Lyrics That Rock: Freak on a Leash by Korn – Ep 2

Episode 2 – Freak on a Leash by Korn

Show Notes

Freak on a Leash by Korn

On February 5, 1999 and many many weeks following, if you were to have turned on MTV and took the time to watch the pop heavy show TRL or Total Request Live, you may have been treated to the blissful metal sounds of Nu-Metal band Korn and the debut of their song Freak On A Leash. If you’re my age, there’s a good chance that you remember this. If you didn’t catch it on it’s first day, you surely found out by word of mouth, and then the radio and then it’s actual release 20 days later on February 25. You know the song, you know the lyrics, but… do you know what they mean. Find out with me today on Lyrics That Rock.

Lyrics

Lyrics are shortened for the podcast episode

Verse 1
Something takes a part of me
Something lost and never seen
Every time I start to believe
Something’s raped and taken from me, from me

Verse 2
Life’s gotta always be messin’ with me (You wanna see the light)
Can’t they chill and let me be free? (So do I)
Can’t I take away all this pain? (You wanna see the light)
I try to every night, all in vain, in vain

Pre-Chorus
Sometimes, I cannot take this place
Sometimes, it’s my life I can’t taste
Sometimes, I cannot feel my face
You’ll never see me fall from grace

Chorus
Something takes a part of me
You and I weren’t meant to be
A cheap fuck for me to lay
Something takes a part of me

Verse 3
Feelin’ like a freak on a leash (You wanna see the light)
Feeling like I have no release (So do I)
How many times have I felt diseased? (You wanna see the light)
Nothing in my life is free, is free

ABOUT THE SONG

“Freak on a Leash” — a track that would come to define the era of nu-metal — emerged from the American band Korn, featured on their 1998 studio album Follow the Leader. The song was officially released as a single on February 25, 1999, following the album’s success, and quickly became one of the band’s most iconic tracks. Since its debut, Freak on a Leash has been re-released more than ten times, cementing its place in rock history.

Musically, the song is a sonic assault — marked by dissonance, distortion, and heavy guitar effects, all of which combine to create an aggressive and raw sound that became synonymous with Korn’s signature style. The track stands as a testament to the power of experimentation in the late 90s, where bands like Korn pushed the boundaries of rock, blending elements of metal, hip hop, and industrial sounds.

The accompanying music video, released just a few days earlier, on February 5, 1999, was a groundbreaking piece of visual art. Directed by Todd McFarlane in Los Angeles, the video seamlessly combined live-action performance with striking animation. The result was a surreal, narrative-driven piece that captivated audiences and won numerous accolades, including six awards and a place in pop culture history. So popular was the video that it was retired from Total Request Live after it achieved a record-breaking number of plays.

Chart-wise, Freak on a Leash achieved considerable success. It peaked at number six on the Alternative Songs chart, number ten on the Mainstream Rock Songs chart, and number 24 on the UK Singles Chart. The song remains a defining anthem of the late 90s, forever intertwined with the rise of nu-metal and the global influence of Korn.

ABOUT THE LYRICS

From SongMeanings.com

user Dreadlock says:

This song’s about being treated like a freak on a leash (and hence the title). Its about being suppressed and abused and at the same time being paraded around in a cage for everyone to see… The chorus of the song is, in my opinion, one of the best ever. This song is regarded by many as not just the best Korn song but the best in the genre of nu-metal.

Guitarist Brian “Head” Welch described Freak on a Leash as a reflection of lead singer Jonathan Davis’s struggle with feeling like a “freak on a leash”—a metaphor that evokes both the vulnerability and confinement of being under the control of external forces. In a more intimate interpretation, music journalist Leah Furman suggested that the song explores the “mixed blessings of fame,” capturing the dual nature of success: its allure and its burdens. Jonathan Davis himself has confirmed these themes, stating that the song was his raw commentary on the music industry’s exploitation, likening his experience to that of a “fucking prostitute” forced into a cycle of compromise and manipulation. The lyrics, laden with frustration and disillusionment, became a cathartic outlet for Davis, encapsulating the darker side of celebrity and the loss of personal autonomy.

Davis had this to say about the song:

In a September 1998 Press Release Davis said:

That’s my song that rails out against the music industry. It’s about how I feel like I’m a fuckin’ prostitute. Like I’m this freak paraded around, but I got corporate America fuckin’ making all the money while it’s taking a part of me. It’s like they stole something from me–they stole my innocence and I’m not calm anymore. I worry constantly. I’m not just talkin’ about the record business. Everything’s involved. I’ve lost something. I’m not all there anymore. I love what I do, but I wish I could have it all back. It’s like the Peter Pan syndrome. I wish I could still fly.

For The Freak In All of Us

With Freak on a Leash, Korn channels raw emotion and disillusionment with a force that resonates deeply within the realm of nu-metal. The song’s dark lyrics, combined with its aggressive, distorted sound, give voice to feelings of entrapment and exploitation. The song’s impact is undeniable, becoming an anthem for those who feel trapped or alienated by external forces. Freak on a Leash remains one of Korn’s most iconic tracks, capturing the intense emotional landscape of its time and echoing the struggles of individuals fighting for control in a world that constantly takes a part of them.

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