In a 2005 interview, Trent Reznor shared his opinion about the interpretations of the meaning behind the lyrics of his songs. Stating that, “I don’t really like to get into lyrics and what they’re about that much just because it kinda doesn’t really matter. You know, to me it's always meant the most to me what I think they’re about.”
“Books are better than movies because you design the set the way you want it to look.” 4 years ago, I got a diagnosis that I will refrain from saying the name of for the sake of my digital footprint. I felt isolated in my experience. Having to unlock memories from my past, peiceing together these fragments to reveal a terrible image. I wanted nothing more than a hand to hold, someone who was unbiased, someone who could understand.
All to say, these lyrics helped me more than therapy.
“Maybe that was somebody else
Maybe I was somebody else
I'm somebody, for what that's worth, if that means anything anymore”
“Oh and
If I start to tell you anything, please don't pay attention
That's not really me in there, I would never do that
Just go back to the idea of me
Go back to that idea”
-The Idea of You
“And this is not my face and this is not my life
And there is not a single thing here I can recognize
And this is all a dream and none of you are real
I'd give anything, I'd give anything”
-Head Down
“I woke up today
To find myself in the other place
With a trail of my footprints
From where I ran away
It seems everything I've heard
Just might be true
And you know me, well you think you do”
-Even Deeper
"Hey
Can we stop?
Me, I'm not
I can swallow it down
Keep it all inside
I define myself
By how well I hide
I feel it coming apart
Well, at least I tried
I can win this war
By knowing not to fight"
-Me, I’m Not
“We're on the precipice
Created us in his image
Better be proud of his work
That is if he existed
(Not so sure anymore)
That is if he existed
And we just can't help ourselves
And we just can't help ourselves
And we just can't help ourselves
And we just can't help ourselves
(I don't think that's me)”
-Ahead of Ourselves
“Talking to myself all the way to the station
Pictures in my head of the final destination
All lined up, all the ones that aren't allowed to stay
Tried to save myself but myself keeps slipping away”
-Into the Void
“I am becoming
The me that you know, he had some second thoughts
He's covered with scabs
He is broken and sore
The me that you know
He doesn't come around much
That part of me
Isn't here anymore
No escape from this
My new consciousness
The me that you know
He used to have feelings
But the blood has stopped pumping and he is left to decay
The me that you know is now made up of wires
And even when I'm right with you I'm so far away”
-The Becoming
Feels like I've been here before
Yeah, I don't know anymore
And I don't care anymore
I think I recognize
Yes, I have been here before
Yeah, I don't care anymore
Don't give a fuck anymore
Yeah I don't care
-Head Down
where the
fuck where
you?
Growing inside me,
they flood my head with images,
Images that I don't understand.
And I wish I could drop them behind,
But despite all the noise they bring,
I will hold them all, all inside me.
Though you're so far away,
I've spent so many nights.
How much time I've wasted on this and
the damage you've caused.
After all these years, I can still feel you
breathing down my neck.
"I can still feel you."
"All I do."
Split, the pain of a closing wound
it's catching up to me.
You're sitting
right there but
still I can't make out your face.
that's a feeling I'm used to...
But this,
this is new.
The closer we get together,
the more the fear sets in.
The lines blur,
and I start to see it
all in full.
If this is even what's real.
"I just don't know anymore"
Every time I think that
I must be nearing the end,
another surprise, and it's worse.
Deeper than we could've ever anticipated.
They call to me, I am unknowing of the depths
of which my own damage lies.
With all of our hands withdrawn
"just how damaged have I become?"
At what price did I come?
