Difference between revisions of "Terrible Lie"

Latest revision as of 22:51, 23 February 2025

Album:Pretty Hate Machine

Length:4:39

Versions:Terrible Lie
Terrible Lie (Sympathetic Mix)
Terrible Lie (Empathetic Mix)
Terrible Lie (Demo)
Terrible Lie (Closure)
Terrible Lie (And All That Could Have Been)
Terrible Lie (Beside You In Time)

Live:"Pretty Hate Machine" Promotional Tour through present

"Terrible Lie" is the second track on the 1989 release Pretty Hate Machine and begins directly at the end of "Head Like A Hole" (the end of the latter providing a segue into the beginning of the former).

Appearances

Halos

Seeds

Video Games

Rock Band 3 (available for download)

Versions

Terrible Lie

The second track from the album Pretty Hate Machine, its intro beat bleeds in from the outro of "Head Like A Hole" and pops up occasionally throughout the song. The song is almost entirely synthetic and is extremely layered when compared to most of the other songs on the album. A dissonant theme runs through the outro of the song in the form of variously pitched samples of a woodblock.

Terrible Lie (Sympathetic Mix)

Running Time: 4:26

Present on the Head Like A Hole single, this version is essentially the same as the album version with a few slight differences such as an unadulterated intro, a bit less layering and different arrangements, as well as a different outro and ending. Due to its similarity to the album version, however, it's often considered more of a "single mix" for the song, which is used as a B-Side to Head Like A Hole.

Song Credits

Production and mix: Flood, Trent Reznor

Terrible Lie (Empathetic Mix)

Running Time: 6:11

Present on the Head Like A Hole single, this version is notably more remixed than the other version, lacking the normal intro and is much more upbeat as well with different arrangements of the main parts of the song, though the flow of the song remains intact. The background noises are much clearer as well and the song is noticeably extended in this version. Some of the lyrics (such as the distorted "Hey God!") are much clearer in this version as well. It also has a different ending as well.

Song Credits

Production and mix: Flood, Trent Reznor

Terrible Lie (Demo)

Running Time: 4:55

A demo for "Terrible Lie" does exist, but it has only leaked in short clips on the internet. It is on a cassette tape handed out by Reznor to important figures. This cassette is also in the possession of Martin Atkins, who has allowed fans to hear playbacks. The track is reported to follow the same arrangement as the album version with differences in the bridge and outro, with the bridge entering more abruptly and the outro having Reznor saying "who do you think you're fooling?" During the Pretty Hate Machine Tour, this line appeared frequently on the backing track for this song, and it was long thought to have been a sample from a film.

Terrible Lie (Closure)

"Terrible Lie" is the first song from a live performance shown on Closure. It follows footage from Nine Inch Nails fans and protesters alike as well as backstage footage. The classic "Pinion" intro leads into "Terrible Lie" and a spotlight projects the silhouette of Reznor onto the screen. The band is covered in cornstarch as per usual for the era and Reznor finishes up half singing/half saying "you promised me" into the mike. The video then goes to more fan and backstage footage and is eventually followed by "Piggy." On the DVD leak of this release, an older Lollapalooza '91 performance of this song is featured in the Appendage section, following "Now I'm Nothing." Both are recorded in bootleg-like quality.

Terrible Lie (And All That Could Have Been)

The first song on both the CD and DVD/VHS versions of And All That Could Have Been, the song takes place with just the multi-colored set lighting on and does not have any special motif to it. During certain shots, one can see the sunset through the opening at the top of the stadium. Reznor can be seen wearing cornstarch makeup and mascara during this song, though most of it does not last through "March of the Pigs." The song starts out with the recorded "The New Flesh"/"Pinion" intro typical to the Fragility 2.0 shows, though this is entirely cut off along with the actual intro to the song on the CD version. The song ends with Reznor screaming "You fucking promised me!", before seguing directly into "Sin."

Terrible Lie (Beside You In Time)

The live version of "Terrible Lie," as performed on Beside You In Time, is much moodier than previous versions. During the choruses (during which "terrible lie" is chanted), a previously unheard riff is played by guitar and bass. Also, Reznor seems much more desperate while singing the "Don't take it away from me…" lines in the song. The added "live" solo at the end of the song has also been modified. These changes can likely be attributed to the fact that this is an almost completely new live line up. The music is also much more cleaner and defined than the Fragility tour and on And All That Could Have Been. At the end of the song, the band doesn't play the extended live ending. Instead, they finish the song abruptly, as in the album version.

Live

"Terrible Lie" is often the opening song of Nine Inch Nails shows following an introduction, which may be "Now I'm Nothing" (Lollapalooza '91, NIN/JA 2009) or, often, a manipulated pre-recorded version of "Pinion". The live version typically omits the keyboard and bass harmony for the first half of the first chorus, a feature of the Sympathetic mix. The ending of the song is extended when performed live and is often concluded with Reznor screaming "you promised me" repeatedly. A brief sample of the words "who do you think you're fooling?" often surrounded the song in performances during the Pretty Hate Machine Tour.

The variation performed on the Wave Goodbye Tour was mostly the same as the version introduced during Live: With Teeth. However, as the live band was then only four members, all synthesizer parts were absent, leaving only loud guitar riffs (this is most noticeable in the chorus, and right before the outro where there is usually a 'hammer-synth' countermelody played over the chorus progression). During the Australian leg of the Wave Goodbye Tour, the song featured a minimalist intro, using the synth parts that can be heard during the choruses of the studio version.

Due to the hectic nature of the song, the band will often destroy instruments and/or the stage during the song. This can be seen in the 1989-1991 footage that was added as an appendage to the "DVD" version of Closure. During the Live: With Teeth tours, Aaron North plays a short solo during the last few moments of the song. This is a short, three note repeating solo.

Aaron North solo tab

Standard tuning

e|-----------------------------
B|-----------------------------
G|-9-11-12--9-11-12--9-11-12
D| ----------------------------
A|-----------------------------
E|-----------------------------

Lyrics

    Hey God, why are you doing this to me?
    Am I not living up to what I'm supposed to be?
    Why am I seething with this animosity?
    Hey God, I think you owe me a great big apology
    
    Terrible lie
    
    Hey God, I really don't know what you mean
    Seems like salvation comes only in our dreams
    I feel my hatred grow all the more extreme
    Hey God, can this world really be as sad as it seems?
    
    Terrible lie
    
    Don't take it away from me
    I need someone to hold on to
    Don't take it away from me
    I need someone to hold on to
    
    Hey God, there's nothing left for me to hide
    I lost my ignorance, security and pride
    I'm all alone in a world you must despise
    Hey God, I believed the promises, the promises and lies
    
    Terrible lie
    
    You made me throw it all away
    My morals left to decay
    How many you betray
    You've taken everything
    
    Terrible lie
    
    My head is filled with disease
    My skin is begging you please
    I'm on my hands and knees
    I want so much to believe
    I need someone to hold on to
    I need someone to hold on to
    I need someone to hold on to
    I need someone to hold on to
    I give you everything
    My sweet everything

    Hey God, I really don't know who I am
    In this world of piss.

The last two lines only appear in the album booklet for Pretty Hate Machine

It should be noted that the following line was changed on the recording:

    Hey God, I believed your promises, your promises and lies

Previous track - "Head Like A Hole"

Track 2 from Pretty Hate Machine

Next track - "Down In It"

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-<center>
+{{song
-{| class="infobox bordered" style="width: 25em; text-align: right; font-size: 80%;"
+| title =Terrible Lie
-|+ style="font-size: larger;" | '''Terrible Lie'''
+| album =''[[Pretty Hate Machine]]''
-|-
+| length =4:39
-|-
+| BPM = 88
-! Original Album:
+| versions =Terrible Lie<br>Terrible Lie (Sympathetic Mix)<br>Terrible Lie (Empathetic Mix)<br>Terrible Lie (Demo)<br>Terrible Lie (''[[Closure]]'')<br>Terrible Lie (''[[And All That Could Have Been (halo)|And All That Could Have Been]]'')<br>Terrible Lie (''[[Beside You In Time (halo)|Beside You In Time]]'')
-| [[Pretty Hate Machine]]
+| live =[["Pretty Hate Machine" Promotional Tour]] through present
-|-
+}}'''"Terrible Lie"''' is the second track on the 1989 release ''[[Pretty Hate Machine]]'' and begins directly at the end of "[[Head Like A Hole (song)|Head Like A Hole]]" (the end of the latter providing a segue into the beginning of the former).
-! First Time Played Live:
-| Sometime in 1989
-|-
-! Last Time Played Live:
-| Staple
-|-
-| colspan="2" style="font-size: smaller;" | {{{footnotes|}}}
-|}
-</center>
-==About==
+===Song Credits===
-Terrible Lie is the second song off of [[Pretty Hate Machine]] and begins directly at the end of [[Head Like A Hole]] (the end of the latter bleeding into the beginning of the former).  The song is about having a belief in God while wondering about all the suffering (mostly personal/internal suffering) that one goes through in life, about wanting to believe and wanting to be hopeful but being constantly proved wrong by events in one's life.  It's "everyman" subject matter and distinct melody make it one of [[Nine Inch Nails]]' better known songs and a staple of the live concerts.
+*Production: [[Flood]], [[Trent Reznor]]
+*Engineering: Flood, [[John Fryer]], Doug de Angelis
+*Mix: John Fryer, Trent Reznor
-===Appearances===
+==Appearances==
+===Halos===
+*''Pretty Hate Machine''
+*''[[Head Like A Hole (halo)|Head Like A Hole]]''
+*''[[Closure]]''
+*''[[And All That Could Have Been (halo)|And All That Could Have Been]]''
+*''[[Beside You In Time (halo)|Beside You In Time]]''
-*[[Pretty Hate Machine]]
+===Seeds===
-*[[Head Like A Hole (halo)|Head Like A Hole]] (remixes)
+*''[[The Definitive NIN - Deep Cuts]]''
-*[[Closure]] (live)
+*''[[The Definitive NIN - Heavy Tracks]]''
-*[[And All That Could Have Been]] (live)
-*[[Beside You In Time]] (live)
-===Versions===
+===Video Games===
+*''[[Rock Band|Rock Band 3]]'' (available for download)
-*Terrible Lie
+==Versions==
-*Terrible Lie (Sympathetic Mix)
+===Terrible Lie===
-*Terrible Lie (Empathetic Mix)
+The second track from the album ''Pretty Hate Machine,'' its intro beat bleeds in from the outro of "Head Like A Hole" and pops up occasionally throughout the song. The song is almost entirely synthetic and is extremely layered when compared to most of the other songs on the album. A dissonant theme runs through the outro of the song in the form of variously pitched [[samples]] of a woodblock.
-===Lyrics===
+===Terrible Lie (Sympathetic Mix)===
+'''''Running Time: 4:26'''''
-     hey God, why are you doing this to me?
+Present on the ''Head Like A Hole'' single, this version is essentially the same as the album version with a few slight differences such as an unadulterated intro, a bit less layering and different arrangements, as well as a different outro and ending. Due to its similarity to the album version, however, it's often considered more of a "single mix" for the song, which is used as a B-Side to ''Head Like A Hole.''
-     am i not living up to what i'm supposed to be?
-     why am i seething with this animosity?
-     hey God, i think you owe me a great big apology
-     terrible lie
+====Song Credits====
-     terrible lie
+*Production and mix: Flood, Trent Reznor
-     terrible lie
-     terrible lie
-     hey God, i really don't know what you mean
+===Terrible Lie (Empathetic Mix)===
-     seems like salvation comes only in our dreams
+'''''Running Time: 6:11'''''
-     i feel my hatred grow all the more extreme
-     hey God, can this world really be as sad as it seems
-     terrible lie
+Present on the ''Head Like A Hole'' single, this version is notably more remixed than the other version, lacking the normal intro and is much more upbeat as well with different arrangements of the main parts of the song, though the flow of the song remains intact. The background noises are much clearer as well and the song is noticeably extended in this version. Some of the lyrics (such as the distorted "Hey God!") are much clearer in this version as well. It also has a different ending as well.
-     terrible lie
-     terrible lie
-     terrible lie
-     don't take it away from me
+====Song Credits====
-     i need you to hold on to
+*Production and mix: Flood, Trent Reznor
-     don't take it away from me
-     i need you to hold on to
-     don't take it away from me
-     i need you to hold on to
-     don't take it away from me
-     i need someone to hold on to
-     don't tear it away from me
-     i need you to hold on to
-     don't tear it away from me
-     i need someone to hold on to
-     don't tear it away from me
-     i need you to hold on to
-     don't tear it
-     don't tear it
-     don't take it
-     don't take it
-     don't
-     hey God, there's nothing left for me to hide
+===Terrible Lie (Demo)===
-     i lost my ignorance, security and pride
+'''''Running Time: 4:55'''''
-     i'm all alone in a world you must despise
-     hey God, i believed your promises, your promises and lies
-     terrible lie
+A demo for "Terrible Lie" does exist, but it has only leaked in short clips on the internet. It is on a cassette tape handed out by Reznor to important figures. This cassette is also in the possession of [[Martin Atkins]], who has allowed fans to hear playbacks. The track is reported to follow the same arrangement as the album version with differences in the bridge and outro, with the bridge entering more abruptly and the outro having Reznor saying "who do you think you're fooling?" During the [[Pretty Hate Machine Tour]], this line appeared frequently on the backing track for this song, and it was long thought to have been a sample from a film.
-     terrible lie
-     terrible lie
-     terrible lie
-                               (terrible lie)
+===Terrible Lie (''Closure'')===
-     you made me throw it all away
+"Terrible Lie" is the first song from a live performance shown on ''Closure.'' It follows footage from [[Nine Inch Nails]] fans and protesters alike as well as backstage footage. The classic "[[Pinion]]" intro leads into "Terrible Lie" and a spotlight projects the silhouette of Reznor onto the screen. The band is covered in cornstarch as per usual for the era and Reznor finishes up half singing/half saying "you promised me" into the mike. The video then goes to more fan and backstage footage and is eventually followed by "[[Piggy]]." On the DVD leak of this release, an older Lollapalooza '91 performance of this song is featured in the Appendage section, following "[[Now I'm Nothing]]." Both are recorded in bootleg-like quality.
-     my morals left to decay        (terrible lie)
-     how many you betray
-     you've taken everything        (terrible lie)
-     my head is filled with disease
-     my skin is begging you please  (terrible lie)
-     i'm on my hands and knees
-     i want so much to believe
-     i give you everything
+===Terrible Lie (''And All That Could Have Been'')===
-     my sweet everything
+The first song on both the CD and DVD/VHS versions of ''And All That Could Have Been,'' the song takes place with just the multi-colored set lighting on and does not have any special motif to it. During certain shots, one can see the sunset through the opening at the top of the stadium. Reznor can be seen wearing cornstarch makeup and mascara during this song, though most of it does not last through "[[March of the Pigs (song)|March of the Pigs]]." The song starts out with the recorded "[[The New Flesh]]"/"Pinion" intro typical to the [[Fragility 2.0]] shows, though this is entirely cut off along with the actual intro to the song on the CD version. The song ends with Reznor screaming "You fucking promised me!", before seguing directly into "[[Sin (song)|Sin]]."
-     i give you everything (i need someone to hold on to. i need someone to hold on to)
-     my sweet everything   (i need someone. i need someone. i need someone to hold on to)
-     i give you everything (i need someone to hold on to. i need someone to hold on to)
-     my sweet everything   (i need someone to hold on to. i need someone to hold on)
-     i give you everything (i need someone to hold on to. i need someone to hold on to)
-     my sweet everything   (i need someone. i need someone. i need someone to hold on to)
-     i give you everything (i need someone to hold on to. i need someone to hold on to)
-     my sweet everything   (i need someone. i need someone. i need someone to hold on to)
-                      (i need someone to hold on to)
+===Terrible Lie (''Beside You In Time'')===
+The live version of "Terrible Lie," as performed on ''Beside You In Time,'' is much moodier than previous versions. During the choruses (during which "terrible lie" is chanted), a previously unheard riff is played by guitar and bass. Also, Reznor seems much more desperate while singing the "Don't take it away from me…" lines in the song. The added "live" solo at the end of the song has also been modified. These changes can likely be attributed to the fact that this is an almost completely new live line up. The music is also much more cleaner and defined than the [[Fragility]] tour and on ''[[And All That Could Have Been (halo)|And All That Could Have Been]].'' At the end of the song, the band doesn't play the extended live ending. Instead, they finish the song abruptly, as in the album version.
-==Performed live==
+==Live==
+"Terrible Lie" is often the opening song of Nine Inch Nails shows following an introduction, which may be "[[Now I'm Nothing]]" ([[Lollapalooza]] '91, [[Wave_Goodbye_Tour#NIN.2FJA_2009|NIN/JA 2009]]) or, often, a manipulated pre-recorded version of "Pinion". The live version typically omits the keyboard and bass harmony for the first half of the first chorus, a feature of the [[Terrible_Lie#Terrible_Lie_.28Sympathetic_Mix.29|Sympathetic mix]]. The ending of the song is extended when performed live and is often concluded with Reznor screaming "you promised me" repeatedly. A brief sample of the words "who do you think you're fooling?" often surrounded the song in performances during the [[Pretty Hate Machine Tour]].
-Terrible Lie is often the opening song of Nine Inch Nails shows following the intro tape. The ending of the song is extended when performed live and is often concluded with [[Trent Reznor|Trent]] screaming "you promised me". During the With_Teeth tours, [[Aaron North]] plays a short solo during the last few moments of the song. This is a short, three note repeating solo.
+The variation performed on the [[Wave Goodbye Tour]] was mostly the same as the version introduced during [[Live: With Teeth]]. However, as the live band was then only four members, all synthesizer parts were absent, leaving only loud guitar riffs (this is most noticeable in the chorus, and right before the outro where there is usually a 'hammer-synth' countermelody played over the chorus progression). During the Australian leg of the Wave Goodbye Tour, the song featured a minimalist intro, using the synth parts that can be heard during the choruses of the studio version.
+Due to the hectic nature of the song, the band will often destroy instruments and/or the stage during the song.  This can be seen in the 1989-1991 footage that was added as an appendage to the "DVD" version of ''[[Closure]]''. During the [[Live: With Teeth]] tours, [[Aaron North]] plays a short solo during the last few moments of the song. This is a short, three note repeating solo.
-==Aaron North solo tab==
+===Aaron North solo tab===
 Standard tuning<p>
 <font face=courier new>
 e|-----------------------------<br>
 B|-----------------------------<br>
-G|-----------------------------<br>
+G|-9-11-12--9-11-12--9-11-12<br>
-D|-13-15-16--13-15-16--13-15-16<br>
+D| ----------------------------<br>
 A|-----------------------------<br>
 E|-----------------------------<br>
 </font>
-[[Category:NIN Songs]]
+==Lyrics==
+     Hey God, why are you doing this to me?
+     Am I not living up to what I'm supposed to be?
+     Why am I seething with this animosity?
+     Hey God, I think you owe me a great big apology
+     Terrible lie
+     Hey God, I really don't know what you mean
+     Seems like salvation comes only in our dreams
+     I feel my hatred grow all the more extreme
+     Hey God, can this world really be as sad as it seems?
+     Terrible lie
+     Don't take it away from me
+     I need someone to hold on to
+     Don't take it away from me
+     I need someone to hold on to
+     Hey God, there's nothing left for me to hide
+     I lost my ignorance, security and pride
+     I'm all alone in a world you must despise
+     Hey God, I believed the promises, the promises and lies
+     Terrible lie
+     You made me throw it all away
+     My morals left to decay
+     How many you betray
+     You've taken everything
+     Terrible lie
+     My head is filled with disease
+     My skin is begging you please
+     I'm on my hands and knees
+     I want so much to believe
+     I need someone to hold on to
+     I need someone to hold on to
+     I need someone to hold on to
+     I need someone to hold on to
+     I give you everything
+     My sweet everything
+     Hey God, I really don't know who I am
+     In this world of piss.
+The last two lines only appear in the album booklet for ''Pretty Hate Machine''
+It should be noted that the following line was changed on the recording:
+     Hey God, I believed your promises, your promises and lies
+<BR>
+{{succession box
+| title=[[Pretty Hate Machine#Track Listing|Pretty Hate Machine]]
+| before= [[Head Like A Hole (song)|Head Like A Hole]]
+| after=[[Down in It (song)|Down In It]]
+| track= 2
+}}
+[[Category:NIN Songs]][[Category:Songs With Unused Lyrics]]

Difference between revisions of "Terrible Lie"

Latest revision as of 22:51, 23 February 2025

Contents

Song Credits

Appearances

Halos

Seeds

Video Games

Versions

Terrible Lie

Terrible Lie (Sympathetic Mix)

Song Credits

Terrible Lie (Empathetic Mix)

Song Credits

Terrible Lie (Demo)

Terrible Lie (Closure)

Terrible Lie (And All That Could Have Been)

Terrible Lie (Beside You In Time)

Live

Aaron North solo tab

Lyrics