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Difference between revisions of "Ringfinger"

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Revision as of 10:58, 7 January 2024

Album:Pretty Hate Machine
Length:5:40
Tempo:113 BPM
Versions:Ringfinger
Twist (Purest Feeling Version)
Twist (Demos and Remixes Version)
Live:Pretty Hate Machine Tour through Lollapalooza Tour

"Ringfinger" is the tenth and final track on the 1989 release Pretty Hate Machine. The demo version of this song was called "Twist," which remains musically almost identical but uses alternate lyrics.

Contents

  • 1 Song Credits
  • 2 Appearances
    • 2.1 Halos
    • 2.2 Other
  • 3 Versions
    • 3.1 Ringfinger
    • 3.2 Twist (Purest Feeling Version)
      • 3.2.1 Lyrics
    • 3.3 Twist (Demos and Remixes Version)
  • 4 Live
  • 5 Lyrics

Song Credits

  • Production: Trent Reznor, John Fryer
  • Engineering: John Fryer
  • Mix: John Fryer, Trent Reznor

Appearances

Halos

  • Pretty Hate Machine

Other

  • Purest Feeling
  • Demos and Remixes

Versions

Ringfinger

This is the final album version. Opening with a thumping beat and a synth melody, Reznor's reverberating vocals dominate the verses. A different beat is introduced during the second verse, while vocal harmonies and a synth pad enter during the choruses. During the break, there is a short distorted guitar riff before the final verse and choruses. The end of the track comes in after the final chorus with a funky guitar riff playing over a panned drum beat. This is followed by a scream sampled from the beginning of Jane's Addiction's "Had a Dad," which leads into an entirely different beat, sampled from "Alphabet St." by Prince. This is accompanied by a synth that sounds very similar to the one used in "That's What I Get" and vinyl scratching.

Twist (Purest Feeling Version)

Found on the Purest Feeling bootleg, it uses different lyrics.

Lyrics

   Well you've got me working so hard lately
   Working my hands until they bleed
   If I was twice the man I could be
   I'd still be half of what you need
   Still you lead me and I follow
   All of your back up to your chin
   Over to the tip of your switchblade
   As you pull it out and you stick it in
   
   (Twist twist twist) it can go a little deeper
   (Twist twist twist) I'm wearing these chains
   (Twist twist twist) you make it hurt real good
   (Twist twist twist) I love the pain
   
   Well you just leave me nailed here
   Hanging like Jesus on this cross
   I'm just dying for your sins
   And aiding to the cause
   
   (Twist twist twist) it can go a little deeper
   (Twist twist twist) I'm wearing these chains
   (Twist twist twist) you make it hurt real good
   (Twist twist twist) I love the pain
  
   Wrap my soul in bandages
   I'm tired of this war
   Go ahead and cut me
   I can't even feel it anymore
   
   (Twist twist twist) it can go a little deeper
   (Twist twist twist) I'm wearing these chains
   (Twist twist twist) you make it hurt real good
   (Twist twist twist) but I love, love the pain
   (Twist twist twist) it can go a little deeper
   (Twist twist twist) I'm wearing these chains
   (Twist twist twist) make it hurt, make it hurt
   (Twist twist twist) I love the pain
   (Twist twist twist)

Twist (Demos and Remixes Version)

The "Twist" recording on Demos and Remixes substitutes the following line:

   From the small of your back up to your chin

and also includes the spoken lyrics printed at the end of "Ringfinger" in the Pretty Hate Machine liner notes.

Live

Very similar in structure to the studio version, the live version adds only a few changes. The song acquires a harder, darker sound, with the drums becoming more prominent and a more noticeable guitar riff added from the second verse onwards. It was played often on the Pretty Hate Machine, Hate, Sin and 1991 Lollapalooza Tours, but has not been played since.

Lyrics

    Well you've got me working so hard lately
    Working my hands until they bleed
    If I was twice the man I could be
    I'd still be half of what you need
    Still you lead me and I follow
    Anything you ask you know I'll do
    But this one act of consecration is what I ask of you
    
    Ringfinger
    Promise carved in stone
    Deeper than the sea
    Ringfinger
    Sever flesh and bone
    And offer it to me
    
    You just leave me nailed here
    Hanging like Jesus on this cross
    I'm just dying for your sins
    And aiding to the cause
    
    Ringfinger
    Promise carved in stone
    Deeper than the sea
    Ringfinger
    Sever flesh and bone
    And offer it to me
    
    Wrap my eyes in bandages
    Confessions I see through
    I get everything I want
    When I get part of you
    
    Ringfinger
    Promise carved in stone
    Deeper than the sea
    Ringfinger
    Sever flesh and bone
    And offer it to me
    Ringfinger
    Promise carved in stone
    Deeper than the sea
    Ringfinger
    Devil's flesh and bone
    Do something for me
    
    I'm so tired I can't get to sleep
    And the squeaking of the bed is right in time with the song that's repeating in my head
    I just want you to know
    
    "When I do it, I only think of you"

The final four lines are only present in the Pretty Hate Machine lyrics booklet.

Previous track - "The Only Time" Track 10 from Pretty Hate Machine Next track - "N/A: Final Track"
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