By Myself

From Linkinpedia

Template:Infobox song "By Myself" if the seventh song on the album Hybrid Theory. It is renowned for its aggressive energy and atmospheric, electronic-laced verses.

Background

"By Myself" originated from elements of a demo called "Sad", which was released on November 23, 2009 on the LP Underground 9.0: Demos CD. The song was originally called "Super Xero".

Before Fort Minor's show on September 8, 2015[1], Mike Shinoda did an interview with Daniel P. Carter, from BBC Radio 1's Rock Show, where he explained how recording Hybrid Theory was a learning curve for Chester Bennington, who had recently joined the band and was "still green and imitating his favourite singers".

He said Chester had never screamed in a song before Linkin Park and they had to loan him CDs to get tips on how to do it. He eventually found it "fun to let all that energy out" when screaming, Mike added.[2]

The interview was broadcasted on October 25, 2015 as part of a Hybrid Theory 15th Anniversary special.[3]

In 1999, the band, at the time known as "Hybrid Theory", distributed a two-track demo CD containing early versions of "A Place For My Head" and "By Myself" during their shows.

Another early version of "By Myself" can be found on Warner Brothers Records' Raw Power sampler CD, which dates from 2000. On this CD, the song is credited to Mike Shinoda, Brad Delson, and Chester Bennington.

A clip of another early version of the song was being played in Mike's headphones when he was recording his final vocals for "By Myself". It was caught by his microphone and can be heard in the multitracks when amplified a considerable amount. The actual demo in question was never in circulation.[4]

Versions

Note: Only the date of the very first release of each version is listed.

Studio

Title Album Length Recorded Released Notes
By Myself Hybrid Theory 3:09 2000 October 24, 2000
Sad ("By Myself" Demo 1999) LP Underground 9.0: Demos

Compilation

1:08 1999 November 23, 2009
  • Original seed.
Sad ("By Myself" Demo 1999) LP Underground 9.0: Demos (EU Promo) 1:20 1999 2009
  • Extended intro.
By Myself Hybrid Theory 2-Track Demo 3:13 1999 1999
  • On the first words of the song, "What do I do," Mike comes in right on the beat.
  • During the bridge Mike says "I'm so afraid."
SuperXero Demos

Hybrid Theory 8-Track Demo

Linkin Park - Demos From 02-2000

3:16 1999
  • Mike whispers "So, what do you think?" at the beginning.
  • During the bridge there is a drum beat going in the background.
  • The lyrics are significantly different than the other demo versions, particularly the "If I hide my pride I'll lie sleepless/And won't be able to cope with my weakness" part in the second verse.
  • Listed as "Super Zero" in the January 7, 2000 Demos CD.
By Myself 3:15 2000 2000
  • Released for free download on Hybrid Theory's official website.
  • The WebArchive snapshot which shows this demo dates from April 8, 2000.
  • Almost the same as the 2-track version, except Mike comes in off the beat on the first line of the song, and during the bridge he says "Always afraid" instead of "I'm so afraid."
By Myself Raw Power 3:09 2000 2000
  • Lyrically identical to the 2-track version.
  • Mike comes in off-beat at the beginning rather than right on the beat.
  • Mike's vocal parts are more intense and higher-pitched.
  • The Raw Power sampler was released before May 30, 2000 (Brougham's Le Cock Sportif release date).
By Myself Studio Finals 5/7/00 3:15 2000
  • The CD dates from July 5, 2000.
  • Different mix.
  • Scratching/vocal samples ("myself" scream) in the intro.
  • Drums come in before the bridge.
  • Guitar at the end of the bridge.
By Myself Hybrid Theory - Instrumentals 3:11 2000
  • Official instrumental version.

Remix

Title Album Length Recorded Released Notes
By_Myslf Reanimation 3:42 2001 July 30, 2002
  • Remix by Josh Abraham and Mike Shinoda.
  • Features guitars by Stephen Carpenter.
Buy Myself Remix Pts.Of.Athrty

Reanimation

Compilation

4:26 2002 July 19, 2002
  • Remix by Marilyn Manson and Tim Sköld.
  • Features guitars by John 5 and keyboards by Marilyn Manson and Madonna Wayne Gacy.

Live

Title Album Length Recorded Released Notes
By Myself Crawling (DVD) 0:30 December 11, 2000 2001
  • Incomplete video recording.
  • Professional audio.
By Myself LP Underground 3.0 4:06 August 02, 2003

August 03, 2003

November 17, 2003
  • Live From Summer Sanitarium.
By Myself Live In Texas August 02, 2003

August 03, 2003

November 18, 2003
  • DVD only.
  • Recorded live August 2nd 2003 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, TX and August 3rd 2003 at Texas Stadium in Irving, TX on the Summer Sanitarium Tour.
By Myself (Live At Download Festival 2014) Hybrid Theory - Live At Download Festival 2014 3:23 June 14, 2014 August 12, 2014

Live

"By Myself" was a large part of the setlists in the Hybrid Theory touring cycle. The exact debut of the song is unknown, but it happened something on the Kottonmouth Kings' Ridin' High Tour, between the shows in St. Louis, Missouri and Springfield, Missouri. The song was performed mid-set throughout the second half of 2000. 2001 rolled around and the song remained in the mid-set for the better half of the year. At the show at Rock am Ring, Brad began to play a short guitar tease intro before the song. At the very next show in London, England, "By Myself" was finally moved down in the set, becoming the second-to-last song in the set. The song returned to its original mid-set position on the Ozzfest, only briefly being performed at the end of the set on the tour, at the second stop in East Troy, Wisconsin (also the last show were Brad played the guitar tease intro). "By Myself" returned to the encore spot in London, England, where it gained an interlude entitled the "Blow Your Mind Interlude" before it. The song remained in this position for the rest of the Hybrid Theory European Tour. The song returned to its mid-set slot after this tour, and remained there for the rest of 2001. In 2002, it returned to the encore, being performed with its pre-song interlude. At the show in Mexico City, Mexico, since there was no encore, it was performed third-to-last in the set.

"By Myself" survived for the first half of the Meteora touring cycle, where it returned to the setlists on the second tour of the era, Projekt Revolution 2003. The song was performed mid-set and featured a brand new extended intro, entitled the "2003 Intro". The song was finally dropped after the Meteora Australian and Asian Tour.

Over the next decade or so, the song has only been performed once (and possibly twice). It was rumored to return in 2009, when the band allegedly rehearsed the song before their International Tour. Evidently, the song did not make it to future sets. The only confirmed performance of the song since 2003 was when the band performed Hybrid Theory in its entirety in 2014, at the Download Festival.

Variations

Last Updated: September 27, 2015

Type Description First Played Last Played
Intro Brad Guitar Tease Intro June 3, 2001 June 9, 2001
Intro Blow Your Mind Interlude September 16, 2001 February 24, 2002
Intro 2003 Intro April 9, 2003 October 29, 2003

Personnel

Linkin Park

  • Chester Bennington: vocals
  • Rob Bourdon: drums, backing vocals
  • Brad Delson: guitars, bass, backing vocals
  • Joseph Hahn: records, sampling, backing vocals
  • Mike Shinoda: emcee, vocals, beats, sampling

Production

  • Don Gilmore: producer
  • Jeff Blue: executive producer
  • Andy Wallace: mixer

Lyrics

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What do I do to ignore them behind me?
Do I follow my instincts blindly?
Do I hide my pride from these bad dreams?
And give in to sad thoughts that are maddening?
Do I sit here and try to stand it?
Or do I try to catch them red-handed?
Do I trust some and get fooled by phoniness,
Or do I trust nobody and live in loneliness?
Because I can't hold on when I'm stretched so thin
I make the right moves but I'm lost within
I put on my daily facade but then
I just end up getting hurt again
By myself (MYSELF)
 
I ask why, but in my mind
I find I can't rely on myself (MYSELF)
I ask why, but in my mind
I find I can't rely on myself (MYSELF)
 
I can't hold on
To what I want when I'm stretched so thin
It's all too much to take in (it's much too easy being lost)
I can't hold on
To anything watching everything spin
With thoughts of failure sinking in
 
If I turn my back, I'm defenseless
And to go blindly seems senseless
If I hide my pride and let it all go on then they'll
Take from me 'till everything is gone
If I let them go I'll be outdone
But if I try to catch them I'll be outrun
If I'm killed by the questions like a cancer
Then I'll be buried in the silence of the answer
By myself (MYSELF)
 
I ask why, but in my mind
I find I can't rely on myself (MYSELF)
I ask why, but in my mind
I find I can't rely on myself (MYSELF)
 
I can't hold on
To what I want when I'm stretched so thin
It's all too much to take in (it's much too easy being lost)
I can't hold on
To anything watching everything spin
With thoughts of failure sinking in
 
How do you think I've lost so much
I'm so afraid that I'm out of touch
How do you expect / I will know what to do
When all I know Is what you tell me to?
 
Don't you
KNOW
I can't tell you how to make it
GO
No matter what I do, how hard I
TRY
I can't seem to convince myself
WHY
I'm stuck on the outside
Don't you
KNOW
I can't tell you how to make it
GO
No matter what I do, how hard I
TRY
I can't seem to convince myself
WHY
I'm stuck on the outside
 
I can't hold on
To what I want when I'm stretched so thin
It's all too much to take in (it's much too easy being lost)
I can't hold on
To anything watching everything spin
With thoughts of failure sinking in
I can't hold on
To what I want when I'm stretched so thin
It's all too much to take in (it's much too easy being lost)
I can't hold on
To anything watching everything spin
With thoughts of failure sinking in

Template:Collapse bottom Template:Collapse top

What do I do to ignore what's behind me?
Do I follow my fate to escape blindly?
Do I hide my pride away from these bad dreams
And give in to sad thoughts that are maddening?
Do I let it go and try to stand it
Or do I try to catch them red handed?
Do I trust some and get fooled by phoniness
Or do I trust none and live life in loneliness?
Cause sunlight burns the skin of sleeping men
I make the right turns but I'm lost within
I put on my daily facade but then
I just end up getting hurt again by myself

(Myself)
I ask why
(But in my mind I find)
I can't rely on myself
(Myself)
I ask why
(But in my mind I find)
I can't rely on myself

I can't hold on
(To what I want when I'm stretched so thin)
It's all too much to take in
I can't hold on
(To anything, watching everything spin)
With thoughts of failure sinking in

If I turn my back I'm defenseless
And to give into fate seems senseless
If I hide my pride and let it all go on
Then they'll take from me 'til everything is gone
If I let them go i'll be outdone
But if I try to catch them i'll be outrun
If i'm killed by the questions like a cancer
Then i'll be buried in the silence of the answer by myself

(Myself)
I ask why
(But in my mind I find)
I can't rely on myself
(Myself)
I ask why
(But in my mind I find)
I can't rely on myself

I can't hold on
(To what I want when I'm stretched so thin)
It's all too much to take in
I can't hold on
(To anything, watching everything spin)
With thoughts of failure sinking in

How do you think I've lost so much
I'm so afraid that i'm out of touch
How do you expect I will know what to do
When all I know is what you tell me to

Don't you (know)
I can't tell you how to make it (go)
No matter what I do, how hard I (try)
I can't seem to convince myself (why)
I'm stuck on the outside
Don't you (know)
I can't tell you how to make it (go)
No matter what I do, how hard I (try)
I can't seem to convince myself (why)
I'm stuck on the outside

I can't hold on
(To what I want when I'm stretched so thin)
It's all too much to take in
I can't hold on
(To anything, watching everything spin)
With thoughts of failure sinking in
I can't hold on
(To what I want when I'm stretched so thin)
It's all too much to take in
I can't hold on
(To anything, watching everything spin)
With thoughts of failure from with-

Template:Collapse bottom Template:Collapse top

What do I do to ignore what's behind me
Do I follow my fate to escape blindly
Do I hide my pride away from these bad dreams
And give in to sad thoughts that are maddening
Do I let it go and try to stand it
Or do I try to catch them red handed
Do I trust some and get fooled by phoniness
Or do I trust none and live life in loneliness
Cause sunlight burns the skin of sleeping men
I make the right turns but I'm lost within
I put on my daily facade but then
I just end up getting hurt again by myself

(Myself)
I ask why
(But in my mind I find)
I can't rely on myself
(Myself)
I ask why
(But in my mind I find)
I can't rely on myself

I can't hold on
(To what I want when I'm stretched so thin)
It's all too much to take in
I can't hold on
(Running against you, I can't win)
With thoughts of failure sinking in

If I turn my back I'm defenseless
And to give into fate seems senseless
If I hide my pride and let it all go on
Then they'll take from me 'til everything is gone
If I let them go i'll be outdone
But if I try to catch them i'll be outrun
If i'm killed by the questions like a cancer
Then i'll be buried in the silence of the answer by myself

(Myself)
I ask why
(But in my mind I find)
I can't rely on myself
(Myself)
I ask why
(But in my mind I find)
I can't rely on myself

I can't hold on
(To what I want when I'm stretched so thin)
It's all too much to take in
I can't hold on
(Running against you, I can't win)
With thoughts of failure sinking in

How do you think I've lost so much
Always afraid that i'm out of touch
How do you expect I will know what to do
When all I know is what you tell me to

Don't you (know)
I can't tell you how to make it (go)
No matter what I do, how hard I (try)
I can't seem to convince myself (why)
I'm stuck on the outside
Don't you (know)
I can't tell you how to make it (go)
No matter what I do, how hard I (try)
I can't seem to convince myself (why)
I'm stuck on the outside

I can't hold on
(To what I want when I'm stretched so thin)
It's all too much to take in
I can't hold on
(Running against you, I can't win)
With thoughts of failure sinking in
I can't hold on
(To what I want when I'm stretched so thin)
It's all too much to take in
I can't hold on
(Running against me, I can't win)
With thoughts of failure from with-

Template:Collapse bottom Template:Collapse top

So
What do you think?

What do I do to ignore what's behind me
Do I follow my fate to escape blindly
Do I hide my pride away from these bad dreams
And give in to sad thoughts that are maddening
Do I let it go and try to stand it
Or do I try to catch them red handed
Do I trust some and get fooled by phoniness
Or do I trust none and live life in loneliness
Cause sunlight burns the skin of sleeping men
I make the right turns but I'm lost within
I put on my daily facade but then
I just end up getting hurt again by myself

(Myself)
I ask why
(But in my mind I find)
I can't rely on myself
(Myself)
I ask why
(But in my mind I find)
I can't rely on myself

I can't hold on
(To what I want when I'm stretched so thin)
It's all too much to take in
I can't hold on
(Running against you, I can't win)
With thoughts of failure sinking in

If I turn my back I'm defenseless
And to give into fate seems senseless
If I hide my pride I'll lie sleepless
And won't be able to cope with my weakness
If I let them go I'll be outdone
But if I try to catch them i'll be outrun
If i'm killed by the questions like a cancer
Then i'll be buried in the silence of the answer by myself

(Myself)
I ask why
(But in my mind I find)
I can't rely on myself
(Myself)
I ask why
(But in my mind I find)
I can't rely on myself

I can't hold on
(To what I want when I'm stretched so thin)
It's all too much to take in
I can't hold on
(Running against you, I can't win)
With thoughts of failure sinking in

How do you think I've lost so much
Always afraid that i'm out of touch
How do you expect I will know what to do
When all I know is what you tell me to

Don't you (know)
I can't tell you how to make it (go)
No matter what I do, how hard I (try)
I can't seem to convince myself (why)
I'm stuck on the outside
Don't you (know)
I can't tell you how to make it (go)
No matter what I do, how hard I (try)
I can't seem to convince myself (why)
I'm stuck on the outside

I can't hold on
(To what I want when I'm stretched so thin)
It's all too much to take in
I can't hold on
(Running against you, I can't win)
With thoughts of failure sinking in
I can't hold on
(To what I want when I'm stretched so thin)
It's all too much to take in
I can't hold on
(Running against me, I can't win)
With thoughts of failure from with-

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