Zero-Sum
Zero-Sum (Instrumental)
Zero-Sum: Stephen Morris & Gillian Gilbert
Zero-Sum (Fringe)
"Zero-Sum" is the sixteenth and final track on the 2007 release Year Zero.
Song title
In game theory and economic theory, zero-sum describes a situation in which a participant's gain or loss is exactly balanced by the losses or gains of the other participant(s). It is so named because when the total gains of the participants are added up, and the total losses are subtracted, they will sum to zero. The strategy game Go is an example of a zero-sum game.
As a reference to the end of the world, the title could also be alluding to the phrase "ashes to ashes, dust to dust". The phrase comes from the Bible passages "Dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return" (Genesis 3:19) and "I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee" (Ezekiel 28:18), the relation to the song being that humanity was born from nothing and to nothing it will return, a total gain of nothing or "zero-sum".
Appearances
Versions
Zero-Sum
This is the original album version. It consists of Trent Reznor's signature piano playing on a grand piano, glitch-like programmed beats, and vocals pushed to the back of the mix. The vocals alternate between Reznor delivering vocals reminiscent of dialog samples and distant, harmonized singing. The song uses a drum pattern very similar to that of "God Given", though it is slowed down dramatically. These beats are sampled from Atom Heart's Rather Interesting World Of Digital Drums sample library by Atomizer™.
Zero-Sum (Instrumental)
Running Time: 6:29
This unmastered vocal-less mix was released by Reznor through his remix.nin.com account.
Zero-Sum: Stephen Morris & Gillian Gilbert
Running Time: 5:38
This remix appears on Y34RZ3R0R3M1X3D. It begins with a basic melody and beat before the vocals come in. A synth comes in over the vocals, riding over them like a wave. The melody changes as the verse transitions over to the first chorus. After the chorus, many elements drop out as it builds to the second verse. Many sound elements from the first verse returned but are now joined by a hi-hat and drum beat. After the second chorus repeats, the melody heard at the very beginning returns accompanied by the hi-hat and drum percussion. These sounds drop out at the end save for a synth beat that simply fades quickly.
Song Credits
- Remix by Stephen Morris & Gillian Gilbert
Zero-Sum (Fringe)
A new version of the song created for a promo to the television series Fringe, it contains dialogue from the show read by Reznor in place of the original verses. When the promo's audio is viewed through a spectrograph, it is shown to contain a glyph from the television series.
Lyrics
And I've seen history repeat itself enough times to know A war is coming You don't have to trust me, or even like me But you can't deny I hold a unique perspective shaped by having lived in two worlds I've seen first hand the difference a wrong choice can make The truth will come out It always does Shame on us, For all we have done And all we ever were Just zeroes and ones
These lyrics may be incomplete, as the full edit of this version is not currently available
Live
"Zero-Sum" was played in part during the Lights In The Sky Tour in 2008. During the extended ending of "In This Twilight," Reznor performs the chorus melody and accompaniment of "Zero-Sum" on piano as the band members exit one by one. This song was never played in its entirety.
Lyrics
They're starting to open up the sky
They're starting to reach down through
And it feels like we're living in that split-second
Of a car crash
And time is slowing down
And if we only had a little more time
And this time
Is all there is
Do you remember the time we
And all the times we
And should have
And were going to
I know
And I know you remember
How we could justify it all
And we knew better
In our hearts, we knew better
And we told ourselves it didn't matter
And we chose to continue
And none of that matters anymore
In the hour of our twilight
And soon it will be all said and done
And we will all be back together as one
If we will continue at all
Shame on us
Doomed from the start
May God have mercy
On our dirty little hearts
Shame on us
For all we've done
And all we ever were
Just zeros and ones
And you never get away
And you never get to take the easy way
And all of this is a consequence
Brought on by our own hand
If you believe in that sort of thing
And did you ever really find
When you closed your eyes
Any place that was still
And at peace
And I guess I just wanted to tell you
As the light starts to fade
That you are the reason
That I am not afraid
And I guess I just wanted to mention
As the heavens will fall
We will be together soon if we
Will be anything at all
Shame on us
Doomed from the start
May God have mercy
On our dirty little hearts
Shame on us
For all we've done
And all we ever were
Just zeros and ones
The sixth line of each chorus is sung as follows:
For all we have done
External Links
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