I close both locks below the window
I close both blinds and turn away
Sometimes solutions aren't so simple
Sometimes goodbye's the only way, oh

And the sun will set for you
The sun will set for you
And the shadow of the day
Will embrace the world in grey
And the sun will set for you

In cards and flowers on your window
Your friends all plead for you to stay
Sometimes beginnings aren't so simple
Sometimes goodbye's the only way, oh

And the sun will set for you
The sun will set for you
And the shadow of the day
Will embrace the world in grey
And the sun will set for you

And the shadow of the day
Will embrace the world in grey
And the sun will set for you

And the shadow of the day
Will embrace the world in grey
And the sun will set for you


Lyrics submitted by theDrunkPianist

Shadow of the Day Lyrics as written by Chester Charles Bennington Brad Delson

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Shadow Of The Day song meanings
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  • +18
    General Comment

    I think that this song can be interpreted differently for different people. But to make the thought as generic as possible, we all have seasons of our lives. Cards and flowers in a dark context are used for only two things, moving and death. Life for sure isn't easy or simple. So whether it means moving on in life or moving on through death, it's important for us to know that this is life, and if it hasn't happened to you already, it will.

    vex390on April 09, 2012   Link
  • +8
    General Comment

    I heard this song just the other day on the way to work. When I heard the lyrics about "cards and flowers" I was reminded of something really personal that just happened to me a few months ago. A co-worker and friend of mine died, and she was suffering for years from cancer. I can imagine how much her family and all her friends both wanted her to live, but at the same time for her suffering to end. I think the song is about that, about not quite getting over death but accepting it as the only way, the ultimate goodbye. I think that it looks at death as not something cruel, but as the final peace that one achieves with the setting of the sun on their life. It's kind of bittersweet, since the person who has died will of course be missed, but in their death their pain is over. I think the song is about accepting that, and about dealing with such a profound loss. Although I see how the song could be about losing a friendship or a relationship it struck me as being something much more final than that...I wish this song had existed before she had died.

    seraphicreverieon May 22, 2007   Link
  • +7
    General Comment

    I fucking LOVE Chester's voice!! The first verse is the best, when there are less instrumentals and his voice really soars. I think he's one of the best singers of this generation, and definitely of this genre.

    To me, this song symbolizes new beginnings. Even though it's hard, sometimes the best thing to do is move on and put your old life (and friends) behind. Although they are your true friends, they may not be the best influence in your life and will end up involuntarily dragging you down.

    Moooseyon May 20, 2007   Link
  • +6
    General Comment

    I think this song is about a soldier leaving home. The first verse is through the soldier's point of view as he is leaving home and is saying goodbye. In the second verse, I think the soldier has been seriously injured and in a critical state. His family and friends have sent him cards to wish him well. As for his ultimate fate, I'm gonna say he died as the chorus has a kind of tribute-y feel to it. "The sun will set for you" to me means that the world will honour the sacrifice this soldier made.

    kill3rm0nkeyon February 19, 2011   Link
  • +5
    General Comment

    I think this is about how linkin park is saying that things need to be changed, and that their can't be a solution to make everyone happy and that we should just enjoy what we have until it goes away.. and the shadow of the day is a metaphor for us as human beings to change the world, and we can't make it perfect, but we can embrace it in grey (Black and white, meaning we should try to be on the white part, even though the black part might always be with us, and that life can't be neither one of those colors, or we loose our balance) and the pink cards and flowers make him miss his former way of life, as your friends want you to stay the same person, they don't want them or you to change, but if everyone trys to reach for a new beggining which is hard to do, that we will know at the end of the day, evn after all the suffering going on, everything will be okay if we work hard enough. kinda like peace in a realistic sense. great song by the way

    xaiver_888on May 10, 2007   Link
  • +4
    General Comment

    The shadow of the day is something that is deeply troubling somebody. It's casting a shadow on their life and their heart, making it all grey. The song says that no matter how grey you and your day becomes, the sun will eventually set and bury this greyness in complete darkness, and then a new day will begin full of light and with the chance for a brighter day.

    It doesn't have to be just a day. The song can be about a general period of grief in somebody's life. Metaphorically it makes sense to use the word day because the cycle of the sun is mentioned as the cure for the problem. But it's all just metaphor.

    Eventually that period of grief will end and things can get better. The person in the song is about to give up, contemplating suicide, I think. (sometimes goodbye's the only way -- your friends all plead for you to stay.........the person is locking themselves in isolation).

    The song says, "endure the moment, things can get better, people are about you".

    msp123on August 27, 2012   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    Could it be that those who have contemplated suicide tend to see the meaning of suicide in this?

    to vandalrocker: It is possible that there are 2 perspectives there if you read it that way. But seems like the writer is talking to a second person. e.g. "I AM having this opinion, what do YOU think?"

    In particular, I think the writer is talking to a person who is faced with a choice to stay or leave the group. (This may be his friend or whoever listens to the song.) -"Your friends plead". The catch is, staying would require hard work or conflict. -"Sometimes solutions aren't so simple. Sometimes goodbye's the only way." When you leave one place/group, you meet with another, and start again. -"Sometimes beginnings aren't so simple." And for the person leaving. The sun will set on him/her. That is, the time he/she has with the group is over.

    This song relates to a situation my friend was in. He belonged to this organization, and everyone loved him. but because he had great conflict with the boss, he had to leave, or stay and submit to the stubborn boss's unreasonable terms. No one else in the organization was happy with this of course. It all became grey thereafter.

    This song could apply to groups of friends splitting and breaking up, perhaps because of certain alliances, and loyalties. When 2 friends in a group become enemies, its easy to take sides. Though this song seems to apply to a single person leaving.

    Wiltrixon August 10, 2007   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    This song speaks of someone in great pain to me. This speaks of someone who has suffered a severe loss. Someone very close to this person has recently died unexpectedly. The main person in this song is very depressed because of their loss. Their friends remaining know that the main character is depressed and suicidal. That is the verse about friends pleading for the person to stay. The main character comes to realize that he has t go on with his life and that he loves his friends too much to go through with his suicide. The sun sets on his depression of his friends’ death. He moves on with his life with his friends help.

    cparmeteron April 23, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    this song reminds me of suicide and looking for alibrandi dnt ask why i think its the beat at the start, its sort of similar to the one where the dude dies

    ~bre~on May 15, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Someone who's die? I like this song, my favorite of the album.

    Pauapuon May 30, 2007   Link

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