Casualty

"Casualty"
Song by Linkin Park
from the album From Zero
Format:	Digital
Writer:	Linkin Park
Label:	Warner Records
From Zero tracklist
From Zero (Intro) The Emptiness Machine Cut The Bridge Heavy Is The Crown Over Each Other Casualty Overflow Two Faced Stained IGYEIH Good Things Go

"Casualty" is the sixth track from Linkin Park's eighth studio album, From Zero. It is the shortest full song on the album coming in at two minutes and twenty seconds.

Background

The band began working on 'Casualty' rather late into the From Zero sessions. At this point in the band's return, Brad was still hesitant to return to the studio and begin working on music again, even though he knew that sessions were happening between Mike, Dave, Joe, Emily, and Colin. They kept the door open for him, not pressuring him to join back but also expressing the value in his perspective. Once he finally entered the studio, he was fully on board and, according to Mike, said "I think we can write something heavier. Like, way heavier."

Emily wrote the lines in the chorus, surprising Mike with the intensity of her delivery. Emily said she took inspiration from her live performances with Dead Sara when performing on the track.

'Casualty' was premiered to the world live, being performed for the first time in Arlington, Texas on November 8, 2024, a week before the album came out. Once fans had heard the song, it was discovered that the band used lyrics from the track ("It's only a matter of time") to promote the September 5, 2024 livestream countdown promotion in August.

Versions

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

Studio

Title	Album	Length	Recorded	Released	Notes
Casualty	From Zero	2:20		November 15, 2024

Live

Speaking to press in Asia in September 2024, Emily Armstrong said she wanted to perform 'Two Faced,' 'Casualty,' and 'Overflow' live, saying "Those three, I think, were the ones we've kinda been talking about... like, really wanting to explore live. I think we're gonna do some rehearsals when we get home and, you know, put it into our live set."

'Casualty' received its world premiere at Linkin Park's show on November 8, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. Mike addressed the crowd before the song, saying, "Earlier, I kind of fibbed and said we had one surprise for you tonight [that surprise being the live debut of 'All For Nothing' with Page Hamilton], that wasn't exactly true. We do have a second surprise for you tonight, because you get to find out - Dallas gets to find out what happens when Em puts her screamy pants on." Emily responded, "I'm so shy," before launching straight into the song. The band extended the bridge to the song, with Mike once again speaking the crowd: "If ever there was ever a time at a Linkin Park show to show us the biggest pit that you can... Some of you motherfuckers haven't been in a pit in like ten years! Don't you miss it? You gonna show us you still got it?"

Personnel

Linkin Park is

• Mike Shinoda
• Brad Delson
• Dave "Phoenix" Farrell
• Joseph Hahn
• Emily Armstrong
• Colin Brittain

Lyrics

Album Version

This is the letter that I
I didn’t write
Looking for color in the
Black and white
Skyscrapers we created
On shaky ground
And I’m trying to find my patience

But you won’t let me breathe
And I’m not ever right
All we are is talking
Over each other
There’s nothing underneath
It’s all a waste of time
All we are is talking
Over each other

Reaching for satellites
But all along
Under your breath you’re saying
That I was wrong / oh
The skyscrapers we created
Are coming down
And free falling to the pavement

’Cause you won’t let me breathe
And I’m not ever right
All we are is talking
Over each other
There’s nothing underneath
It’s all a waste of time
All we are is talking
Over each other

Oh, are we over each other
Oh, are we over each other
Oh

I can’t go to sleep
I lie awake at night
I’m so tired of talking
Over each other
So say what’s underneath
I want to see your side
We don’t have to be talking
Over each other
Over each other
Over each other
Over each other