You're keeping in step
In the line
Got your chin held high and you feel just fine
'Cause 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 wanna 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 wanna change it?

So naive
I keep holding on to what I wanna 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?

Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees?

Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees?

Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees?

Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees?

Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees?

Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees?

Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees?


Lyrics submitted by Angie Christ

The Hand That Feeds Lyrics as written by Trent Reznor

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

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The Hand That Feeds song meanings
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    General Comment

    Okay, while you all have your fun discussing whether the song is good or not, (which it is,) I'm going to get to the, you know, actual point of this website, interpreting the meaning. I take this song to be about the ultra-Christian types who live their faith. "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." These Christians do everything their supposed too, and act all happy, but deep inside they know they don't really feel anything.

    I mean, to me, the second verse makes it pretty obvious:

    "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, (communion is the metaphorical drinking of Christ's blood) Justified in the Name of the Holy and the Divine (God/Jesus)"

    Trent, an atheist, urges the audience to 'get up off (their) knees.' To live for today, not for thousand-year-old scriptures. It's a good song. I love it, and can't wait for With Teeth.

    KickerOfElveson April 05, 2005   Link

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