Nine Inch Nails – Head Down

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  General Comment:I get a funny reading from the first verse. Hey you, what are you looking at? I realize I am the only one who can attest to the fact of knowing myself, so WHAT are YOU looking at? The gawker who doesn't know where to look goes 'head down'. In the context of both the conversation and the pre-amble of what made you cast yourself away in shame, its too late for that. It doesn't help and it doesn't impress as a show of humility. "What you want, what you GOT" is the gawked-at cutting the crass, I know the look I have been you, what's your stock? Are you even able to share? Know your place, always seems a little strict. A look is hardly a violation. The second verse gets hairy. Hey you, gawked-at calling back to head-downer, a guess. What are you running from? Again, is it me, couldn't be, you can't see me. It is your own concatenation you run from, to which I have been appendaged. It can be much more than impressionistic if it has led you to so much hatred. Something went askew when you smashed from pieces you couldn't fit together apart, just for the fuck of it. And that you never considered such a thing could happen to you made you of course more prone to its happening. Keeping your head down, you are no longer in tandem but in the coils of your own tangential thinking. The behavior is causing the problem to fester.

  Flag hehkateon December 24, 2011   Link

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  My Interpretation:I'd like to think that Trent wouldn't continue to always write about becoming his new self, but hell, it's a daily struggle. All addicts struggle everyday.
  
  So to me, Trent is realizing that he can't just stay away from drugs and alcohol. He has to deal with the demons that put him there so he doesn't relapse. Insecurity and self-hate is what fueled his addiction. So now, in 2008/2009, Trent is overcoming it every day.
  
  He can't keep his 'head down', he can't just run away from bars or friends who still smoke. He can't escape into a dark hole because he's scared he'll relapse. He has to take the risk, he has to face the hate.

  Flag PrincessaGothicaon April 20, 2009   Link

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  General Comment:yep great interpretation holi.
  it's definitely a powerful theme, and yes, nin songs are poignant yet vague.
  this track conveys a total dissociation with one's surroundings... like one day you wake up and you're in a completely different world, you suffer for it and no one seems to care. a turn for the worse scenario.
  

  Flag MP3on February 12, 2009   Link

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  General Comment:What I love about the NIN lyrics, is that you can interpret them to suit your meanings.
  Listening to the song reminds me of losing your identity, fading away, and being absorbed by the crowd.
  
  The first first reminds me of almost a military general yelling it to a solider.'head down' - head down, and be quiet sorta thing
  
  know your place
  don't ever forget - Know your place, you are one of those forgetables.
  
  Then it enters the chorus (which I love).
  and this is not my face
  and this is not my life - almost disbelief in what he's become. He refuses to believe that he's ended up here, ended up like this. The great thing is, that 'this' can be anything you want. Any place the listener has ended up. Drugs, Depression, loneliness. The song can be tailored to suit the listener
  
  this is all a dream
  and none of you are real - still, refuses to believe this all
  
  i'll give anything - at the end of the chorus, it's almost a confession. This is real, this is what it's like now, and he'd give anything to change it.
  
  Fantastic song. I love it.
  
  

  Flag HoliHallowon February 11, 2009   Link

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• +1
  General Comment:So I'm going through and trying to figure out the best albums of the year, and without a doubt I'm going to make this best song of the year.

  Flag HilbertThm90on December 18, 2008   Link

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• 0
  General Comment:Heh, if Demon Seed was on Broken, it would get bullied, SaRuZ

  Flag FaaipDeOaidon August 18, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:i love this album it sounds like his older stuff and somewhat like with teeth. I didnt really like the beginning of this song, but the chorus is so melodic i love it.
  wooo trent reznor!

  Flag absentxwordson August 01, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:I think alot of this album sounds like a cross between Year Zero and With Teeth.
  This is my favorite song from the whole CD (:

  Flag BETCHon June 13, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:it really sounds to me like trent is describing himself in todays society... "Bet you didn't think, It would happen to you, All used up, Half way through" being in his 40's. "You, What you looking at? Head down.... Know your place, Don't ever forget" being society not wanting to hear. And lastly him not wanting anything to do(or believe) with society because of it "And there is not a single thing here... This is all a dream, And none of you are real"

  Flag s3curityon May 31, 2008   Link

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• +1
  General Comment:I'm pretty sure most of the songs on the slip are about some kind of personality disorder Trent has experienced. It might have been enhanced for Trent because of all the drugs he did in the past, but things like this usually form on their own because of some type of trauma. I myself get this weird, empty feeling sometimes that the world is unreal and far away (and I don't do any drugs).

  Flag Rolzon May 25, 2008   Link

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