Standing in the Middle
Linkin Park Lyrics

I'm standing in the middle of it
The singer is in the midst of something important or difficult to navigate.

Middle of it, middle of it
Reiteration of the singer's position.

Yo, y’all better wake up; you think we don’t see y’all drifting?
The singer is calling out those who are not paying attention to their responsibilities.

Sleeping on the job and forgetting your position? (position)
The artist is specifically targeting those who have strayed from their roles or tasks.

Sit straight and listen; what you are missing
The artist urges listeners to pay attention, as it seems they're missing critical information.

I cook up a batch, hot straight out the kitchen
The singer is announcing their skills in creating something great.

No indecision, I spit right
The singer is confident in their abilities, and doesn't hesitate to take action.

Heavy as a fist fight
The situation is as intense and potentially violent as a physical altercation.

No gloves and no masks
The artist is exposing themselves in a risky or dangerous situation.

No pain and no slack
The artist is prepared to do what it takes without hesitation.

No way to look back
There's no turning back from this point forward.

Nobody to say I can’t make my own path
The artist is determined to carve their own way forward regardless of naysayers.

Cause the way that y’all act, I wanna break something
The behavior of others is frustrating and makes the singer feel like lashing out.

Comin’ at me like the pain I feel means nothing
The singer's struggles are not being taken seriously by others.

Comin’ from a place where you can’t relate
The singer feels misunderstood and not understood by others.

Where every word from your face comes across as fake
The artist finds others to be untrustworthy and insincere.

And I can hardly take the way that y’all treat us
The artist is fed up with the way others are treating them or their group.

Sending this out to anyone who won’t believe us
The singer is addressing non-believers and trying to convince them otherwise.

Spelling it out so y’all know the deal
The singer is being transparent and giving the full story.

And if you can’t feel it, maybe you can’t feel
If the listener can't empathize with their situation, then they won't understand the struggle.

Tell ‘em, Motion
The artist is passing the mic to Motion, giving them a turn to speak.

Eat your words
The artist challenges others to take back what they've said before taking any further action.

Say what you used to say and act how you used to act
The singer urges others to stick to their previous ways and not change on a whim.

Every time you heard my occupation was a rap attack (rap attack)
The artist believes that their profession is constantly under attack or misunderstood by others.

My conversation’s stacked, I switch my defense on you
The singer is well-prepared in their communication and will defend themselves if challenged.

Every time you want to get deep you’ll see my knuckle package
If someone tries to confront the singer or get too close, they'll face the singer's fists.

Born to die, ferocious emcee make you go back and write your rhymes
The singer is confident in their rapping ability, making others feel the need to improve their own skills.

My style chokes up like a little league baseball player
The artist's rap style is so impressive that others may feel intimidated or suffocated by it.

It moves, I’m strangling as I’m swinging as main mangler
The artist is able to manipulate others with their words, almost like physically overpowering them.

I wanna dee-four, poach you as your seafood is cee-four
These nonsensical lyrics are simply wordplay and don't have a deeper meaning.

I’m gonna rap and you still knee-high
The singer is so advanced in their rap skill that others are still at a beginner level compared to them.

Y’all wanna train with me, guy?
The artist is challenging others to try to learn from them or improve alongside them.

Man, it’s destructive
The artist acknowledges that their style or approach can be harmful or dangerous.

Man, it’s like jabs from boxing champ Lennox
The artist's rapping is so powerful that it's like getting hit by a professional boxer.

Perfect for your head, I’ll fit it like New Era hats
The singer's style is complementary and suits others well.

That top off suits, B-boy etiquette
The artist's style incorporates elements of hip hop culture like B-boying.

Express myself with my hang-side
The singer is able to be their true self and express themselves freely.

Then I extend one finger, the middle fucking
The singer's attitude is rebellious and they aren't afraid to show it.

Sometimes I feel it’s like nothing that I ever do is ever good enough (for real)
The singer is expressing feelings of inadequacy or self-doubt.

Like I should stop and go back to L.A.
The artist is considering giving up and returning to where they came from.

Back away where I know I won’t be seen
The artist wants to escape from prying eyes and critical judgment.

And nobody’s gonna critique the music that I make
The singer wants to avoid criticism and judgment of their artistic work.

And mistake me for some fucking kid with a backpack
The singer doesn't want to be mistaken for an amateur or inexperienced rapper.

Rapping on a track just to make a buck
The artist doesn't want to be seen as someone who raps solely for profit.

For a mix-tape that sucks
The artist acknowledges that some mix-tapes may not be up to par with their usual work.

And dee-jays that don’t get it
The artist is frustrated when DJs or others in the industry don't understand or appreciate their work.

But I been down that road and I know
The singer has experienced these struggles before and knows how to navigate them.

People don’t wanna go where I might go
Others are hesitant or unwilling to take risks and explore new territory alongside the artist.

Don’t wanna know what it’s like
Others may be afraid or disinterested in experiencing the same things the singer has been through.

To step outside your zone with a mike
The singer is urging listeners to take risks and explore their creativity, even if it's uncomfortable.

Just controlling the hype
The singer is trying to keep things under control and maintain perspective amidst excitement and attention.

And if we need to take shots from them
The artist acknowledges that they may face criticism or attack from others.

And be stopped by them just to make these ends
The artist might face opposition while trying to achieve their goals.

Then so be it, I will not hold my breath
The singer is determined and won't let anything stop them from achieving their goals.

I’m gonna spit ‘til I got none left
The singer will continue rapping and expressing themselves until they can't anymore.

Motion, where you at?
The artist is calling out Motion to make their contribution or presence known.

Middle of it, middle of it
Reiteration of the artist's position.