Nine Inch Nails – The Only Time

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I'm drunk.
And right now I'm so in love with you.
And I don't want to think too much about what we should or shouldn't do.
Lay my hands on Heaven and the sun and the moon and the stars.
While the devil wants to fuck me in the back of his car.

[Chorus:]
Nothing quite like the feel of something new.
Maybe I'm all messed up.
Maybe I'm all messed up.
Maybe I'm all messed up in you.
Maybe I'm all messed up.
Maybe I'm all messed up.
Maybe I'm all messed up.
Maybe I'm all messed up in you.
Maybe I'm all messed up.
This is the only time I really feel alive.
This is the only time I really feel alive.
I swear.

I just found everything I need.
The sweat in your eyes the blood in your veins are listening to me.
Well I want to wrap it up and swim in it until I drown.
My moral standing is lying down.

[Chorus]

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Lyrics submitted by kare

Track duration: 04:48

"The Only Time" as written by Eithne/ryan Ni Bhraonain

Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


The Only Time song meanings
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39 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:i agree with the new partner thing, but i even think it's about finding a thrill in being unfaithful. looking for love in all the wrong places, etc etc...
    Flag TashaJayneon January 07, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:From me, this song obviously hasn't got a definite meaning, it's how it's interpreted by the listener. Now. There is someone in my life who is out of bounds and listening to this song immediately puts in my head that Trent is singing about someone he normally wouldn't act sexually towards because it's morally wrong. Saying that "my moral standing is lying down" in my opinion means what it says, that everything that would be wrong in a sober state doesn't matter anymore while drunk because that's what he wants.
    Flag JessicaAntoinetteon December 31, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The first 2 seconds, again and again. My favourite NIN's song.
    Flag MorbidIrison December 19, 2010   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:My interpretation:

    His experience(s) in front of a live audience. After all, he is/was a misanthrope.

    "drunk" - his "high" from being on stage, cheered on by the audience

    "you" - humanity (or maybe, more specifically, the audience in front of him)

    "the devil" - his thoughts (on morality?)

    "my moral standing is lying down" - Despite what his morals say, telling you (the audience) the truth about himself (how he thinks/how he feels/his ACTUAL thoughts)

    just saying....
    Flag organasmon November 09, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Well, a few of you *ARE* right, this song is about a homosexual experience that Trent had. But with who? Richard Patrick, his former guitarist and frontman of Filter. He wrote the song about their drunken sexual experience.
    Flagged sharkfoodon March 29, 2010   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:I have a different take on this song that I've read so far. Since I first heard this song I related to sleeping with an ex I was still in love with that was no good for me. I think it's about having sex with an ex. "I'm drunk but right now I'm so in love with you". When drinking, it's a lot easier to make that drunk call and tell an old lover who you still love that you are in love with them. Many complications can arise from it, but "I don't want to think too much about what we should or shouldn't do". "Lay my hands on heaven and the sun..." means that the person he is referring to has real meaning to him (which is why I don't think it's about a one night stand). I also don't think his reference to the devil means it's necessarily about a man, I think it's about the sin of the action and all of the consequences that could befall the action. "Something new" could be sleeping with this this person when he has been sleeping with a new person since. "This is the only time I really feel alive" also makes me think of sincerely feeling alive when fuc*&^g this person from his past.
    Flag autumnasheon March 04, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:"I'm drunk.
    And right now I'm so in love with you"
    I'm seriously working up the courage to say that to a stranger one day. It has to be true of course, if it isn't it's no fun. I'm in love with every atractive person I talk to while drunk, so it shouldn't be too hard.

    The song reminds me of the greatest sex I ever had. He actually turned out to be quite similiar to the devil, but he didn't have a car.
    Flag SpecialCon January 15, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:yes.
    Flag artsluton June 18, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:another thing I forgot to add... burst out into those lines in public, it's so much fun.
    Flag DJgifon May 04, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:lol, I agree it's about having sex with a dude. It's awesome, I love hearing him say "Lay my hands on heaven and the sun and the moon and the stars, while the devil wants to fuck me in the back of his car" oh god. I want closure but it's so expensive... :/
    Flag DJgifon May 04, 2009   Link

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