Since I loved the last post I did about “Daddy“, I thought I’d do it for more songs.
This song is one of their biggest songs, even to the point of being featured in South Park.
The Video and Lyrics
Hey, I’m feeling tired
My time has come today
You flirt with suicide
Sometimes, that’s ok
Do what others say
I’m here standing hollow
Falling away from me
Falling away from me
Day, it’s here fading
That’s when I’m insane
I flirt with suicide
Sometimes, kill the pain
I can’t always say
It’s gonna be better tomorrow
Falling away from me
Falilng away from me
Beating me down
Beating me
Beating me down
Down
Into the ground
Screaming so sound
Beating me
Beating me down
Down
Into the ground
Falling away from me
It’s spinning round and round
Falling away from me
It’s lost and can’t be found
Falling away from me
It’s spinning round and round
Falling away from me
Slow it down
Beating me down
Beating me
Beating me down
Down
Into the ground
Screaming so sound
Beating me
Beating me down
Down
Into the ground
Twisting me
They won’t go away
So I pray
Go away
Life’s falling away from me
It’s falling away from me
Life’s falling away from me
Fuck!
Beating me down
Beating me
Beating me down
Down
Into the ground
Screaming so sound
Beating me
Beating me down
Down
Into the ground
Beating me down
Beating me
Beating me down
Down
Into the ground
Screaming so sound
Beating me
Beating me down
Down
Into the ground
Song’s Meaning
I don’t think the video does a very good job explaining the actual meaning of the song at all. Granted, it’s a great video that tells its own story, but it has little to do with the song.
The song is about depression. “I’m feeling tired… I’m standing hollow… Life’s falling away from me.” Every single clue to depression is there. It’s a sad song that explores what depression feels like, and the inner struggle you have while going through it.
“Do what others say, I’m here standing hollow.” This I believe reflects on how people try to help you, even though they have no idea what they’re telling you. You try to be happy by doing what other people say will make you happy, but in the end you feel lost and hollow.
“Falling away from me.” It can feel like your life is literally falling away from you… draining out of you, leaving nothing but a soulless husk. This is further illustrated with “It’s spinning round and round”. It’s this downward spiral that never stops. “It’s lost and can’t be found.” Happiness is lost… Your reason for living is lost.
“You flirt with suicide. Sometimes, that’s ok… I flirt with suicide. Sometimes, kill the pain.” When in a deep depression, you feel trapped. You think about death, but only as an escape from the prison. “Sometimes, that’s ok.” Flirting with suicide to me means considering it. “Sometimes, kill the pain.” It establishes that flirting with suicide is not a good thing at all… but you know… I understand why you would. Sometimes, I guess it’s ok to think such thoughts… if for no other reason than to escape.
Interesting to note. “Day, it’s here fading, that’s when I’m insane.” The way he says “I’m insane”. It’s as though he recognizes these thoughts are wrong, and is wondering what is happening to him. “I must be insane!” Being considered insane is a big deal, and he’s hoping that he isn’t, but questioning whether he is. It’s scary.
Also, “I can’t always say, it’s gonna be better tomorrow.” Being overtly positive doesn’t always help. Listen to how he says “it’s gonna be better tomorrow.” It’s in a mocking tone. He’s mocking those people who have no idea what they’re talking about. “Don’t worry! Tomorrow is another day!” Ah shut the hell up, you pretentious twat.
“Twisting me, they won’t go away. So I pray, go away.” Furthering the prison analogy, these thoughts are now personified. He wants these horrible feelings to go away so he can be happy again.
And once again, this curse word of “Fuck”. Nothing sexual happening here, but this exclamation is significant. In this case, he’s exclaiming his anger for the situation he’s in. Any curse would do here… damn, shit, son of a bitch, bollocks. But fuck also carries with it the meaning of “you’re fucked.” You’re in a bad way. This, to me, is significant because when you’re feeling depressed, you don’t have the energy to scream out against your situation. You’re trapped, with no energy. I think this exclamation is a step in the right direction… At least you feel something.
Video’s Meaning
The video had an entirely different take on the whole thing. It’s still relevant to the song, I think, but it’s a bit of a stretch. To summarize, it’s about a child dealing with domestic abuse. I suppose with that context, the lyrics take on a different meaning. When being abused, you are in a prison, and you are thinking of escaping, even through death. It’s not gonna get better tomorrow. You do what others say, but you’re left hollow, because nothing seems to be working. Perhaps you’re left hollow because most people who are abused don’t speak up about it. So others simply see them as feeling down, and try to cheer them up. No wonder you’re feeling hollow, because you’re doing all these things, and nobody knows the truth. You feel used by everyone.
I think it’s still a stretch because the song is clearly about depression, not the cause of it. The video tries to establish the cause, which to me kinda limits the song’s potential. I wish the video had focused on more people who were in states of depression, just to show the various causes of it. But that’s me.
Still, I have to cheer for that little girl for finally standing up and getting out of that situation. I also love the fact that all the other kids were there to help her. That feeling of sanctuary is important.
And Korn serves its purpose in the video correctly too. They’re there to outlet the pain that this situation has caused, as well as grant the girl the strength she needs to walk through that window and escape. For any true Korn fan out there, you know Korn’s music has done just that for you… They give you an an outlet, and they give you resolve to do something about it.
What Does This Have To Do With Me
I go through depression now and again, and I think this song describes it perfectly. When I was younger, I took the more literal meaning of “Beating me down” to refer to all the times I’d been picked on. I felt like I was abused daily, just like this girl was.
I feel liberated when he screams out before the last chorus. That exclamation representing the need to feel something… The need to break out of the rut that I’m in.
I loved this song because it described my life in detail. I felt that way all the time, and nobody seemed to want to listen nor understand. This band that I’d never met seemed to understand me, and that to me was very helpful. It meant I wasn’t as alone as I thought I was.