Kinda like a cloud I was up, way up in the sky
And I was feeling some feelings you wouldn't believe
Sometimes I don't believe them myself
And I decided I was never coming down
Just then a tiny little dot caught my eye
It was just about too small to see
But I watched it way too long
It was pulling me down

I was up above it
I was up above it
(Now I'm down in it)
I was up above it
I was up above it
Now I'm down in it
Shut up

So what, what does it matter now?
I was swimming in the haze now I crawl on the ground
And everything I never liked about you
Is kind of seeping into me
I try to laugh about it now but isn't it funny how everything works out
I guess the jokes on me, she said

I was up above it
I was up above it
(Now I'm down in it)
I was up above it
I was up above it
(Now I'm down in it)

I used to be so big and strong
I used to know my right from wrong
I used to never be afraid
I used to be somebody
I used to have something inside
Now just this hole it's open wide
I used to want it all
I used to be somebody

I'll cross my heart, I'll hope to die
But the needle's already in my eye
And all the world's weight is on my back and I don't even know why
What I used to think was me is just a fading memory
I looked him right in the eye and said goodbye

I was up above it
I was up above it
Now I'm down in it
(Now I'm down in it)
I was up above it
I was up above it
Now I'm down in it
I was up above it
I was up above it
Now I'm down in it
I was up above it

Rain, rain go away
Come again some other day
Rain, rain go away
Come again some other day
Rain, rain go away
Come again some other day
Rain, rain go away
Come again some other day

I was up above it
I was up above it
Now I'm down in it
I was up above it
Now I'm down in it


Lyrics submitted by sean, edited by Mellow_Harsher

Down In It Lyrics as written by Trent Reznor

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC

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Down in It song meanings
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89 Comments

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  • +3
    General Comment

    I would like to let you guys know in my opinion this song has nothing to do with god whatsoever. In my opinion this song is describing a change in someones life such as. Hmmmm a goth kid that used to make fun of people that looked like that. Or someone before they understand sexuality making fun of homosexuals. Kinda like a cloud i was up way up in the sky is exxplaining how they thought their life was perfect above others lifestyles. Just then a tiny little dot caught my eye would meen whatever it was they became such as homosexuals, goths, emo, wigger, ect. people they thought they were above then that tiny dot caught their eye they watched it way too long and it was pulling them down so in other words it pulled them into it. I was up above it meaning they thought they were above those people they made fun of them. But now they are down in it with them. Now a good example of this is. "shutup so what what does it matter now i was swimming in the haze now i crawl on the ground (EVERYTHING I NEVER LIKED ABOUT YOU IS KINDA SEEPING INTO ME)" I used to have something inside and so on explaining how they used to be normal to everyone and themselves but now they have joined this odd group of whatever it may be. This hole its open wide explaining how everyone is getting into them kinda and changing who they used to be into exactly what they used to hate or make fun of. I know cause i am personally gay and love NIN this song pretty much speaks about that point in my life where i realized I was exactly what i had been making fun of

    LYRICALMASTERMINDon June 15, 2009   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I think this song is more about bipolar disorder. In the whole album he is struggling with it. "kinda like a cloud i was up way up in the sky and i was feeling some feelings you wouldn't believe sometimes i don't believe them myself and i decided i was never coming down. just then a tiny little dot caught my eye it was just about too small to see. but i watched it way too long and that dot was pulling me down. " <--- Everything was fine and he believed things would be fine forever, but all of a sudden there was something bugging him (a very small thing it seems) that got him to rock bottom again. The chorus is about how he was at his peak, but then he all of a sudden just fell down again. This could only be one part of it, but it makes sense to me because I have those mood swings too.

    vendelaon October 07, 2004   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Here's what the song is actually about: SUICIDE. Trent said so, and the video confirms it. (Trent jumps off a building to escape his pursuers.)

    Correction!on December 02, 2007   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Has noone said BIPOLAR DISORDER? I'm Bipolar, and I can relate to this.

    "kinda like a cloud i was up way up in the sky and i was feeling some feelings you wouldn't believe sometimes i don't believe them myself and i decided i was never coming down. just then a tiny little dot caught my eye it was just about too small to see. but i watched it way too long and that dot was pulling me down."

    I was way up in the sky - I'm in a Manic Episode Watched it way too long and that dot was pulling me down - Slowly leaving the manic episode and going into a depressive episode.

    "i used to be so big and strong. i used to know my right from wrong. i used to never be afraid. i used to be somebody" - I used to be able to control my impulse. I used to not have symptoms of Bipolar

    aliciacenaon March 23, 2009   Link
  • +2
    My Opinion

    I believe that only the artist knows the true meaning of his/her song, however, if I were to define the metaphor behind "Down in It", I would have to describe it as more of an identity crisis. Maybe this song is about losing yourself to another person. Those who are self-loathing and full of themselves like Trent, seek their own identity in the opposite sex. I think this song starts out with Trent explaining how he used to be in control of himself but then lost who he was by sharing his self-consumption with who he thought to be his soul mate. Instead of them conjuring into one person, they switched places and the female possessed Trent, taking his heart, soul, and entire identity. He thought he knew who he was until he gave himself to her. Now he explains how all the things he hates about her are really things he hates about himself...he now has become her, and her him. She forces him to look himself in the eye and see himself for who he is. He sees that he's empty and soulless. He looks himself/her in the eye and says good bye.

    This is certainly a radical point of view, but it's just another interpretation of this song, and what it could mean to someone.

    TrueNarcissuson May 18, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I dont really like this song, I never did, it sounds WAY too much like Skinny Puppy's Dig It. Im surprised they havent sued Trent. Dig it was a good song, but this is too tinny, even for an industrial song.

    IAmASquirrelon September 12, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    but i won't deny that it is an awesome song

    prettyhmon January 25, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    losing your innocence. The subject mourns the loss of what he used to be... he has grown older, is held accountable more for his actions... he's embedded at the bottom.

    MP3on March 03, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    ok, first of all, I think the song could be about heroin use. Secondly, what I get from it is that he feels like he is above everything and everyone, or he feels like he was doing so great, but now, he is down with everybody else, and just like the people he used to look down on, and he has fallen from a great position.

    redRTCrazyon January 11, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Pretty obvious its about heroin.

    CheeseLordon April 19, 2013   Link

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