A Drowning

Track Artwork

A Drowning is the first release by How To Destroy Angels, mixed by Alan Moulder and released May 4th 2010 via Pitchfork Media.

Song Credits

• Music: Trent Reznor
• Lyrics: Mariqueen Maandig Reznor

Appearances

• How To Destroy Angels

Versions

A Drowning (single)

This is the only known version, primarily driven by a dark but relaxed synth bassline and beat loop, similar to the approach of the verses in "The Wretched." Piano provides the dominant melodic content behind the vocals, while heavily processed guitars provide atmosphere during the choruses, which also feature a different bassline. Dissonant horn samples form a bridge from the first chorus to the second verse, while the last three minutes of the song are dedicated to a distorted guitar riff joining the layered, processed guitars and chorus bassline. Maandig-Reznor handles all of the vocals in the track, singing in quiet, reserved tones, and layering wordless melodies over the coda, which filters down the guitar layers to leave the piano line repeating the chorus chord progression as accompaniment to non-chordal notes.

Lyrics

THESE HAVE BEEN TRANSCRIBED BY EAR. ANY PERCEIVED ERRORS SHOULD BE EDITED IN UNTIL WE HAVE OFFICIAL LYRICS.

   It's the glare from the reflection
   Making patterns in your eyes
   It's the looking back in anger
   With every second slipping by
   Undertow has come to take me
   Guarded by the blazing sun
   Look at everything around us
   Look at everything we've done

   Please, anyone
   I don't think I can save myself
   I'm drowning here
   Please, anyone
   I don't think I can save myself

   There's a tiny little window
   Swarms of locusts fill the sky
   Maybe I just disappear
   If I can keep my head above the tide
   
   Please, anyone
   I don't think I can save myself
   I'm drowning here
   Please, anyone
   I don't think I can save myself

External Links

• The track on Pitchfork