Getting Smaller

Nine Inch Nails

Getting a little erratic here
And I don't know who to trust
I guess they got a way of reading my mind
I guess I got to adjust
I've got my arms that flip, flop, flip, flop, flip
I got my head on a spring
Well I thought I got you on my side
I haven't got fucking anything

I'm just a face in the crowd
Nothing to worry about
Not even trying to stand out
I'm getting smaller and smaller and smaller
And I got nothing to say
It's all been taken away
I just behave and obey
I'm afraid I am starting to fade away

Uh huh
I kind of see through the cracks when I press up on the wall
I'm not looking to stand up real high, I'd be happy to crawl
I think I'm losing my grip, but I can still make a fist
You know I still got my one good arm that I can beat
I can beat myself up with

I'm just a face in the crowd
Nothing to worry about
Not even trying to stand out
I'm getting smaller and smaller and smaller
And I got nothing to say
It's all been taken away
I just behave and obey
I'm afraid that I'm starting to fade away

Hey, and for what it was worth
I really used to believe
That maybe there's some great thing
That we could achieve
And now I can't tell the difference
Or know what to feel
Between what I've been trying so hard to see
And what appears to be real

Fading away
Fading away
Fading away
Fading away

My world is getting smaller everyday
Hey hey hey hey, and that's okay

My world is getting smaller everyday
Hey hey hey hey, and that's okay

My world is getting smaller everyday
Hey hey hey hey, and that's okay

My world is getting smaller everyday
Hey hey hey hey, and that's okay


Lyrics submitted by thewhitepony33

Getting Smaller Lyrics as written by Trent Reznor

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

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Getting Smaller song meanings
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47 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    The Flip Flop is the best part of the song. I hate you all.

    PhoenixXxon May 05, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I agree with Pheonix and diklik. First of all the flip flop part is so freaking catchy it is a difference from what he wrote before but it just gets so that you cant stop listening.

    And yeah he says that he is getting smaller every day and thats ok maybe he decided he does not care about being a rock star and just wants to make music that satisfies him.

    PCS153on April 25, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Phelly 2 is correct.

    This is a political and social commentary on our current modern political system and how it has reduced our individuality, gained dominion over us, his belief that it once stood for our benefit and that he is resigned to accept his place in it knowing it will only get worse.

    Systemicon March 08, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i like this song. foo fighter sounding.

    Phookyon March 08, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    "You know I still got my one good arm That I can beat, ooh, that I can beat myself up with"

    withteethon March 13, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The lyrics remind me of pretty hate machine for some reason.. The hope amongst the gloom "maybe there's some great thing we could achieve" only to be overcome by reality and more gloom.. Can't WAIT for this album..

    Mowie666on March 13, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I also noticed a Foo Fighter element to the song, but didn't particularly find that to be a good thing. The lyrics make me want to drive into a lake. "FLIP FLOP FLIP FLOP FLIP"? He shouldn't have stopped doing drugs. It's a decent song, just nothing to cum in your pants over.

    bukkakeon March 23, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    HEY! this is a great song! the lyrics "flip flop flip flop flip" should be the part of the song you love. his lyrics aren't usually that, well, flip floppy. And hes refering to flip floppers. DUUUHHH! Our presidential election has become a joke. Kerry just played to the crowd he would say whatever you wanted to hear. He was a republican posing as a democrat. You can tell because in the year or so leading up to that election he always voted on the left, but over his whole career he voted completely on the right. Bush won because people were convinced that marriage should only be between a man and a woman, and of course the voter fraud that got him elected the first time but was talked about less this time. This album was written during the '04 election and is very political. It kicks ass. FRANK & BUKKAKE!!

    davilmanon March 25, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love this song. I was blown away the first time I heard it. I really like the new direction Nine Inch Nails went into.

    [inactive account]on April 09, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I like this song, it makes me feel good about myself. I can relate to this for sure.

    "I'm not looking to stand up real high, I'd be happy to crawl I think I'm losing my grip But I can still make a fist "

    And if you didn't nut in your pants you got a whole bunch of other songs to look forward too and you can bet it will sound different than this one, if you look at what bands are doing lately is changing up sounds on an album to get a sense of variety. If you heard the other leaked tracks like hand that feeds, line begins to blur, and this one, then you know that they all have their own sound really. From what I've heard I'm convinced this will be a pretty sweet album.

    Tyrant_19on April 13, 2005   Link

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