I agree with Androgyne. I don't think the other interpretations are incorrect, but they're very superficial. The song is about how we aren't in control, but it's also about the purpose of life and why we're here. The proposed answer in this song is to "copy". The building blocks have evolved into something that doesn't recognize its history anymore (conscious, but with no history (our current scientific understanding of the origins of human life). The song is also about aging and facing morality. "Look what you had to start" (youth), "why all the change in heart?" (fear of death), "you need to play your part" (don't get distracted from life's purpose), "a copy of a copy" (to reproduce).
This is an aging Reznor, taking a second look at Closer.
I agree with Androgyne. I don't think the other interpretations are incorrect, but they're very superficial. The song is about how we aren't in control, but it's also about the purpose of life and why we're here. The proposed answer in this song is to "copy". The building blocks have evolved into something that doesn't recognize its history anymore (conscious, but with no history (our current scientific understanding of the origins of human life). The song is also about aging and facing morality. "Look what you had to start" (youth), "why all the change in heart?" (fear of death), "you need to play your part" (don't get distracted from life's purpose), "a copy of a copy" (to reproduce).
This is an aging Reznor, taking a second look at Closer.