Watching all the insects march along
Seem to know just right where they belong
Smears a face reflecting in the chrome
Hiding in the crowd, I'm all alone
No one's heard a single word I've said
They don't sound as good outside my head
It looks as though the past is here to stay
I've become a million miles aw-
Why do you get all the love in the world?
Why do you get all the love in the world?

All the jagged edges disappear
Colors all are brighter when you're near
The stars are all afire in the sky
Sometimes I get so lonely, I could
Why do you get all the love in the world?
Why do you get all the love in the world?
Why do you get all the love in the world?
Why do you get all the love in the world?

Why do you get all the love in the world?
Why do you get all the love in the world?
Why do you get all the love in the world?
Why do you get all the love in the world?
[repeat]



Lyrics submitted by brettjrob

Track duration: 05:15

"All the Love in the World" as written by Trent Reznor

Lyrics © THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


All the Love in the World song meanings
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67 Comments

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  • 0
    My Interpretation:Trent is a split person when it comes to himself and his music, he's always dealing with the dual persona.

    I think that he's talking about himself as a music artist rather than a person. In the end he's sitting there thinking about his music, most of his songs carry a theme of isolation.

    Everyday is exactly the same- (Self explanatory)
    Only- There is no YOU there is only ME
    Something i can never have-I'm down to just one thing, i'm starting to scare myself
    The Void-Try to save myself by myself keeps slipping away

    And there are some songs that deal with "somebody" else (love) that he could be talking to through the lyrics.

    The Becoming-Annie hold a little tighter, i might, might just, might Slip away
    Sunspots-She turns me on she makes it real

    So i think it's about a relationship gone wrong and trent dealing with himself and his dual persona and a bit of drug abuse.

    Why do you get all the love in the world- "Talking to himself"
    Colors all are brighter when you're near-"Relationship"
    All the jagged edges disappear-"Drug abuse"
    Flag Robthgreaton January 19, 2013   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:This song is the genesis of With Teeth, a post-painful event mood that sets our stage for the loss of self-identity. I think of a break-up, someone who you gave all the love in the world, everything you had to offer. Its not healthy to do such a thing, considering the reliance you build, and once its gone and you are separated from that amazing person by whichever means, you're basically lost. This particular song represents the immediate aftermath of wandering around and painful memories.
    Flag HammerFloydon July 04, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:OR it's the anguished cry of a person who has evolved into a human.

    It's terrible to watch the primates running around in an edenic "paradise"- killing, raping, and doing other such savage acts that require an absolute lack of empathy. It's terrible to feel like no one understands you. You want so much to give them the fruit of knowledge, but you know that to do so means to invite them into a world where you must suffer the pain of watching the primates as they commit their savage atrocities, where you are victims of their cruelty and aggression. Primates are of all classes, nations, races and religions. Primates can kill humans, but humans cannot kill primates. we have too much empathy to do such a thing. We love primates, but they do not love us back. They get all the love in the world.

    One day someone comes along, another human. It is the greatest feeling, the feeling that you are not alone. Unfortunately, we are often forced apart, separated by circumstance.
    Flag NPAon March 17, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:Maybe it's about a jealous sibling who's been cast out as the black sheep of the family.
    Flag angelsarahon December 11, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think this is like a mental battle with trent's old self, and he hates his old self for getting all the love that he feels he deserves now. Excellent song writing as always.
    Flag Exaltedon August 18, 2009   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation:I think the song refers to how people are born into poverty and others born into wealth. I think the song is written in the perspective of someone born in a crappy house with crappy parents. Fot instence they might beat him and he looks at the othe happy "normal" familys and is jealous of the love that they get.
    Flag EliteSquibyon July 27, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:These are great lyrics. I especially like the first stanza. Also, the quote, "Why do you get all the love in the world?" provides an almost jealous oppinion by the writer of someone else and by saying "they get all the love in the world" it's implying that the writer of this song did not recieve much love and is jealous of the person that did. if you know background info about this band they have all been physically abused and came together to write songs to help those like them - i think it's pretty cool! :)
    Flag chinaqueenon April 29, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Great song off of a great album. Trent Reznor is fucking epic
    Flag ninja9393on April 29, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think Alexis507 pretty much summed it up.
    Flag HawkDesignson April 24, 2009   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:I feel like he's asking why all these sell-out copy cat celebs and bands get 'all the love in the world'. he's said so many times that NIN isn't about being the greatest or most popular, but if i were an honest musician and person, i'd feel resentful too that i get nothing but shit back from the media and what not, when all along i'm being the most real, genuine, organic human being out there among them.

    For example...
    "watching all the insects crawl along
    know right there they belong"
    like radio bands and superficial media-whore celebs know exactly where they are supposed to be in, lining up like 'pigs' and 'insects' for the cameras.
    Flag PrincessaGothicaon April 16, 2009   Link

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