Nine Inch Nails – The New Flesh

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Send "The New Flesh" Ringtone to Cell

I can take it
Sideways
Sometimes
Some things
Feel like
I'm on the other side
Waves
Of every feeling ever felt

Hold it close
(So) I can taste it

I've watched this scene a thousand times
And in my head
This is how it all begins
Yes, I am becoming
And this is how it all begins
What did you expect?
This is not an exit
This has begun

I can almost see
The blackest eyes
The new flesh
A new disguise
...Welcoming...

Please

Give it to me
I can take it
Give it to me

I can take it

Send "The New Flesh" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by heartsfilthylesson


The New Flesh song meanings
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13 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:At the very end, he says "numb" quietly.
    Flag sixteenmistakeson August 27, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I'm surprised there hasn't been more talk, other than the first post by "heartsfilthylesson", about what the actual lyrics are. I guess it's just the rare nature of the song. I don't hear a lot of the lyrics that supposedly appear in this song, according presumably to wherever Trent chose to have them printed (which is where I'm assuming these lyrics came from, as it isn't unusual for TR to release "official" lyrics for a song featuring words that either do not actually appear in the song by all accounts, or are carefully buried and extremely difficult to find).
    I could easily see the drug reference, but then there are countless other tunes by NIN and otherwise where that deduction could be made. You can never discount the other glaring possibility in the case of all songs such as this (and one that kind of defeats the purpose of a site such as this, fun though it may be) - the artist could have simply conjured up words that fit the melody he wanted to sit which sounded right for the song, with no literal meaning in mind. In which case, discussions on the "true" meaning become somewhat irrelevant.
    Flag regeneratoron October 09, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Videodrome reference. Watch it if you haven't. David Cronenberg, 1983.
    Flag thiswasntmeantformeon September 21, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I know this site is about the meaning of the lyrics, but all I have to say is that this song is amaaaazing. I love NIN songs from The Fragile era. My favorite line from this would have to be "waves of every feeling ever felt come screaming." The imagery is just awesome.

    There's a kind of desperate need in the lyrics, but also like something is/will be inevitably overwhelming.
    Flag tedium13on January 21, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:he seems very mellow and calm about whatever it is he wants... it seems like he's too exhausted to say much.... maybe he's so calm because he knows exactly whats happeningtowards the end, he gets a little more louder, which maybe he's trying to get it through everyone's head that he's "becoming" and no one can do anything this time. nin's song, complications of the flesh only has two verses that are repeated throughout the whole song which are "give it to me" and "make it stop". make it stop suggests it wasnt what he expected at all...
    Flag tenmileshighhhon July 05, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song seems to make a reference to "Please" with the "this is how it all begins", only the ending seems like its more hopeful where as "Please" ends with a kind of "I'm so disappointed" kind of tone.

    I have no idea what it means...
    Flag Az Izon May 27, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is about drug addiction. It, and Ten Miles High(Also very obviously about drug addiction) were both taken out of The Fragile. The New Flesh, going with The Fragile's theme of failed redemption, has the subject descending again into the pains of addiction. Even though they know it is wrong and will only destroy them after going through it once before,( "I've watched this scene a thousand times", "This is how it all begins) , they lie to themself that it won't be the same as before and once again begin to return to where they started("A new disguise", "Give it to me.. I can take it.")
    Love the song. Sounds very creepy.
    Flag Reaverboton April 29, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:To me, this song sounds like Trent is...indifferent about something, or is overwhelmed. "Waves of every feeling ever felt," to me sounds like he is split between himself, and can't make up his mind.
    Flag MalevolentNobleon February 25, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i like how the live version fades in. this is something that makes someone feel liket theyre stoned
    Flag aocrkidon September 29, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:So messed up, yet so good. The lyrics remind me of The Becoming from The Downward Spiral
    Flag Ragnarok2128on March 20, 2006   Link

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