I Think We're Past That Now

Album:SHIFT, Bad Hombre, Vol. II

Length:4:50

Tempo: BPM

Versions:I Think We're Past That Now

Live:None

"I Think We're Past That Now" is the first single off of Antonio Sanchez's album, SHIFT, Bad Hombre Volume II. The track features vocals by Trent Reznor and synths by Atticus Ross.

About

Per Trent Reznor on the official Nine Inch Nails Discord Channel, #nin-chat:

Regarding the track w Antonio, we made friends at some film awards events we were both at years ago. I let him know his score for Birdman was undoubtably the year’s best and we stayed in touch. Over lockdown he reached out about a collaboration where I send him a single element that he builds a song around. I wrote some lyrics, Att and I had a synth arpeggio I used as an anchor and I sang whatever felt right against that static synth line, using some of the lyrics written. One take, purely instinctual.

We sent the vocal and the synth line off to Antonio and I think I suggested not to “fix” anything - keep it pure. Several months later he sent back what you hear now. We had no idea what to expect or what direction he’d take things and it was cool to hear where he went with it - inserting chord changes, etc. Plus, I’d forgotten what I did so it was a fun listen for us. Alan Moulder got involved with the mix.

Song Credits

• Producer: Antonio Sánchez
• Lyricist: Trent Reznor
• Vocals: Trent Reznor, Antonio Sánchez
• Synthesizer: Atticus Ross
• Drums: Antonio Sánchez
• Keyboards: Antonio Sánchez
• Guitars: Antonio Sánchez
• Bass: Antonio Sánchez
• Mixer: Alan Moulder
• Producer: Antonio Sánchez

Lyrics

   I’m not really interested in your point of view 
   I can hear
   Sound coming out of them
   But I don’t seem to be able
   To comprehend
   I can feel 
   Their bullets fly through me
   But I think i’ve decided
   They don’t work on me

   And I guess I 
   should thank you 
   By the way, for helping me 
   To open my head
   and letting all that out
   For showing me the way
   To be free

   Sweeping broad strokes 
   With my lathe of heaven
   paint right over
   every last trace
   this is a new place
   for just me and you

   I’m tired
   aren’t you?
   Really tired 
   I can hear it
   Hear it calling
   Like a drumbeat
   Calling
   it plays when i’m sleeping
   (Which I think is all the time now)
   but i hear it all

   you know i don’t really
   not anymore
   i think i’ve passed the point
   of rationality
   and that’s ok
   if that’s the way it is now
   i will adapt
   i have mutated

   listening is overrated
   and unnecessary

   But I think we’re past that now

   We have all the time in the world
   Waiting for something to happen
   Waiting

   Just you and me
   And nothing else matters
   Because ive decided 
   There is nothing else but
   You and me

   We have all the time in the world
   We have all the time in our world

   Time keeps on slippin'
   Into the future