Here To Stay
by Korn

Album: Untouchables (2002)
Charted: 12 72
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Korn frontman Jonathan Davis expels a lot of anger in this song, where he deals with his tendency to spiral into self-loathing. The song plays out as an inner dialogue where he's working all this out, coming to the conclusion that he can't escape from himself - he's here to stay.
  • Korn set a new standard for expressing deep personal anguish in songs. Jonathan Davis always channeled his negative thoughts into his lyrics, which could be shocking but also refreshing to listeners who harbored similar feelings. "Here To Stay" is a great example of how he lays bare his struggles with mental health at a time when it wasn't fashionable to do so in songs. As anxiety and depression started to plague more and more young people, Korn's music, and this song in particular, became even more relevant. The band picked up a new generation of fans in the 2010s and particularly in the 2020s after the pandemic.
  • "Here To Stay" was a return to action for Korn. It was released in 2002 as the lead single from Untouchables, their first album since Issues in 1999. The band members did solo projects and worked on movie soundtracks during much of this time off.

    The song was welcomed by fans and charted at #72 in America, which is pretty good for Korn. The album sold a million copies, a steep decline from the 3 million sold for Issues, but it was a very different time, with illegal downloading cutting into album sales and Korn's nu metal sound falling out of favor.
  • In the music video, a kid gets pulled into a television set Poltergeist-style and enters a terrifying world filled with violent imagery.

    "Our whole society is violent," Jonathan Davis explained to MTV. "It's something we have to deal with. We don't like to see it, but that's what's going on. I don't think we should be surprised when kids blow each other up, kill each other. We've done this to ourselves. Parents should tell their kids this is what goes on in the world - don't be part of it. And don't use the TV as a babysitter."
  • Korn plays "Here To Stay" at just about every concert. Jonathan Davis has cited it as his favorite song to play live.
  • Korn won the Best Metal Performance Grammy Award for this song. It was their second win; "Freak On A Leash" won for Best Short Form Music Video three years earlier.

Comments: 16

  • Zero from Nowhere, NjI'm guessing the extra rib was on the top by his shoulders.
  • Zero from Nowhere, NjDavid was born with an extra rib and had to get it removed because, yes, it was pinching a nerve in his arm. They got Ex-Faith No More drummer Mike Bordin to fill in the remaining spots on the Sick and Twisted tour and the entire Summer Sanitarium tour in 2000.
  • A.w. from Wichita, Kshow would a rib be pinching a nerve in his arm...are you a (non nice person)
  • Lil'tinker from Neverland (duh!), Virgin Islands (u.s.)Yeah, hmmm erik, my love, how good are you after I dont know, singing your heart out, rocking out, and entertaining thousands of fans who put out good money to see you.
    I think he is pretty damn good from what videos I have seen of them live. You can tell he is exhausted, dripping sweat, and trying to just catch his breath. To make sure all his fans have a good show, and he does it all with a smile. I hope he plays his pipes on more songs.
    If he did suck,(which I kinda doubt) as you say I still give 'em kuddos.
  • Mikhail from Greenville, Payou know i hate it when people on hear one part of a song and assume thats what the hole song is about, which is about the only way youre gonna think that the hole song is about cutting youre self
  • Mike from Vancouver, Waare you kidding that was probly korns best album i think that they did wrong with see you on the other side but came back with theyre new album
  • Max from New York, NyAfter this album, I officially decided KoRn was old and dumb and would never buy another album afterwards. This was the only decent song on that whole album and just any ole track on the first or Issues is better.
  • Joseph from La, CaI love this song, followed by shoots and ladders it's my favorite KoRn song. I also concider it my lifes theme song as I can so relate to it.
  • Jim from Youngstown, Ohit doesn't matter whether or not jon is a good bagpipe player, it is the idea of combining it with the heavy rock sound that makes it so damn sweet
  • Erik from Davis, CaI'm glad this album is bagpipeless. They should all be that way from now on. I've heard him play them during a concert and he was one of the worst pipers I've ever heard. I should know. I've heard some of the best bagpipe that have ever lived. I was humbled (in a negative way) to call myself a piper after I left the concert for a long time.
  • Rory from Camden, Njthis song is obviously about cutting your self......"as i take my time,driving humbly down the line....each cut closer to vein....bllleeeeed!bleeeeeeed!
  • Mary from Moulton, AlI love this song!! =) KoRn rox!* woooooo
  • Brandon from Phoenix, AzIt took so long to get this album out because it was delayed due to drummer David Silveria needing surgery to remove an extra rib that was pinching a nerve in his arm
  • Kevin from Webster, MaThe last song on Untouchables has a pretty cool chorus though, so hat was kinda a special ending, but all the other end songs are like 15 mins.
  • Nick from Paramus, NjIt is also the first KoRn CD where Jon doesn't play bagpipes on any tracks.
  • Nick from Paramus, NjUntouchables is the first KoRn CD that doesn't have anything special at the end. (although on the early releases there is a bonus track which is a remix of "Here to Stay"). Their first CD "KoRn" had a recorded fight between 2 unknown people after the last track ended. "Life is Peachy", their 2nd CD had a "recording session" version of "Twist" where just the vocals are heard before they mixed the whole thing. "Follow the LeadeR", their 3rd CD had a cover of Cheech and Chong's "Earache my Eye" that featured Cheech on vocals. Their 4th CD "Issues" had 4 minutes of whitenoise until the CD ended.
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