I am all alone this time around
Sometimes on the side I hear a sound
Places parallel I know it's you
Feel the little pieces bleeding through

And on, this goes on
And on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on
This goes on
And on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on

Now that I've decided not to stay
I can feel me start to fade away
Everything is back where it belongs
I will be beside you before long

And on, this goes on
And on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on
This goes on
And on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on

We will never die
Beside you in time
We will never die
Beside you in time



Lyrics submitted by ab0ve, edited by Mellow_Harsher

Track duration: 05:25

"Beside You in Time" as written by Trent Reznor

Lyrics © THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY

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Beside You in Time song meanings
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  • 0
    General Comment:Backdrop:
    - This song is about Eternal Recurrence (Nietzsche)
    - The "you" is a former occurrence of himself

    In keeping with the theme that a person lives their life repeatedly in eventful succession over-and-over again for eternity, Trent is aware of this and has chosen to use new-found knowledge of this to chose a different path this life. I personally think this song, like many of the others on With Teeth, is about overcoming his addictions and taking a new path this time around. However, he can still feel his other self and the grips that life had on him. "Places parallel, bleeding through." He is all alone this time without drugs yet he refuses to "stay" in that recurring life. This new life is "right where it belongs." And this will go on, and on, and on.... (recurrence).

    So folks, become aware of this philosophy on the meaning of your life, make choices to choose paths that make this recurring life worthwhile.
    Flag Verloneon October 17, 2012   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:I think simply stated that he lost someone, can still feel their presence from time to time and after many years has finally decided to take his own life to be with them forever.
    Flag Systemicon March 08, 2012   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation:i might be way off on this but, eh here it goes.

    I've listen to the entire album a few times including the two bonus songs that comes with the Special edition, including home and right where it belongs Version 2 and i just loved it. the entire album is amazing. i like every song at it's own level but anyways before i get to far off topic there was one song that caught my attention more then the others and that is Beside You In Time. I've listened to it continuously since i got the album.

    after listening to it for a while i got the idea this song was about someone who died and there is the person who is still alive and alone thinking of the one who passed. eventually it gets to the point where that persons point of passing is coming soon and that person is relieved knowing they will get to see the person who died once again, living side by side together forever.
    Flag surivraon September 20, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:I believe he talks about suicide and reincarnation here. He believes the world is like a dream, and in 'this' dream/life he has failed to be with his love. So he decides to fade away the dream perhaps by killing himself, but he knows he will come back in another life and be beside her. This process goes on and on.
    Flag vetiarvindon August 06, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I believe this song is about the Eternal Recurrence. Look it up.
    Flag TheBigMattowskion March 06, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Oh and year zero. forgot that one, lol. But really if you want some understanding and theories to NIN; check out this link. theninhotline.net/archives/articles/…
    Flag SyCo.KiLlAon January 14, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:When trying to interpret NIN songs, really, to take one song and interpret it (as in what Trent was saying) you must not only look at the whole album, but all the work that Trent has ever done. You must get the big picture. Every album (Pretty Hate Machine, The Downward Spiral, The Fragile, With Teeth, and now The Slip) starts with the previous album, continues the story, and leads to the next. Whats the story you ask? I think its about Trent's life. The Fragile had an obvious character in it, and that character I believe was Trent's inner self. The thing that each one of us has inside of us, whether we recognize it or not, and if we recognize it, we cannot explain. This is why Trent Reznor is very talented and gifted; not only can he explain it, but he can put lyrics and music to it, to add to it. You may go back and look at certain NIN songs and be like, well this doesnt fit into a inner self life story thing, but its usually a big metaphor, and when you look at the bigger picture...... not only does every lyric fit together, but every song on every album, and every album fits together. To appreciate NIN, you must listen to all the songs, and when you realize that its more than just some guy singing random songs, each with its own meaning, trying to become rich in famous, but its a man that understands the deepest things in ourselves, and that's why anybody can relate to his songs.

    End rant.
    Flag SyCo.KiLlAon January 14, 2011   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:I can relate to this song on a personal level. I've noticed on this song, and others on this album, how Trent mentions that things are right where they belong. What does that mean to me? Well, the first real boyfriend I had, when he dumped me, Right Where It Belongs was my song. And now with this song, I feel that it interprets the last three years of my life (since I was with him) and I know that's not a long time, but to me it is. I have gone through boyfriends, and lost them. So, love wise, this song perfectly describes me. It has also made me realize something rather saddening. I think that this song is for anyone who has ever lost someone, whether it be a lover, or a family member. And how they will join them soon enough. Either when it is their time to die, or if they kill themselves. I love Trent Reznor and his music.
    Flag HolicKon September 21, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I agree with Maxwell Blank, great interpretation:

    This, for me, was maybe the song I identified most with. after having my heart broken this last time. I came to believe that I'd never meet the one person I was meant to share my life with. I would periodically allow myself to feel hope--"little pieces bleeding through", and lose little bits of my sanity and soul every time. I suppose I'd resigned myself to being "all alone this time around". Maybe I need to be alone to learn the lesson I'm here to learn in this life. That being said, I've found a measure of peace. I have simply realized that love(as Hallmark defines it) is completely random, like train wrecks and lotteries-- completely out of our ability to control or influence. Instead of trying to fill the hole in your life, be the one who fills the holes of others, with kindness. It's the only way out.
    Flag OnlyNINon June 21, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Great song, works very well with the live stage FX, check out the DVD.
    Don't what its about, but the sound sounds amazing..
    Flag blancbeeron March 26, 2010   Link

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