Linkin Park - What I've Done
Chester Bennington could well be leaving us but first he pens this painstaking (and painful) farewell. Dave explains...
In this farewell
There's no blood
There's no Alibi
'Cause I've Drawn Regret
From the truth
Of a Thousand Lies
Chester Bennington is leaving us! He's bidding us a fond and bloodless farewell, which to be fair is a good farewell in my book. True I haven't been party to any bloody farewells, as hey I like to keep my nose clean, and I also like to wear white t-shirts without getting stains on them. Then again I get the impression Chester was expecting a bloody farewell, so this begs the question what has he done. He's feeling guilty about something, so he's done something wrong. But then again it's not so bad that it warrants a punch in the face. Is it really that bad then?
It doesn't help that what he's done is being left very vague. He talks about drawing regret and the truth of a thousand lies. So has he done something wrong but in the name of the greater good, a bit like killing a man who plans to burn down an orphanage or pushing a dog off a cliff because you knew it had rabies. Seriously where is Jay-Z, when he teamed up with Linkin Park at least he was clear in his messages. Not all this "truth from a thousand lies" pretentious metaphor-wankery.
So let Mercy Come
And Wash Away
What I've Done
Ah I see Ol' Chesters feeling sorry for himself. He's obviously under a lot of strain at having sacrificed his integrity or innocence for something in the name of the bigger picture. I reckon this is just his way of explaining his way out of stealing a milky way from a corner shop. If that's the case then it's a little bit over dramatic. Especially as he's using terms like "wash away" as if being caught has baptized him of his sins. Seriously! Just say you're sorry and accept a slap on the wrists as this kind of bullshit just insults everyone's intelligent. He must really not want to be barred from this shop. I'd like to see how this kind of defense holds up in court.
I'll face myself
To Cross out what I've become
Erase Myself
And let Go of What I've done
There's nothing like a bit of teenage angst from a nu-metal band, and that's exactly what we get here. Chester's really going to town with his apology, as he's going to the lengths of psychoanalyzing himself to try and change himself from this mad kleptomaniac he has turned into. He knows that if he doesn't stop at stealing chocolate, it might escalate to crisps, biscuits or even worse cans of soft drink. At least he has caught himself early as the decent from skinny nu-metal singer to full scale corner shop criminal master mind sends shivers down my spine, it could clearly happen to anyone. Seriously he needs to get a grip!
Put to rest
What you Thought of Me
While I clean this Slate
With the Hands of Uncertainty
Chester is struggling to conscience. He's trying to clean the slate, perhaps by doing some odd jobs for the shop-owner concerned. He doesn't know if this is going to pay off, but he's starting to change from the demented thief back into a normal balanced human being. He must know though that he could switch back in the glint of an eye, temptation is everywhere. He must know that every time he goes to his local newsagents to get his copy of the Daily Express or whatever paper he chooses to read, he will be fighting. Fighting not to steal a pack of Hubba Bubba when the shop attendant isn't looking.
For What I've Done
I start again
And whatever pain may come
Today this ends
I'm Forgiving What I've Done!!!
Well Chester has reached a breakthrough in his rehabilitation, and is planning to put all this confectionary based madness behind him forever. He's trying to forgive himself, it's a long and hard road and he seems to have taken it a day at a time. However, it would seem he's still being plagued by nightmares. Nightmares involving giant packs of cadbury's buttons and sherbet fountains enticing him to steal them. Maybe he will never change, or perhaps the bad side of him (which I'm dubbing Evil Chester) is now dead.
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