Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: metal
Song Meaning of “Breaking the Habit – Live in Hamburg, 2011” by Linkin Park
Breaking the Habit by Linkin Park is a song about finding the courage to break free from patterns of destructive behavior. It speaks to overcoming the fear of making a change and the small discomforts that this brings. The narrator is stuck in a mediocrity cycle, where he has been caught up in the routine of everyday life and is unsatisfied with it. He knows that in order to create meaningful change, he must overcome his habit of allowing this complacency to define him.
The song implores the listener to take a chance, to make that leap and trust that it will eventually lead to something better. He struggles from the weight of feeling restricted and powerless in his own life, but sings about persevering in the face of this fear. There is a sense of liberation and relief that comes with taking your own life back.
The Live in Hamburg 2011 performance of the song takes a moment to focus on the process of change and the joy that gains from having the courage to break free and try something new. Linkin Park’s intense fusion of instruments paints a vivid picture of the speaker’s journey, offering a message of hope that while difficult, this process of change can result in renewed purpose and appreciation of life.