Fix what’s wrong, but don’t rewrite what the artist wrote. Stick to the official released version — album booklet, label site, verified lyric video, etc. If you’re guessing, pause and double-check.
Respect the structure
Songs have rhythm. Pages do too. Leave line breaks where they belong. Don’t smash things together or add extra empty space just for looks.
Punctuation counts (but vibe-editing doesn’t)
Correct typos? Yes. Re-punctuating a whole verse because it ‘looks better’? Probably not. Keep capitalization and punctuation close to the official source.
Don’t mix versions
If you’re editing the explicit version, keep it explicit. If it’s the clean version, keep it clean. No mashups.
Let the lyrics be lyrics
This isn’t the place for interpretations, memories, stories, or trivia — that’s what comments are for. Keep metadata, translations, and bracketed stage directions out unless they’re officially part of the song.
Edit lightly
If two lines are wrong… fix the two lines. No need to bulldoze the whole page. Think ‘surgical,’ not ‘remix.’
When in doubt, ask the crowd
Not sure what they’re singing in that fuzzy bridge? Drop a question in the comments and let the music nerds swarm. Someone always knows.
And if you see my friend
I thought I would again
A single thin straight line
I thought we had more time
--
this is a clear reference to a death of a close friend, possibly David Bowie, who died last year and had various live performances with NIN
@rapliandras so if you watch the live show "Cold and Black and Infinite" (there's a version on youtube), he plays the song very close in the set (I think within 2 songs or so) to Bowles "I Can't Give Everything Away", which sort of supports this, but he also changes the lyrics from "thin straight line" to "thin red line", which leans closer to a friend/loved one killing themselves, so its tough to tell. Its definitely about a friend dying before their time (and honestly, I don't think anywhere would be the place for losing Bowie)....
@rapliandras so if you watch the live show "Cold and Black and Infinite" (there's a version on youtube), he plays the song very close in the set (I think within 2 songs or so) to Bowles "I Can't Give Everything Away", which sort of supports this, but he also changes the lyrics from "thin straight line" to "thin red line", which leans closer to a friend/loved one killing themselves, so its tough to tell. Its definitely about a friend dying before their time (and honestly, I don't think anywhere would be the place for losing Bowie).
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And if you see my friend I thought I would again A single thin straight line I thought we had more time -- this is a clear reference to a death of a close friend, possibly David Bowie, who died last year and had various live performances with NIN
@rapliandras so if you watch the live show "Cold and Black and Infinite" (there's a version on youtube), he plays the song very close in the set (I think within 2 songs or so) to Bowles "I Can't Give Everything Away", which sort of supports this, but he also changes the lyrics from "thin straight line" to "thin red line", which leans closer to a friend/loved one killing themselves, so its tough to tell. Its definitely about a friend dying before their time (and honestly, I don't think anywhere would be the place for losing Bowie)....
@rapliandras so if you watch the live show "Cold and Black and Infinite" (there's a version on youtube), he plays the song very close in the set (I think within 2 songs or so) to Bowles "I Can't Give Everything Away", which sort of supports this, but he also changes the lyrics from "thin straight line" to "thin red line", which leans closer to a friend/loved one killing themselves, so its tough to tell. Its definitely about a friend dying before their time (and honestly, I don't think anywhere would be the place for losing Bowie).