Talk:The Fragile (song)

The Frail relation

Notably, the solo in the song resembles the first section of "The Frail", a previous track on The Fragile. This probably hints to the female's frail and insecure personality.

I doubt it. "The Frail Solo" is in the entire album if you look hard enough. Heck, even Somewhat Damaged opens with the bassline to The Frail. It's probably just continuity. That's just my $0.02, though. --Tony^converse! 16:20, 16 May 2007 (PDT)

Though it's never quite as complete and obvious as in The Fragile. I think there might be something to the idea.Disrepair 06:35, 17 May 2007 (PDT)

TR has said that "The Frail" was born out of Keith Hillebrandt's "The Fragile (Deconstructed)" remix, but its title may just be a description of the female in this song, if you want it to be. and the coda's chord progression only has a couple of notes in common with the SD guitar/bass riff, so it's not related very closely at all. actually, nothing is related to it at all on the record; sounds more like a tribute to "Subterraneans" by David Bowie instead, which uses the same harmonic movement throughout. - seasonsinthesky 07:07, 11 June 2010 (PDT)

Still version live

"During the Performance 2007 tour, the Still version of the song was played." Says who? Seasonsinthesky 19:33, 7 June 2007 (PDT)

Sure sounds like it to me. --Tony^converse! 19:47, 7 June 2007 (PDT)

Ah, the wonders of YouTube. I'm surprised I apparently missed this back when I read the ETS Tour Journal every day. Thanks. - Seasonsinthesky 14:23, 8 June 2007 (PDT)

"She"

Has anyone considered the possibility, that "She" is not a woman, but rather a part of Trent's personality? You know, a good one, representing optimism (as you can read in the album description). Just like on The Downward Spiral there was "The bad, indifferent side"? With respect to that, in "Only" Trent could be also referring to this part of himself from The Fragile and not to a woman. The Kiw 07:20, 10 June 2010 (PDT)

I think the last two verses would go against that unless his interpretation of himself was to a level of split personalities. He rarely discusses song meaning, so of course varied interpretation is always possible. As it is, if we included every possible interpretaiton of a song on the pages, they would be immensly long, so I think we'll leave it this way for now.

Oh, and if you sign your posts with four tildes (~~~~), then your name will be posted afterwards, so people know who said what =) sheepdean Try to speak as clearly as you can 12:23, 9 June 2010 (PDT)

I agree that in Only he speaks to himself, old Reznor fights new Reznor, but not in The Fragile - the song is just too beautiful to be about himself. Excuse me BenAkenobi 12:31, 9 June 2010 (PDT)

a beautiful song can still be about himself; lyrics and vocals are usually applied last in the process anyway. considering this and WITT are basically the only positive lyrics on the record, it's possible they really are about someone else - and i'm tempted to say Clara. - seasonsinthesky 07:07, 11 June 2010 (PDT)

Interpretation

This song (with the possible exception of "We're In This Together," the track featured directly before it on The Fragile) may be the closest Trent Reznor has ever come to recording what could be considered a "love song," with lyrics referring to a woman whom he is determined not to let "fall apart." He sees in her what he was himself, and wishes to shelter her from the outside world before she goes through what he has. Notably, the solo in the song resembles the first section of "The Frail," a previous track on The Fragile." — Pomte 02:26, 1 April 2007