| album = Pretty Hate Machine
| length = 3:46
| versions =Down In It <br>Down In It (Skin)<br>[[Down In It (Shred)]]<br>[[Down In It (Singe)]]<br>[[Down In It (Demo)]]<br>[[Down In It (Demo II)]]<br>[[Down In It (Demo III)]]<br>[[Down In It (Demo IV)]]
| live = Hate Tour (1990) - Present <br> Uncommon
}}
'''''Down In It''''' was the first single for the album [[Pretty Hate Machine]] and the third track on the disc. It is said to be the first song that [[Trent Reznor]] ever wrote under the name Nine Inch Nails and is a rare treat to hear live. Following the Down In It single release, a music video was made.
===Inspiration===
In a 1994 radio broadcast biography of Reznor, it was said that Down In It was inspired by a relationship that had then recently ended for him with a woman named Krissy.
Reznor has openly admited that this song is basically his version of Skinny Puppy's "Dig It"
===Song Credits===*Production: Trent Reznor, [[Adrian Sherwood]], [[Keith LeBlanc]]*Engineering: Trent Reznor, Adrian Sherwood, Keith LeBlanc, [[Kennan Keating]]*Mix: Adrian Sherwood ==Appearances===
Down In It appears in various versions on the follwing releases:
===Halos===
*[[Down In It (halo)|Down In It]]
*[[Pretty Hate Machine]]
*[[Head Like a Hole (halo)| Head Like a Hole]]
*[[Closure]]
===Other===
*[[Purest Feeling]] - non-official
*[[Purest Feeling II]] - non-official
*[[Down In It (halo)|Down In It]]
*[[Pretty Hate Machine]]
*[[Head Like a Hole (halo)| Head Like a Hole]]
==Versions== ==Versions=Down In It===Appears on [[Purest Feeling]] as the last track, differing from its offical counterparts as that it has an extended intro with strange screams and odd static. It also includes about 1 minute and 8 seconds of distorted clippings of the song at the end as a finish to the album. Musically it's extremely close to the (Demo) version from the [[Head Like a Hole (halo)|Head Like A Hole]] US single.
*===Down In It - appears (Demo)===Appears on [[Purest FeelingHead Like a Hole (halo)|Head Like A Hole]] (US) as the last track, differing from its offical counterparts as it's extremely similar to the [[Purest Feeling]] version, except that it has an extended lacks the long intro with strange screams and odd static. It also includes about 1 minute and 8 seconds all the extra layering of distorted clippings of the song at the end it's Purest Feeling counterpart as well as a finish to the albumdistorted outro. Musically Most likely it's extremely close to the (Demo) definitive "original version from the [[Head Like a Hole (halo)|Head Like A Hole]] US single" of Trent Reznor's very first song as Nine Inch Nails.
*Down In It ====(DemoII) - appears ====Appears on the [[Head Like a Hole (halo)|Head Like A HolePurest Feeling II]] (US) as the last track, itbootleg. It's extremely similar to simply the (Skin) version from [[Purest FeelingPretty Hate Machine]] with an unadulterated version, except that it lacks of the long Terrible Lie intro and all the extra layering of it's Purest Feeling counterpart as well as the distorted outro. Most likely it's tacked onto the definitive "original version" of Trent Reznor's very first song as Nine Inch Nailsend which fades out.
*Down In It ====(Demo IIIII) - appears ====Appears on the [[Purest Feeling II]] bootleg. It's Almost exactly the same as the Purest Feeling version, simply lacking the (Skin) version from [[Pretty Hate Machine]] with an unadulterated version of extra layering and sound effects as well as the distorted outtro, though it does retain the Terrible Lie extended drumbeat intro tacked onto and is probably the version the end which fades out.Purest Feeling version was based upon
*Down In It ====(Demo IIIIV) - appears ====Appears on the [[Purest Feeling II]] bootleg. Almost exactly the same as the Purest Feeling It's an odd version, simply lacking with Trent whispering a good portion of his vocals an odd beat set compared to the extra layering and sound effects as well as the distorted outtro, though it does retain the extended drumbeat intro and is probably others. It also includes faux-Oriental sounding synths which are noticably absent in any of the version other versions of the Purest Feeling version was based uponsong
*===Down In It (Demo IVSkin) - appears on ===The mix from the [[Purest Feeling IIDown In It (halo)|Down In It]] bootleg. It's an odd version with Trent whispering a good portion of his vocals an odd beat set compared single and later chosen to be the others. It also includes faux-Oriental sounding synths which are noticably absent in any of the other versions of the songmix that appeared on [[Pretty Hate Machine]]
*===Down In It (SkinShred) - the ===A mix from that appears on both the [[Down In It (halo)|Down In It]] single and later chosen to be the mix that appeared on [[Pretty Hate MachineHead Like a Hole (halo)|Head Like A Hole]]singles. It's basically retains the original song with an extended intro and a long instrumental area that makes up the entire latter half of the song, considered the "extended single version" of the song by some.
*===Down In It (ShredSinge) - a ===A mix that appears on both the [[Down In It (halo)|Down In It]] and [[Head Like a Hole (halo)|Head Like A Hole]] singles. It's basically retains a mostly instrumental "dub" mix of the original song with an extended intro minimal vocals and strange warping and a long instrumental area mixing of the beats with heavy bass emphasis. It should be noted that makes up this mix is actually 18 seconds longer on the entire latter half of Head Like A Hole (US) single than it was on the songDown In It single. The reason for this is unknown, considered though it's probably due to the "extended single version" of the song by sometime constraints imposed on Vinyl singles compared to a full sized LP Maxi Single.
*==The Video=="Down In It (Singe) - a mix that appears on both " was the [[Down In first Nine Inch Nails video. It (halo)|Down In It]] was directed by Eric Zimmerman and [[Head Like a Hole (halo)|Benjamin Stokes, who also directed "Head Like A Hole]] singles. It's a mostly instrumental "dub" mix of The video depicts Reznor running through downtown Cleveland and climbing to the song with minimal vocals and strange warping and mixing roof of the beats with heavy bass emphasis. It should be noted that this mix is actually 18 seconds longer on the Head Like A Hole (US) single than it was on the Down In It single. The reason for this is unknowna building, though it's probably due where he falls to his death. Bandmates [[Richard Patrick]] and [[Chris Vrenna]] discover the time constraints imposed on Vinyl singles compared to a full sized LP Maxi Singlebody days later.
This was the first video to be met with controversy. To film the shots of lifeless Reznor, he was covered with cornstarch to create the illusion of decay and cameras were tied to heavy-duty ballons that were tied down. During the filming of these scenes, one of the balloons broke free and took the camera with it, drifting some 200 miles before being found by a farmer. The camera was turned over to local police who, upon seeing the raw video footage, assumed it was a snuff film and the FBI was called in to investigate. The incident was even reported on "Hard Copy" and recalled in an interview for SPIN magazine. Because MTV and its US affiliates were uncomfortable with the video's subject matter, all scenes that depict Reznor's body lying on the ground behind the building were deleted. ===Song Credits=Performed Live==*Production: Trent Reznor, As of [[Adrian SherwoodFragility 2.0]], Reznor had stated that he didn't like the song as much as he used to, but during the later legs of the [[Keith LeBlancWith Teeth Tour]]*Engineering: Trent Reznor, Adrian Sherwood, Keith LeBlancit seemed as if he's changed his mind about the song, [[Kennan Keating]]*Mix: Adrian Sherwoodplaying it more as the tour progressed.
==Lyrics==
I was up above it
Now I’m down in it
==The Video==
"Down In It" was the first Nine Inch Nails video. It was directed by Eric Zimmerman and Benjamin Stokes, who also directed "Head Like A Hole." The video depicts Reznor running through downtown Cleveland and climbing to the roof of a building, where he falls to his death. Bandmates [[Richard Patrick]] and [[Chris Vrenna]] discover the body days later.
This was the first video to be met with controversy. To film the shots of lifeless Reznor, he was covered with cornstarch to create the illusion of decay and cameras were tied to heavy-duty ballons that were tied down. During the filming of these scenes, one of the balloons broke free and took the camera with it, drifting some 200 miles before being found by a farmer. The camera was turned over to local police who, upon seeing the raw video footage, assumed it was a snuff film and the FBI was called in to investigate. The incident was even reported on "Hard Copy" and recalled in an interview for SPIN magazine. Because MTV and its US affiliates were uncomfortable with the video's subject matter, all scenes that depict Reznor's body lying on the ground behind the building were deleted.
==Performed Live==
As of [[Fragility 2.0]], Reznor had stated that he didn't like the song as much as he used to, but during the later legs of the [[With Teeth Tour]], it seemed as if he's changed his mind about the song, playing it more as the tour progressed.
[[Category:NIN Songs]]