Head Like A Hole (song)
Head Like A Hole(Clay)
Head Like A Hole(Copper)
Head Like A Hole(Opal)
Head Like A Hole(Slate)
Head Like A Hole(Soil)
You Know Who You Are
Set Staple
About
Head Like A Hole was the first commercial success Trent Reznor had and recieved wide radio rotation at the time. Though Trent doesn't dislike the song, he was quite suprised it became as big as it did, especially due to its relatively easy writing process compared to some of the lesser recognized tracks on Pretty Hate Machine ("That's What I Get" and "Kinda I Want To" most notably).
Song Credits
- Production: Flood, Trent Reznor
- Engineering: Flood, Kennan Keating, Keith LeBlanc, Doug de Angelis, Ken Quartarone
- Additional remix production: Keith LeBlanc
- Mix: Keith LeBlanc
Appearances
Halos
- Pretty Hate Machine
- Head Like A Hole (remixes)
- Closure (music video)
- And All That Could Have Been (live)
- Beside You In Time (live)
Versions
Head Like A Hole
The version that appears as the first track on Pretty Hate Machine, it's perhaps one of the most well known Nine Inch Nails songs. It's pounding synth bassline, tribal rhythms and chants, layered guitar and catchy double chorus are all signature aspects of the song. The stereo wipe at the end fades into the beginning of Terrible Lie.
Head Like A Hole (Clay)
The second track on the Head Like A Hole single, this is the version that was used in the video for Head Like A Hole. The only major differences are a different intro (one that features the second half of the chorus and some rhythmic chanting) and an unadulterated and extended version of the outro stereo wipe.
Head Like A Hole (Slate)
The first track on the Head Like A Hole single, this version contains more treble than its cousins and a somewhat dancier beat than most, along with higher pitched synths playing the bassline as a lead instead. It's intro is the same as the (Clay) remix. It also lacks the stereo wipe outro and instead simply loops as it fades out.
Head Like A Hole (Copper)
Present on the Head Like A Hole single, the (Copper) remix seems to be a cut and paste of the various remixes above, containing bits and peices, loops and interruptions of the other songs. It contains the dance beat of (Slate) but has the layered guitaring of the original version as well as a slightly modified instrumental intro. It's outro is an odd drum loop that contains a bizarre squeak accompaning a ride cymbal.
Head Like A Hole (Opal)
Exclusive to the UK version of the Head Like A Hole single, the mix is notable for it's "realistic" drums and strange instrumentation, much of which isn't present on any of the other remixes. It is perhaps the most unique remix, having a few lyrical differences from the original version of the song, as well as using an inverted version of the bassline rather than the bassline itself and a totally different drumbeat. The only element that found its way over from the other mixes is the wood percussion intro from the original version of the song, which the drum beat follows exactly. The song ends by fading away while Trent whispers "You know... you know who you are." repeatedly, a line of this song only found on this version of the song.
Head Like A Hole (Demo)
Present on the Purest Feeling II bootleg, this demo is a fake. It's actually the (Opal) remix from the UK release of Head Like A Hole.
Head Like A Hole (Soil)
The longest remix of the group, it starts off with a distorted version of the (Clay/Slate) remix intro. It has the original drumbeat, but lacks the synth bassline which actually comes in during the middle of the song to lead as a bridge with some odd sounding synths. There are also some odd steel drum sounding synths which stereo wipe back and forth at various points in the song.
You Know Who You Are
The fifth track on the Head Like A Hole, this song is an instrumental composed of the background synths and various tribal rhythms and chants that compose the song. It's more or less a wordless "dub" version of the song and is notable for being the very first true Nine Inch Nails instrumental. The outro of the song is the actual intro to the original version of Head Like A Hole (This song is not to be confused with You Know What You Are?, the second track off of the album With Teeth)
Music video
The video for "Head Like A Hole" was directed by Eric Zimmerman, who also co-directed "Down In It." The Clay remix is used in place of the album version.
The video contains three different sequences, used at different intervals of the song. During the verses, footage of tribal dancers is untercut with rotating cybernetic heads, creating a strobe effect. For the main chorus and instrumental interludes, the band is seen playing in a large cage with wires and magnetic tape at their feet. The sub-chorus features black-and-white footage of Reznor lowering his head into a tub filled with water and bringing it back up. At the end of the video, Reznor's feet have become entangled in the tape and wires as he is lifted off the ground, hung upside-down and writhes in mid-air.
When the video was shown on "Beavis and Butt-Head" in 1993, the Copper mix was used in place of the Clay mix.
Performed live
It has appeared in almost every concert that Nine Inch Nails has performed since its appearance and has become a staple part of the live set.
During the Lollapalooza 1991 Tour, various guitarists from other bands (such as Ice-T of Body Count) would come out onstage to perform with the band. YouTube video
"Head Like A Hole" is usually the last song of the show (With Teeth era) or last song before the encore (Self Destruct and Fragility era). At the end, the band usually destroy their instruments.
Covers
- acoustic cover by Ryan Star, some guy from Rockstar: Supernova
- cover by AFI, "hardcore" punk band
- cover by Still Remains, christian metalcore band
Lyrics
God Money I’ll do anything for you
God Money just tell me what you want me to
God Money nail me up against the wall
God Money don’t want everything he wants it all
No you can’t take it
No no you can’t take it
(You can’t take that away from me)
Head like a hole
Black as your soul
I’d rather die than give you control
Head like a hole
Black as your soul
I’d rather die than give you control
Bow down before the one you serve
You’re going to get what you deserve
God Money’s not looking for the cure
God Money’s not concerned about the sick among the pure
God Money let’s go dancing on the backs of the bruised
God Money’s not one to choose
No you can’t take it
No no you can’t take it
No you can’t take that away from me
Head like a hole
Black as your soul
I’d rather die than give you control
Head like a hole
Black as your soul
I’d rather die than give you control
Bow down before the one you serve
You’re going to get what you deserve
You know who you are