The first version of “Part Of Me” with Chester Bennington was recorded towards the end of May 1999 with “Untitled (It Doesn’t Matter)” and “Flower”. According to Jeff Blue’s One Step Closer: From Xero to #1: Becoming Linkin Park book, the song is about the “obsession with one’s own shortcomings and...
[Verse 1: Mike Shinoda]
Part of me won't go away
Every day, reminded how much I hate it
Weighed it against the consequences
Can't live without it, so it's senseless
Wanna cut it out of my soul
And just live with the gaping hole
Take control of my life and wash out all the burnt taste
I made the problems in the first place
Hang my head low 'cause it's part of me
You hardly see right next to the heart of me
Hurting me, the wounds soon scar
New cuts cover where the old ones arе
And now I'm sick of this
I can't stand the sandpaper thoughts that grate on my sanity
I rathеr not even be
Than the man that's staring in the mirror through me
[Pre-Chorus: Mike Shinoda]
Cut myself free willingly, stop just what's killing me
Cut myself free willingly, stop just what's killing me
Cut myself free willingly, stop just what's killing me
Cut myself free willingly, stop just what's killing me
[Chorus: Chester Bennington]
I feel it every day
I feel I made my way
I feel it swell up inside
Swell up inside, swallowing me
[Verse 2: Mike Shinoda]
Freedom can be frightening if you've never felt it
Once it's been dealt with
You feel like you've been touched by something angelic
And then melted down into a pool of peace
Cease to be the animal you used to be
Remove the broken parts you know were wrong
And feel the calm when the problem's all gone
And then you start to see
Another piece of yourself that you can't let be
Memories of the last fight to free yourself
Taken to the depths of the bottom of the well
And now you know that you can choose
To lose the part in your heart where your insides bruise
You can live if you're willing to
Put a stop to just what's killing you
[Pre-Chorus: Mike Shinoda]
Cut myself free willingly, stop just what's killing me
Cut myself free willingly, stop just what's killing me
Cut myself free willingly, stop just what's killing me
Cut myself free willingly, stop just what's killing me
[Chorus: Chester Bennington]
I feel it every day
I feel I made my way
I feel it swell up inside
Swell up inside, swallowing me
[Bridge: Mike Shinoda & Chester Bennington]
(Alive in me, inside of me)
(A part of me screams away silently)
(Alive in me, inside of me)
(A part of me screams away silently)
This part of me won't go away (Alive in me, inside of me)
(A part of me screams away silently)
Part of me won't go away (Alive in me, inside of me)
(A part of me screams away silently)
[Interlude: Mike Shinoda]
Everywhere I look around, I see how everything ought to be
Every time I see myself, there's always something wrong with me
Everywhere I look around, I see how everything ought to be
Every time I see myself, there's always something wrong with me
[Chorus: Chester Bennington]
I feel it every day
I feel I made my way
I feel it swell up inside
Swell up inside, swallowing me
I feel it every day
I feel I made my way
I feel it swell up inside
Swell up inside, swallowing me
I feel it swell up inside
Swell up inside, swallowing me
I feel it swell up inside
Swell up inside, swallowing me