Promises I Can't Keep

{{Release | Name=Promises I Can't Keep | Cover=Single-Crossing_A_Line-Nothing_Makes_Sense_Anymore.jpg | Type=song | Artist=Mike Shinoda | Release=Post Traumatic | Working title= | Recorded=2017-2018 | Released=June 15, 2018 | Format= | Length=3:23 | Stems= | Time signature=4/4 | Tempo=135 | Key= | Samples= | References= | Live debut= | Last played= | Label=Warner Bros. Records | Writer=Mike Shinoda | Producer=Mike Shinoda | Misc=Template:Extra track listing

"Promises I Can't Keep" is the seventh track off of Mike Shinoda's debut solo album, Post Traumatic.

Background

On a May 22, 2020 stream, Mike was asked about making "Promises I Can't Keep." He answered, "There isn't anything really unique in terms of that song, it wasn't different making that one versus making the other ones. The Post Traumatic record, everything was just capturing what was going on at the time when each song was made. And make the whole song as quickly as possible, at least get all the lyrics and vocal recordings as quickly as possible so I could capture that day and that moment in time. So, the same thing for that one. I think the lyrics are very self explanatory. The music was a track that I already had that I didn't use. And I heard it... I was like picking through folders of things, "oh I really like this one." And I feel like it filled a role on the album, because I wanted something on there that felt a little more like a Linkin Park song, like my version of what that would be if that would be, if that makes sense. It dipped its toes in the water of like a Linkin Park. So I thought that was important to have on the record."

Music Video

Mike released the music video for "Promises I Can't Keep" on June 29th, 2018 following a teaser on June 27th. The video was filmed in Santa Monica, CA. The shots from the pier are just blocks from the infamous "Lincoln Park" (now Christine Reed Emerson Park) where Chester derived Linkin Park's band name from. Chester used to live close to the pier.

The video was directed and produced by Mark Fiore.

On the Member Guest podcast in August 2018, Mike talked about "Promises I Can't Keep" with Mark Fiore.

Mike: "We did "Promises I Can't Keep." When I first reached out to you, I told you I just want you to be involved somehow. I know there's a lot of Linkin Park fans that know Mark. Mark directed all the LPTV episodes forever. Directed "Talking To Myself" and "Given Up." And this is a really cool video. How would you describe the vibe? What's your take on the concept?"

Mark: "From the beginning, Mike's attitude was like - "I want this to be fun and I want it to be easy." For me, that just like short-circuited me because it's not never fun or easy."

Mike: "We had multiple conversations where I said, "Don't think of this like a Linkin Park video. Don't think about this like the way that we've done things in the past. This is totally different. It's going to be fun." He's like, "But what's the concept? Blah blah blah?" and I was like, "I don't care if there's a concept. Let's just go out and shoot.""

Mark: "We basically agreed on "let's just go hang out and film stuff." And once I was kind of on board with that, I got really excited but I wanted to be able to deliver it in a different way because i feel like right now a lot of the videos that we experienced, they're starting to kind of all feel a little bit the same. So I wanted the experience for the viewer to be different. And so I started thinking about how he experienced Instagram stories and Snapchat and they started working on these different tests with just some video stuff that I had shot on my iPhone where the video was actually scrolling as if it was on a timeline moving from left to right and right to left. And I sent it to Mike and he's like, "That's awesome. I even love that look. I like the iPhone look." So we literally just filmed everything in about two and a half hours."

Versions

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

Title	Album	Length	Recorded	Released	Notes
Promises I Can't Keep	Post Traumatic	3:23	2017-2018	June 15, 2018
Promises I Can't Keep	Post Traumatic - Instrumentals	3:22	2017-2018		Official instrumental version.

Live

Though the song was never played live, on December 26, 2019, Mike posted a picture on Instagram of a part of his live rig used to trigger pieces of songs, and one of the buttons was labeled "Promises", indicating he considered playing it live at some point, but chose not to.

When asked about the idea of perform it with Linkin Park he said, "That's a good question. I think it'd be up to the band. You know... usually when it comes to decisions about the set or what to do on stage... we kind of talk it out. I don't just go in... no one of us would just go in and say, 'Here's what we're doing.'"

Personnel

• Written and produced by Mike Shinoda
• Vocals by Mike Shinoda
• Mixed by Manny Marroquin
• Mastered by Michelle Mancini

Lyrics

Album Version

What's the difference between a man and a monster
Is it somewhere between I can and I want to
Is it somewhere between the promises I made
And the fact I couldn't see something getting in the way

I used to think that I know what I want
Never saw it coming unglued
I used to think that I know what I want
Now it's time to see if it's true

I had so much certainty
Til that moment I lost control
And I've tried but it never was up to me
I've got no worse enemy
Than the fear of what's still unknown
And the time's come to realize there will be
Promises I can't keep

What's the difference between a loss and a forfeit
I tried to make it better, but I made it more sick
I tried to make it right, now awake at night
I know reality was getting in the way

I used to think that I knew who I was
Never saw it coming unglued
I used to think that I knew who I was
Now it's time to see if it's true

I had so much certainty
Til that moment I lost control
And I've tried but it never was up to me
I've got no worse enemy
Than the fear of what's still unknown
And the time's come to realize there will be
Promises I can't keep

I had so much certainty
Til that moment I lost control
And I've tried but it never was up to me
I've got no worse enemy
Than the fear of what's still unknown
And the time's come to realize there will be
Promises I can't keep
Promises I can't keep

Gallery

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  YouTube background image

External Links

• Promises I Can't Keep (Official Audio): YouTube