Music is a powerful medium capable of conveying highly impactful messages. Modern rock is especially noteworthy for its combination of electronic sounds and important social meanings. Linkin Park is one of the most recognized rock bands in the world. Although it has produced a substantial number of memorable songs, In The End is particularly meaningful. The reliance on logic complemented by strong emotional appeal makes In The End especially persuasive.
The reason for choosing this song lies in the thought-provoking composition of its lyrics. There are two modes of persuasion used – logos and pathos. All verses follow a strict logos style, with an idea being expressed at the beginning, which is followed by examples and reasoning that support it. There is extensive use of ambiguity, irony, and paradoxes (Cahyaningrum 15). The resulting logical appeal is for the audience to ponder the essence of time and effort.
The choruses in the song are written on the basis of pathos. The lyrics clearly convey the feelings of frustration, sadness, and acceptance to the listeners. Instead of the verses in which the concept of fleeting time is explained via the use of examples, the choruses use short repeating statements. The emotional appeal is created by the lines indicating the ultimately wasteful trust and effort.
Altogether, In The End is memorable due to its use of both logic and emotions in delivering a simple message. While initially baffling, the philosophical nature of the first lines becomes justified when the emotional choruses are heard. In less than four minutes, the song manages to convey how disheartening the loss of time can be when committing to a relationship with an unfortunate conclusion.
Work Cited
Cahyaningrum, Ika Oktaria. “An Analysis of Intrinsic Elements and The Portrayal of Anxiety in Linkin Park’s Song Lyrics.” JELLE: Journal Of English Literature, Linguistics, and Education, vol. 2, no. 2, 2021, pp. 12-17.