The 20-Year Wait to Hear Linkin Park Song ‘Pictureboard’ Is Over

For two decades, Linkin Park‘s song “Pictureboard” remained under lock and key, existing in legend only as fans waited, waited and then waited some more, hoping one day the band would finally release it. Now, as part of the 20th anniversary edition of their Hybrid Theory debut, Linkin Park have officially released that long-awaited track.

“Pictureboard” lacks the polished, punchy production that defined Hybrid Theory. Even so, that lesser quality doesn’t take away from what this song is — an insight into the early writing efforts of a young band whose influences were wide-ranging as they capitalized on the nu-metal movement at the time, which sought to blend elements of rap and hip-hop with hard rock and metal.

When the song was written, the band was operating under the name Xero, prior to adopting the Linkin Park moniker. Singer Mark Wakefield, who was in Xero before Chester Bennington joined, originally sang on the track, which was later given an update with Bennington on the mic.

Read the lyrics to “Pictureboard” (via Genius) directly below and hear the song further down the page.

Linkin Park, “Pictureboard” Lyrics

I will be myself
Until it’s time
For me to fly

And I will walk away
From this message on my board
I will walk away, yeah

You must be yourself
Until it’s time
For us to fly

And I will walk away
From this message on my board
I will walk away, yeah

The night in the corner at the back of the hall
Where we sit all alone and listen to the rainfall
The night in the corner at the back of the hall
Where we sit all alone and listen to the rainfall
The night in the corner at the back of the hall
Where we sit all alone and listen to the rainfall
The night in the corner at the back of the hall
Where we sit all alone and listen to the rainfall
Calling from all sides, they surround all around
You can’t see a thing, but you can hear the sounds (I will walk away)
Falling from the sky, upside-down
To the beat of heart as your whole head pounds (I will walk away)
Calling from all sides, they surround all around
You can’t see a thing, but you can hear the sounds (I will walk away)
Falling from the sky, upside-down
To the beat of heart as your whole head pounds

I will be myself, yeah

And I will walk away
From this message on my board
I will walk away, yeah

The night in the corner at the back of the hall
Where we sit all alone and listen to the rainfall
The night in the corner at the back of the hall
Where we sit all alone and listen to the rainfall
The night in the corner at the back of the hall
Where we sit all alone and listen to the rainfall
The night in the corner at the back of the hall
Is where we sit all alone and listen to the rainfall
The night in the corner at the back of the hall
Where we sit all alone and listen to the rainfall
The night in the corner at the back of the hall
Is where we sit all alone and listen to the rainfall
The night in the corner at the back of the hall
Where we sit all alone and listen to the rainfall
The night in the corner at the back of the hall
Is where we sit all alone and listen to the rainfall

Over the summer, Linkin Park treated fans to another Hybrid Theory anniversary treat and issued the previously unheard track, “She Couldn’t.” Then, earlier this month came the demo version of “In the End,” which sounds very different from the album version. That 20th anniversary edition of Hybrid Theory is out now.

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