Suck

Album:Broken

Length:5:07

Tempo:{{{BPM}}} BPM

Versions:Suck
Throw This Away
Suck (Pigface version)
Suck (Live)
Suck (And All That Could Have Been)

Live:Hate Tour through Performance 2007

"Suck" is the second hidden track on 1992's Broken EP. Originally packaged with "Physical" on a Mini CD sold with the EP, it was later incorporated onto the EP as a hidden track after allegations that some music stores were removing the Mini CD and selling it separately. "Suck" is track 99 on Broken while "Physical" is track 98.

"Suck" was originally written and performed by Pigface, a band lead by Martin Atkins featuring Trent Reznor as well as many other notable Industrial musicians. Other notable singers of the song within Pigface include Nivek Ogre of Skinny Puppy, who even shared the song as a duet with Reznor. Since 1994, it has become one of the regular songs played by Nine Inch Nails.

According to a previously unreleased interview Reznor did with Melody Maker magazine, "Suck" was supposed to be a "tongue-in-cheek" cover.

The multitracks for the original Pigface version of the song were released for a remix contest.

Song Credits

• Writing: Trent Reznor, Pigface
• ©1991 Thumbless music, Leaving Hope and TVT Music, Inc.
• Production: Trent Reznor

Appearances

Halos

• Broken
• Fixed
• And All That Could Have Been (CD/DVD/VHS)

Seeds

• The Definitive NIN - The Singles
• The Definitive NIN - Heavy Tracks

Other

• Pigface, The Best of Pigface, Gub, Truth Will Out (live version)

Versions

Suck

This is the version found on the Broken EP. A loud and guitar-driven, screamed chorus contrasts with a danceable and funky verse throughout the song, mediated by a quiet, bass-led bridge that eventually builds into a loud synthesizer solo before the final chorus. Afterward, the song returns to the funky verse, but remains instrumental. The beat stops, then is cut up and spliced as Reznor whispers the final lyrics, ending the song.

Throw This Away

This minimalist remix, on Fixed, contains elements from both "Last" and "Suck." Opening with bubbling synthesizer loops, it mostly consists of the bass riff from the middle of "Suck," which is repeated throughout the track. Layered below it are various quiet vocal samples from both songs. Eventually, the drum beat featured at the very end of the original bridge in "Suck" is looped and fades in, eventually segueing directly into the ending of Butch Vig's mix of "Last."

Song Credits

• Remixed by Trent Reznor and Chris Vrenna (section A), Butch Vig (section B)

Suck (Pigface version)

This original recording features Reznor on guest vocals. Musically, the song is nothing like the Nine Inch Nails recordings of the song, characterized instead by drums and bass. Its multitracks were those released for a remix contest by Pigface.

Suck (Live)

Released on several bootlegs (such as Purest Feeling II and Halo 00), this live recording of the song seems to be sourced from a live Pigface performance in which Reznor joined on vocals. Musically, it is very close to the Nine Inch Nails version of the song, but is distinguished from an actual NIN live recording by the bridge, which retains the consistent funk beat and layers a harmonized guitar melody on top. This stands in marked contrast to the quiet buildup of the bridge in the NIN version.

Suck (And All That Could Have Been)

This live version is similar to the album version, but the ending is shortened, with Reznor shouting "Suck!" repeatedly rather than singing the song's final lyrics or returning to the verse beat and bassline.

Live

"Suck" was played occasionally during the Pretty Hate Machine era, and has become a regular in the set since the Self Destruct Tour. It is most consistently played the way it appears on And All That Could Have Been.

Lyrics

    There is no god up in the sky tonight
    No sign of Heaven anywhere in sight
    All that was true is left behind
    Once I could see now I am blind
    Don't want the dreams you try to sell
    This disease I give it to myself
    
    How does it feel?
    Suck suck suck
    
    She makes it sweeter than the sun
    I get too tight I come undone
    I bow my head to confess
    The temple walls are made of flesh
    Runs up my arm till I'm on track
    Itches the skin right off my back
    I'll heal your wounds
    I'll set you free
    I'm Jesus Christ on ecstasy
    
    How does it feel?
    Suck suck suck
    
    I feel so dirty on the inside
    I am so dirty on the inside
    
    How does it feel?
    Suck suck suck
    
    A thousand lips
    A thousand tongues
    A thousand throats
    A thousand lungs
    A thousand ways to make it true
    I want to do terrible things to you

Links

• Pigface's "Suck" multi-tracks

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