"Big Man With A Gun" is the ninth track on The Downward Spiral and is the most violent song on the entire album, and arguably, in NIN's entire discography.
It is rumored that the sound effect at the beginning of the song is an adult film actress in the throes of passion. The sound was reportedly run through a program by Tommy Lee, who called the resulting sound "Steakhouse."
Contents
Meaning
On the surface, it appears to be about a man forcing someone at gunpoint to fellate him, but Trent Reznor has said that it's more of a commentary on the glorification of violence in mainstream rap music at the time.
Song Credits
- Production: Trent Reznor
- Mixing engineers: Bill Kennedy, Sean Beavan
- Additional guitars: Danny Lohner
- Steakhouse: Tommy Lee
Appearances
Halos
- The Downward Spiral
- March Of The Pigs (UK version, pt.1 of 2 disc set)
Versions
Big Man With A Gun
This is the original version.
Big Man With A Gun (The Downward Spiral 2004 re-release)
In the 5.1 surround edition of the 2004 re-release of The Downward Spiral, the scream heard at the beginning is replaced with surreal and abstract voice samples, which echo around the speakers.
Live
"Big Man With A Gun" has been played live on the Self Destruct Tour.
Lyrics
I am a big man
(Yes I am)
And I have a big gun
Got me a big old dick and I
I like to have fun
Held against your forehead
I’ll make you suck it
Maybe I’ll put a hole in your head
You know, just for the fuck of it
I can reduce you if I want
I can devour
I’m hard as fucking steel, and I’ve got the power
I’m every inch a man, and I’ll show you somehow
Me and my fucking gun
Nothing can stop me now
Shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot
I’m going to come all over you
Me and my fucking gun
Me and my fucking gun