| versions = La Mer<br>La Mer (Alternate Version)<br>La Mer (Version)<br>La Mer (''[[And All That Could Have Been (halo)|And All That Could Have Been]]'')—DVD/VHS
| live = [[Fragility]] through [[NIN 2013 Festival Tour]]<br>[[Cold And Black And Infinite Tour]]
}}'''"La Mer"''' is the eleventh track from the Left disc of ''[[The Fragile (halo)|The Fragile]].'' Its main melodic elements and bassline are taken in a different direction with "[[Into The Void (song)|Into The Void]]." [[Trent Reznor ]] has stated that "[[Adrift And At Peace]]" is the conclusion to "La Mer." ([[:Image:LM-AAAP.gif|Source]])
The lyrics are in Creole French. It is one of the many [[NIN ]] songs that includes the phrase "[[Nothing Can Stop Me Now]]," and one of the few to include a vocalist other than [[Trent Reznor]]. In addition, it was the first instrumental written for ''The Fragile.'' [http://www.9inchnails.com/articles/reznors-edge.php]
The song itself was conceived during a very dark period in Reznor's life. When [[2009/06/03 Mansfield, MA|on stage]] in 2009 he disclosed that he had rented a house at the time on an ocean with the external intent to write some music, but in reality had contemplated suicide there. This song was the only song to come out of that time and place. He still feels strange playing it live because it serves as a reminder of this period.
==Versions==
===La Mer===
This is the original album version. It begins with piano chords accompanied by standup bass and is then accentuated by drums playing a jazz rhythm and e-bow guitar. This is one of the few songs by [[Nine Inch Nails]] that is played with almost all acoustic instruments. It consists of a 3/4 time signature superimposed over a 4/4 time signature. Its piano theme is also used at the end of "[[We're In This Together (song)|We're in This Together]]."
On ''The Fragile'' vinyl and 2017 DE download, the introductory piano chords and standup bass are repeated one extra time before the solo begins over top, and the ending denouement is slightly longer, featuring more spoken samples. Because of this, the transition into "[[The Great Below]]" is also slightly different than the original CD version.