One Step Closer – English Lyrics

• By: Linkin Park
• Album: Hybrid Theory

Lyrics & Translation

Explore Linkin Park's breakthrough hit, "One Step Closer," a powerful anthem of frustration and angst. Dive into the song's creation, meaning, and impact, and discover how its raw energy made it a defining track of the nu-metal era. Learn how the band channeled personal struggles into a timeless message of resilience and expression. Perfect for understanding the language of emotion through music.

[English]

I cannot take this anymore

Saying everything I've said before

All these words, they make no sense

I find bliss in ignorance

Less I hear, the less you say

You'll find that out anyway

Just like before

Everything you say to me

(Takes me one step closer to the edge)

(And I'm about to break)

I need a little room to breathe

('Cause I'm one step closer to the edge)

(I'm about to break)

I find the answers aren't so clear

Wish I could find a way to disappear

All these thoughts they make no sense

I find bliss in ignorance

Nothing seems to go away

Over and over again

Just like before

Everything you say to me

(Takes me one step closer to the edge)

(And I'm about to break)

I need a little room to breathe

('Cause I'm one step closer to the edge)

(I'm about to break)

Everything you say to me

(Takes me one step closer to the edge)

(And I'm about to break)

I need a little room to breathe

('Cause I'm one step closer to the edge)

(And I'm about to-)

Break, break, break...

...

Shut up when I'm talking to you

Shut up, shut up, shut up

Shut up when I'm talking to you

Shut up, shut up, shut up

Shut up

I'm about to break

Everything you say to me

(Takes me one step closer to the edge)

(And I'm about to break)

I need a little room to breathe

('Cause I'm one step closer to the edge)

(I'm about to break)

Everything you say to me

(Takes me one step closer to the edge)

(And I'm about to break)

I need a little room to breathe

('Cause I'm one step closer to the edge)

(And I'm about to)

Break

...

Key Grammar Structures

• I cannot take this anymore

  ➔ Modal Verb + Present Simple Negative

  ➔ "Cannot" expresses inability while "anymore" emphasizes the present continuous situation.

• Less I hear, the less you say

  ➔ Double Comparative Structure

  ➔ This parallel structure shows cause-and-effect relationship using two comparative clauses.

• Everything you say to me

  ➔ Reduced Relative Clause

  ➔ Omits "that" ("Everything that you say..."), common in conversational English.

• Takes me one step closer to the edge

  ➔ Ditransitive Verb Phrase

  ➔ "Takes" has two objects: indirect ("me") and direct ("one step closer to the edge").

• I'm about to break

  ➔ "Be about to" Immediate Future

  ➔ Expresses imminent action using "be about to" + base verb.

• Wish I could find a way

  ➔ Unreal Conditional Wish

  ➔ Uses "wish" + past simple ("could") for present unreal situations.

• Nothing seems to go away

  ➔ Negative Subject + Infinitive

  ➔ "Nothing" (negative subject) with verb "seem" + infinitive "to go" emphasizing permanence.

• Shut up when I'm talking to you

  ➔ Imperative + Time Clause

  ➔ Direct command ("Shut up") with time subordinator "when" showing frustration during interaction.