Difference between revisions of "The Becoming"
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{{song | {{song | ||
| title = The Becoming | | title = The Becoming | ||
| − | | album = [[The Downward Spiral]] | + | | album = [[The Downward Spiral (halo)|The Downward Spiral]] |
| length = 5:31 | | length = 5:31 | ||
| versions = The Becoming<br>The Becoming ([[Still]]) | | versions = The Becoming<br>The Becoming ([[Still]]) | ||
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==About== | ==About== | ||
| − | "'''The Becoming'''" is made from many loops of industrial sounds, showcasing the hard sound from | + | "'''The Becoming'''" is made from many loops of industrial sounds, showcasing the hard sound from The Downward Spiral. A more acoustic version (with [[Trent Reznor]] on piano, [[Danny Lohner]] on guitar, [[Jerome Dillon]] on drums, with drum machine and samples) can be found on [[Still]], with an accompanying video on [[nin.com]] ([http://youtube.com/watch?v=eaX4Ac2-Fww YouTube upload]). |
=== Meaning === | === Meaning === | ||
Revision as of 17:02, 28 February 2007
The Becoming (Still)
Year Zero Warm-Up Tour
About
"The Becoming" is made from many loops of industrial sounds, showcasing the hard sound from The Downward Spiral. A more acoustic version (with Trent Reznor on piano, Danny Lohner on guitar, Jerome Dillon on drums, with drum machine and samples) can be found on Still, with an accompanying video on nin.com (YouTube upload).
Meaning
The lyrics describe a man fighting against himself, trying to avoid his "becoming," transforming him into a machine without human characteristics and feelings.
This is a rare example of Trent directly referencing a name ("Annie") in his lyrics. Usually, he uses ambiguous pronouns. This expresses the need for attachment, the need to interact intimately with another human despite the narrator's extreme attempts to detach himself from the world.
The song begins with industrial noises such as those from a drum machine and what appears to be distorted screams. At the 3-minute mark it mellows into swooshy sounds with ahhing from more emotive voices. There is a final outburst of noise and screaming before fading out with the ahhs again. This song structure is indicative of the struggle between the narrator and the noise/machine.
Appearances
- The Downward Spiral
- Still
Versions
- The Becoming
- The Becoming (Still)
Song Credits
- Production: Flood and Trent Reznor
- Mixing Engineer: Alan Moulder
- Ring Mod Guitar:Adrian Belew
- ARP2600: Flood
Lyrics
I beat my machine
it’s a part of me
it’s inside of me
I’m stuck in this dream
it’s changing me
I am becoming
The me that you know, he had some second thoughts
He’s covered with scabs, he is broken and sore
The me that you know doesn’t come around much
That part of me isn’t here anymore
All pain disappears
it’s the nature of my circuitry
Drowns out all I hear
no escape from this
my new consciousness
The me that you know used to have feelings
But the blood has stopped pumping and he’s left to decay
The me that you know is now made up of wires
And even when I’m right with you I’m so far away
I can try to get away but I’ve strapped myself in
I can try to scratch away the sound in my ears
I can see it killing away all my bad parts
I don’t want to listen but it’s all too clear
Hiding backwards inside of me I feel so unafraid
Annie, hold a little tighter I might just slip away
It won’t give up it wants me dead
Goddamn this noise inside my head