Nine Inch Nails – Discipline

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Send "Discipline" Ringtone to Cell

Am I - Am I still tough enough?
Feels like I'm wearing down, down, down, down, down
Is my viciousness,
Losing ground, ground, ground, ground, ground?
Am I taking too much?
Did I cross the line, line, line?
I need my role in this
Very clearly defined

(Chorus)
I need your discipline,
I need your help
I need your discipline,
You know once I start I cannot help myself

And now it's starting up,
Feels like I'm losing touch
Nothing matters to me,
Nothing matters as much

I see you left a mark,
Up and down my skin, skin, skin
I don't know where I end,
And where you begin

(Chorus1)

I can not stop myself.
Once I start I can not stop myself.

(x7)And you knew,
That once I start I can not stop myself.

(Chorus2)
I need your discipline,
I need your help.
I need your discipline
Because once I start I cannot stop myself.

Send "Discipline" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by noctem9

Track duration: 04:19


Discipline song meanings
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56 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:This is about struggling with using drugs for pleasure and using them for art. Think about all the musicians who took way too much drugs, they sound strung out and have no passion anymore. Trent is asking where his role is in creating music. Is it him, or the drugs talking?

    He feels it starting up, now acquiring drugs is more important to him than his music. Sound familiar?

    He can see physical signs of drug abuse, and he's so strung out and addicted, he can't tell if he's actually himself or a corpse doing the bidding of a substance. I only wonder if this is a reflection all drug addicted musicians have to face up to, or if Trent was the only one to acknowledge that it's a problem.

    Sex? Really guys? Sure, maybe in the sense that those drugs fucked him up. Another familiar theme.
    Flag bloodbringeron March 16, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song seems sadomasochistic. For those of you who think it's about sobriety, I'm not saying you're wrong, but I am definitely seeing S&M in the lyrics.
    "I see you left a mark up and down my skin, skin, skin.
    I don't know where I end, and where you begin"
    That line basically confirms that he's rolling with a current partner and getting marked up in the process and reconfirming (or trying to) that he is indeed not losing touch with his fierce sexuality.
    If you know anything about Reznor, you'll hear of his sexual addictions as well as drug addictions.
    Flag bassthumpinbarbieon April 01, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:All i have to say is this song is beyond words and just amazing.
    Flag xnowimdowninitxon June 12, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:a song about requiring the discipline to keep in touch with the social world. Because once you start losing that discipline, it's hard to stop yourself. Understanding, or creating a role for yourself helps you accomplish, move foward and continue
    Flag FISCHon April 15, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:BD/sM!
    Flag ningirlnininon January 25, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:...oh Trent...
    Flag Forgottenroseson March 22, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Does this song not come from the album entitled "The Slip"? In the 12 Step, AA world,(which we assume Trent has utilized to get and stay clean) a "slip" is when one, who has been clean and/or sober for some time takes a drink and gets right back on the wagon. That's what came to mind for me as I heard these lyrics. But yes, it could be about sex, disillusionment...etc. Heroin use leaves marks, as does S&M submission. Really I think it's just a plea for help, needing another's (maybe his sponsor?) will and strength to back on the right track.
    Flag ladyemissditaon November 04, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Idk what you guys think of this, but when it came out, and under the circumstance it came out it almost seems like a tongue and cheek outcry to the music industry....

    I mean he released the song only 2 days after being mastered. no on knew he was working on a new album... this is around the time he was getting for a feel how he wanted to release music

    "You know once I start I cannot help myself" he released Year Zero, Niggy Tardust, Ghosts I-IV, and The slip all within about a year and half.

    I don't know this is just my opinion what do you guys think?
    Flag Fatman2008on November 04, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:To me it seems like it's about how most of people subconsciously need and want to be dictated what to do, how to live, they need somebody to give them discipline. And they can be controled easily this way. It can be church if we were thinking about believe, it can be government or society when comes to moral values, as well it can be about drugs or sex in personal life... i'm not sure if i managed to explain it good enough... and in adittion this is not the only one meaning of the song
    Flag ivojron April 12, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:the guitar riff in this song is one of the most badass things ive ever heard.
    Flag sonoflifeon December 17, 2008   Link

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