Okay, these lyrics are actually part of the version of the song that is called "Twist" and is from a bootleg called "Purest Feeling". I've not actually heard that version yet, but will now be hunting it down. However I did find these lyrics when I was looking for the actual lyrics for "Ringfinger".
Lyrics for "Twist":
Well you've got me working so hard lately
Working my hands until they bleed
If I was twice the man I could be
I'd still be half of what you need
Still you lead me and I follow
All of your back up to your chin
Over to the tip of your switchblade
As you pull it out and you stick it in
(Twist twist twist) it can go a little deeper
(Twist twist twist) I'm wearing these chains
(Twist twist twist) you make it hurt real good
(Twist twist twist) I love the pain
Well you just leave me nailed here
Hanging like Jesus on this cross
I'm just dying for your sins
And aiding to the cause
(Twist twist twist) it can go a little deeper
(Twist twist twist) I'm wearing these chains
(Twist twist twist) you make it hurt real good
(Twist twist twist) I love the pain
Wrap my soul in bandages
I'm tired of this war
Go ahead and cut me
I can't even feel it anymore
(Twist twist twist) it can go a little deeper
(Twist twist twist) I'm wearing these chains
(Twist twist twist) you make it hurt real good
(Twist twist twist) but I love, love the pain
(Twist twist twist) it can go a little deeper
(Twist twist twist) I'm wearing these chains
(Twist twist twist) make it hurt, make it hurt
(Twist twist twist) I love the pain
(Twist twist twist)
And for "Ringfinger":
Well you've got me working so hard lately
Working my hands until they bleed
If I was twice the man I could be
I'd still be half of what you need
Still you lead me and I follow
Anything you ask you know I'll do
But this one act of consecration is what I ask of you
Ringfinger
Promise carved in stone
Deeper than the sea
Ringfinger
Sever flesh and bone
And offer it to me
You just leave me nailed here
Hanging like Jesus on this cross
I'm just dying for your sins
And aiding to the cause
Ringfinger
Promise carved in stone
Deeper than the sea
Ringfinger
Sever flesh and bone
And offer it to me
Wrap my eyes in bandages
Confessions I see through
I get everything I want
When I get part of you
Ringfinger
Promise carved in stone
Deeper than the sea
Ringfinger
Sever flesh and bone
And offer it to me
Ringfinger
Promise carved in stone
Deeper than the sea
Ringfinger
Devil's flesh and bone
Do something for me
I'm so tired I can't get to sleep
And the squeaking of the bed is right in time with the song that's repeating in my head
I just want you to know
"When I do it, I only think of you"
Those last 4 lines are not actually in the song at all, but he listed them in the lyrics booklet for Pretty Hate Machine. So....quite obviously a very personal message meant for someone specific. At least in my opinion.
I did not officially correct the lyrics because the ones listed are kinda from 2 different versions of the song. I thought that anyone else who is huge on NIN would appreciate. And I will add that if you can find a live version of "Ringfinger", you will hear that instead of "This one act of consecration...." he says "This one act of masturbation is what I ask of you".
@Belle47 If you're huge on NIИ, you'll be interested to know that the 'you' in Pretty Hate Machine is a girl Trent was close to at band camp. She's done an interview, if you want to go digging.
@Belle47 If you're huge on NIИ, you'll be interested to know that the 'you' in Pretty Hate Machine is a girl Trent was close to at band camp. She's done an interview, if you want to go digging.
Regarding twist - I bet you were disappointed when you found it! It's just an early, worse version of ringfinger, missing all the atmosphere in the chorus!
Regarding twist - I bet you were disappointed when you found it! It's just an early, worse version of ringfinger, missing all the atmosphere in the chorus!
The 'I'm so tired' part probably is in the song - just sampled and filtered so much, it sounds more like a drum hit or the like, knowing Trent's approach in this album (he sampled a ton of artists, editing the sampled to the point that they were totally unrecogniseable.)
There are similar 'hidden' lyrics in other parts of the album.... Sanctified ("As surely as the blade's course is run, Maybe my kingdom's finally come") and Kinda I want to (I'll take my chance tonight), then there's the lyrics you clearly hear, but people seems to miss, like Terrible Lie's 'I give you everything, my sweet everything'.
It's such a heartwrenching album. Makes you just want to give him a bit hug and ask 'who hurt you?'. I don't think Trent likes that though - he never expected Hate Machine to sell well, so left it personal like a diary. When he realised the audience for his music, he stopped singing so personally about relationships. :)
@Belle47 To add - it's likely "Andrea Mulrain", the same 'Annie' mentioned in "The Becoming". You can find a few comments in various articles if you do a bit of googling.
@Belle47 To add - it's likely "Andrea Mulrain", the same 'Annie' mentioned in "The Becoming". You can find a few comments in various articles if you do a bit of googling.
Okay, these lyrics are actually part of the version of the song that is called "Twist" and is from a bootleg called "Purest Feeling". I've not actually heard that version yet, but will now be hunting it down. However I did find these lyrics when I was looking for the actual lyrics for "Ringfinger".
Lyrics for "Twist":
Well you've got me working so hard lately Working my hands until they bleed If I was twice the man I could be I'd still be half of what you need Still you lead me and I follow All of your back up to your chin Over to the tip of your switchblade As you pull it out and you stick it in
(Twist twist twist) it can go a little deeper (Twist twist twist) I'm wearing these chains (Twist twist twist) you make it hurt real good (Twist twist twist) I love the pain
Well you just leave me nailed here Hanging like Jesus on this cross I'm just dying for your sins And aiding to the cause
(Twist twist twist) it can go a little deeper (Twist twist twist) I'm wearing these chains (Twist twist twist) you make it hurt real good (Twist twist twist) I love the pain
Wrap my soul in bandages I'm tired of this war Go ahead and cut me I can't even feel it anymore
(Twist twist twist) it can go a little deeper (Twist twist twist) I'm wearing these chains (Twist twist twist) you make it hurt real good (Twist twist twist) but I love, love the pain (Twist twist twist) it can go a little deeper (Twist twist twist) I'm wearing these chains (Twist twist twist) make it hurt, make it hurt (Twist twist twist) I love the pain (Twist twist twist)
And for "Ringfinger":
Well you've got me working so hard lately Working my hands until they bleed If I was twice the man I could be I'd still be half of what you need Still you lead me and I follow Anything you ask you know I'll do But this one act of consecration is what I ask of you
Those last 4 lines are not actually in the song at all, but he listed them in the lyrics booklet for Pretty Hate Machine. So....quite obviously a very personal message meant for someone specific. At least in my opinion. I did not officially correct the lyrics because the ones listed are kinda from 2 different versions of the song. I thought that anyone else who is huge on NIN would appreciate. And I will add that if you can find a live version of "Ringfinger", you will hear that instead of "This one act of consecration...." he says "This one act of masturbation is what I ask of you".
@Belle47 If you're huge on NIИ, you'll be interested to know that the 'you' in Pretty Hate Machine is a girl Trent was close to at band camp. She's done an interview, if you want to go digging.
@Belle47 If you're huge on NIИ, you'll be interested to know that the 'you' in Pretty Hate Machine is a girl Trent was close to at band camp. She's done an interview, if you want to go digging.
Regarding twist - I bet you were disappointed when you found it! It's just an early, worse version of ringfinger, missing all the atmosphere in the chorus!
Regarding twist - I bet you were disappointed when you found it! It's just an early, worse version of ringfinger, missing all the atmosphere in the chorus!
The 'I'm so tired' part probably is in the song - just sampled and filtered so much, it sounds more like a drum hit or the like, knowing Trent's approach in this album (he sampled a ton of artists, editing the sampled to the point that they were totally unrecogniseable.)
There are similar 'hidden' lyrics in other parts of the album.... Sanctified ("As surely as the blade's course is run, Maybe my kingdom's finally come") and Kinda I want to (I'll take my chance tonight), then there's the lyrics you clearly hear, but people seems to miss, like Terrible Lie's 'I give you everything, my sweet everything'.
It's such a heartwrenching album. Makes you just want to give him a bit hug and ask 'who hurt you?'. I don't think Trent likes that though - he never expected Hate Machine to sell well, so left it personal like a diary. When he realised the audience for his music, he stopped singing so personally about relationships. :)
@Belle47 To add - it's likely "Andrea Mulrain", the same 'Annie' mentioned in "The Becoming". You can find a few comments in various articles if you do a bit of googling.
@Belle47 To add - it's likely "Andrea Mulrain", the same 'Annie' mentioned in "The Becoming". You can find a few comments in various articles if you do a bit of googling.