

[MONDREUS240]

I don't know if anyone posted this but maybe the reason why Mike is singing in Japanese in JDM is because its a reference to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. You can kind of picture a Japanese person is saying "Lift Me Up, Let Me Go" during the bombings and, while the song is taking place. Maybe WFTE is the wait for the end of the war, when Japan surrendered.

[MONDREUS240]

I love the random double posts :')

Edited October 24, 2010 by MONDREUS240

[LPFreak64]

I want to thank everyone for the kind words about my analysis! I really enjoyed ATS and can't wait for LP's next release!