Everything I’ve Known by Korn Lyrics Meaning – The Dissonance of Self and Relationships
Lyrics
Today, hoping in time
We’ll bury all this pain
And will awake something inside
We pushed our buttons far inside
We tear our hearts out, then we fight
Hey, I know
Feels like I’ve lost everything that I’ve known
I cannot survive alone
Feels like I’ve lost everything that I’ve known
Our lives were good in every way
Too late, time after time
Our love just turned to hate
But we stayed by each other’s side
We pushed our buttons far inside
We tear our hearts out, then we fight
Hey, I know
Feels like I’ve lost everything that I’ve known
I cannot survive alone
Feels like I’ve lost everything that I’ve known
I keep holding on
I feel I’m where I belong
Every time we fight
It feels so wrong
I feel so enslaved, fuck my pride
Then we meet again
We pushed our buttons far inside
We tear our hearts out, then we fight
Hey, I know
Feels like I’ve lost everything that I’ve known
I cannot survive alone
Feels like I’ve lost everything that I’ve known
Korn’s ‘Everything I’ve Known’ resonates with the sound of emotional turmoil and the haunting sensation of losing oneself within the cataclysm of intimate relationships. As we delve deep into this riveting composition, one can’t help but feel the weight of the heavy guitar riffs accompanying the raw, visceral emotions laid bare through the lyrics.
While on the surface, the song reads like a harrowing narrative of personal loss and the desperation that ensues, a closer listen reveals layered textures of meaning, symbiotically intertwining the angst of the human condition with the volatility of human connections. Let’s explore the multifaceted depths of ‘Everything I’ve Known’ and unravel the tapestry of pain and resilience woven by nu-metal pioneers, Korn.
The Scream of Dissonance
From its very opening lines, ‘Everything I’ve Known’ screams the dissonance of internal and external conflicts. The phrase ‘going down’ immediately sets a tone of descent, a motion towards something darker and inescapable. As the melodic tones grow more desperate, we hear a longing, not just for the cessation of pain, but for a transformation – the awakening of ‘something inside’.
This motif of internal struggle is a hallmark of Korn’s musical library, often manifesting through their jarring instrumentation and Jonathan Davis’s signature vocal style. The track embodies this struggle, sonically oscillating between the rush of emotional highs and the chasms of despair.
A Tale of Self and the Other
What ‘Everything I’ve Known’ so cleverly unveils is the duality of human experience: the self and the other. The protagonist laments the transformation of love into hate while paradoxically remaining ‘by each other’s side’. This juxtaposition serves as a stark reminder that our most profound connections can also be the sources of our deepest agonies.
This song, then, explores the psychological battlefield where we fight our inner demons invoked by the very bonds we cannot seem to sever, whether they be romantic, familial, or platonic. Korn encapsulates the friction of clinging to a relationship even as it morphs into something unrecognizable and painful.
The Anthem of Existential Solitude
Korn’s rhetorical outburst ‘I cannot survive alone’ is a raw cry underscoring the track’s themes – highlighting our innate terror of isolation juxtaposed against the backdrop of personal identity loss within toxic dynamics. It’s a chilling confession that despite the unbearable pain, the thought of solitude is equally, if not more, terrifying.
By grappling with this anthem of existential solitude, we confront the harsh truth of human dependency, and the universal dread of walking the path of life unaccompanied. ‘Everything I’ve Known’ doesn’t just question the strength of our individual identities, but rather it demands an answer for our capacity to endure and evolve beyond the chaos.
Frayed Bonds and Inner Strength
There’s a delicate balance explored within the lyrics between the erosion of relationships and the resilience of the human spirit. ‘I keep holding on, I feel I’m where I belong’ encapsulates the paradoxical nature of this balance. It suggests a recognition of one’s place amidst the tumult, a testament to the often inexplicable draw to remain where hurt persists.
Korn invites listeners to consider the complexities of these frayed bonds, the reasons we might opt to stay in a cycle of hurt, and what it ultimately means for our growth as individuals. The push and pull of the fight to hold on, as poetically rendered in the song, speaks to the tenacity inherent in the human condition.
The Cries That Echo Beyond the Lyrics
As with many of Korn’s songs, ‘Everything I’ve Known’ is punctuated with moments that transcend words. The instrumental breakdowns, the anguished screams, and the relentless rhythm sections contribute to the overall despair and defiance that imbues the track. These elements are as much a part of the narrative as the lyrics themselves, acting as the visceral cries of a soul in turmoil.
It’s these instrumental cries that cut to the core, allowing listeners to feel the song’s emotions on an instinctual level. Through this, ‘Everything I’ve Known’ becomes more than a piece of music; it is a raw conduit for the shared experience of pain, endurance, and, ultimately, survival.
