"The Hand That Feeds" as written by and Trent Reznor....
You're keeping in step
In the line
Got your chin held high and you feel just fine
Because you do
What you're told
But inside your heart it is black and it's hollow and it's cold
Just how deep do you believe?
Will you bite the hand that feeds?
Will you chew until it bleeds?
Can you get up off your knees?
Are you brave enough to see?
Do you want to change it?
What if this whole crusade's
A charade
And behind it all there's a price to be paid
For the blood
On which we dine
Justified in the name of the holy and the divine
Just how deep do you believe?
Will you bite the hand that feeds?
Will you chew until it bleeds?
Can you get up off your knees?
Are you brave enough to see?
Do you want to change it?
So naive
To keep holding on to what I want to believe
I can see
But I keep holding on and on and on and on
Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees?
In the line
Got your chin held high and you feel just fine
Because you do
What you're told
But inside your heart it is black and it's hollow and it's cold
Just how deep do you believe?
Will you bite the hand that feeds?
Will you chew until it bleeds?
Can you get up off your knees?
Are you brave enough to see?
Do you want to change it?
What if this whole crusade's
A charade
And behind it all there's a price to be paid
For the blood
On which we dine
Justified in the name of the holy and the divine
Just how deep do you believe?
Will you bite the hand that feeds?
Will you chew until it bleeds?
Can you get up off your knees?
Are you brave enough to see?
Do you want to change it?
So naive
To keep holding on to what I want to believe
I can see
But I keep holding on and on and on and on
Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees?
Lyrics submitted by Angie Christ
"The Hand That Feeds" as written by Trent Reznor
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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now to get back on track. i think this song has maybe a political undertone? how we are basically zombies to our society and just do what we are told. a crusade? a war on oil? when asked if this was a political album trent replied " as in the definition: of or relating to your views about social relationships involving authority or power? then, yes it is."
"just how deep do you believe" is talking about how much trust you have in the american government. the next few lines are asking if you are going to stand up and fight against the propaganda being shoved in our throats.
"what if this whole crusade's
a charade
and behind it all there's a price to be paid
for the blood
on which we dine
justified in the name of the holy and the divine" is talking about the war in iraq. all the blood shed in the name of oil, etc... justified in the name of the holy and the divine is about bush's christian bent. i would elaborate, but you know what i'm saying
I believe the song is about having everything given to you. Almost hand fed. Then realizing it's time to get up and go and do it yourself...
Brilliant song though
People said they hated NIN's "The Fragile" when it came out.
You heard the song what? In an absolutely ass bad rip of it from the internet?
I've listened to "The Line Begins To Blur" and it's a great song. That's all I need to hear until the CD comes out...I'm not going to listen to a shitty quality radio rip and pass judgement on anything.
But hey, if you really think that way, go check out the song "Hooker With A Penis" from Tool...it kind of sums up you and subsequently what most people think of you.
you're keeping in step
in the line
got your chin held high and you feel just fine
because you do
what you're told
but inside your heart it is black and it's hollow and it's cold
You're following society's mass plan, you've gotten through highschool, you've gone to college, you're married, you have a job, kids, a house and you're proud of these accomplishments. Not because given a choice you'd have actually aspired to these things but because you've succeeded in the way you were told you were supposed to and gone through life in line without making a fuss. Except, deep inside, you realize that none of these superficial things mean anything and you're simply going through the motions without thinking and for that reason when you look inside you realize your soul, your heart, your whatever is completely empty.
'just how deep do you believe?
will you bite the hand that feeds?
will you chew until it bleeds?
can you get up off your knees?
are you brave enough to see?
do you want to change it?'
Asking just how attatched are you to the illusion of order society has created. Will you bite the thing, will you dystroy the thing that feeds the very foundation of your world. Are you strong enough to stand up and remove yourself from the hold that it has over you. Are you brave enough to face the fact that it is all just an illusion and even if you do realize this do you want to change it? It would be alot easier to just keep going on in the same fashion you have been your entire life.
what if this whole crusade's
a charade
and behind it all there's a price to be paid
for the blood
on which we dine
justified in the name of the holy and the divine
Along the same lines as the first paragraph except the question is termed in frames of religion.
so naive
to keep holding on to what I want to believe
i can see
but i keep holding on and on and on and on
Once again its easier just to keep believing in the legitimacy of the society we have created and to keep holding on and on and on even though deep down we know that it's superficial and that its pointless.
Maybe I'm wrong but hey it's what I want to believe ;)
The Hand That Feeds questions whether you should follow the rules of society for a comfortable life and continue believing the lies which control our culture or rebel and live by your own means.
How old are you?
And then I can tell you exactly what I mean.
You see Johnny, society has grown since the industrial revolution. As industry grew so too did the population. Unfortunately the resources we rely in in industry are all running out so that means the population is going to have to take a big downsizing.
All of your culture (what I mean is all that TV you watch, you don't actually have any culture) is based on bullshit and will be useless if you ever need to be self reliant. Everything has become so easy for the human animal that laziness both physically and mentally is far too easy to get away with. Stupidity and Obesity are on a steady rise and these types of people are thriving and breeding.
The government doesn't give a shit. They're just trying to keep up the façade for long enough to secure themselves from rebellion. Government has never been about freedom. It's always been about restriction. Not all laws are correct. Not everything done is in the favour of the people. Most things are done for the profit of the super rich are those with military power.
There's many things.. I could explain more but I used an umbrella term expecting you to have the wisdom to figure out what I meant on your own. Seems however you are a jackass. You're a pretty shitty troll and you reek of high school.
That being said, I believe the song is about following a religion blindly (which the meaning of the word "blindly" can be spun off into an entirely new debate). Regardless of how you define it, the song is speaking to those who fall into step with their religion, put on their smile, but continue to remain broken and empty, placing responsibility for life and circumstance solely on the shoulders of a deity who claims to be in control of your life. The song is a challenge to those to see past their indoctrination and their blindness to question their belief system, and follow what they can see and know to be true.
Coming from somebody with a long history in Christianity, stepping away from that was the most frightening, challenging experiences of my life. But it is so worth it. I've taken responsibility for my own life, I choose happiness, and my life has been so much better because of it.
I will admit, I have heard this song...I will admit that it kinda took me off guard when I first heard it. Someone stated above that(Im paraphrasing) this song is simple. Everything rhymes with "bee" or something of that nature. Who cares. He got his point across. He is, afterall, finding himself through his music, and finding oneself is getting down to the most simple questions. Why cant inspiration be simple as well?
Ive listened to pretty much anything that Trent has offered us, if I find a song that strikes me as having some personal relation to my life...I find it fascinating. Some I have came across and had no interest in when I first heard them. On a second listen, perhaps months or even years down the road, I found a place for them in my life, into my frame of mind. That is what music is, isnt it...an expression? Someone handing something to you and saying "here you go, do what you want with it". Trent never alludes to us what his music is about, probably never will. He expects us to find our own meaning. Do you think he really cares that you dont like his music? There are obviously alot of people that do like it considering the response on this forum. Well maybe not this song in particular. But in time I am sure The Hand That Feeds will be better reguarded, you know, when it is actually released.
Ive babbled on long enough.
If you dont like it then dont listen to it.
Oh, by the way...I hate that painting you did in your high school art class. It really sucks. Just thought you should know since we are on a critics forum...oh wait, nevermind, were not.
P.S. Frank, if you are going to insult, for trents sake at least be orignal. dumbass.