Linkin Park: Carousel Meaning

Carousel Lyrics

she can't hide no matter how hard she tries
her secret disguised behind the lies
and at night she crys away her pride
with eyes shut tight staring at her inside
all her friends know why she can't sleep at night
all her family asking is she...

1. 1TOP RATED

   #1 top rated interpretation:
   petertan2

   • 1
   • 2
   • 3
   • 4
   • 5

   click a star to vote

   May 2nd 2009 !⃝

   The image of a carousel implies coming back again, multiple times, in the same situation. This is usually the case for drug addiction. Quitting is the hardest part, and many find themselves back to abusing drugs. Nonetheless, carousel has ambiguity in the title. Carousel creates a spinning illusion, similar to that of dizziness experienced in a high from drugs. This relates back to the issue of drug abuse and attempts of quitting.
2. anonymous

   • 1
   • 2
   • 3
   • 4
   • 5

   click a star to vote

   Feb 20th 2017 !⃝

   This song holds very deep meaning for me. The first verse especially; I think it's about a girl who is broken inside, holding a dark secret. Her friends know about it, but her family might not (going by my interpretation). The chorus makes me think of the bridge to Lying From You ('I never thought that what I said would have you running from me'). Maybe she doesn't realize that her story, or her secret, would scare people away. And I think the second verse tells the story of a drug addict. He thinks that his addiction isn't a problem, and his friends have it the same. The chorus has the same meaning for him. I'm honestly not sure what to say about the bridge...but now I'll go into the even darker side. I compare myself to the girl in the first verse; the lyrics and story fit me perfectly. The second verse is my dad. He's a drug addict, verbally and emotionally abusive. The title alone--Carousel--tells a dark story to me. Running around and around endlessly, trying desperately to escape your demons because you think you're too weak to fight them. That's another part of the song; 'I'm too weak to face me.' makes me think of what I just said--running from your demons because you think you're too weak to fight them.
3. anonymous

   • 1
   • 2
   • 3
   • 4
   • 5

   click a star to vote

   Jun 12th 2012 !⃝

   I really do think this can be interpreted anyway you want it. Thats what music is.
   
   I personally this is about not being able to quit a certain habit or think a certain way. At least for the part about a girl (As opposed to 'he') it could just be a family situation and shes trying to convince herself that everything will get better and it never does. Could be about drugs. Just the way I interpreted it...
4. anonymous

   • 1
   • 2
   • 3
   • 4
   • 5

   click a star to vote

   Jan 9th 2012 !⃝

   This isn't necessarily about drug use, it's about someone that is in denial. It could apply to drugs or any habit that they want to quit. It just means that like a carousel, they keep going around and around and can't get off until they make it stop.
5. Davey Goud

   • 1
   • 2
   • 3
   • 4
   • 5

   click a star to vote

   Jul 17th 2011 !⃝

   'carousel' is probably a metaphor for addiction, when it's spinning, it's difficult to get off of it.
6. anonymous

   • 1
   • 2
   • 3
   • 4
   • 5

   click a star to vote

   Feb 27th 2011 !⃝

   I think this song is about drugs because in the 2nd verse it says how he finds it difficult to quit because his friends are doing it.
   The 2nd verse is my fav part. I think it is spoken well and my fav line of the whole song is:
   Tries to slow down the problem he's got
   But can't get off the carousel until he makes it stop
7. anonymous

   • 1
   • 2
   • 3
   • 4
   • 5

   click a star to vote

   Feb 22nd 2011 !⃝

   the first part kind of has a meaning to me that probably comes from just my own experience of anorexia and self harm.
   
   but i think it applies to any type of addiction or action in general that harms yourself like drugs, self harm, alcoholism, ED's, etc.
8. linkinpark4eva

   • 1
   • 2
   • 3
   • 4
   • 5

   click a star to vote

   Oct 7th 2005 !⃝

   This song is about the use of drugs. No question about it. Look at the lyrics
   
   "All her friends know why she can't sleep at night
   All her family askin' if she's all right
   All she wants to do is get rid of hell
   Well all she gotta do is stop kiddin herself"
   
   AND:
   
   "When it comes to how to live his life, he can't be told
   Says he's got it all under control
   Thinks he knows it's not a problem he's stuck with
   But in reality, it'd be a problem to just quit."
   
   No argument whatsoever.

Latest Articles

• 
  A new era for Millennial favorite, Linkin Park
• 
  Anime to watch for the soundtracks… and other reasons you’re undateable
• 
  Dolly, we need you
• 
  The Stranger Things Effect: How new media is drawing Gen Z and Alpha's attention to aging media
• 
  The most underrated soundtrack of the early 2000s
• 
  Buy the Soundtrack, Skip the Movie: Brainscan (1994)