The Fragile (Version)
The Fragile (Still)
"The Fragile" is the sixth track—and the title track—on the Left disc of the 1999 double album The Fragile.
Contents
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."
Appearances
Halos
- The Fragile (1999)
- And All That Could Have Been (Deluxe Edition CD; 2002)
- Still (2002)
Seeds
Versions
The Fragile
This is the original album version as it appears on The Fragile. Its guitar solo uses the same melody as the piano in "The Frail."
The Fragile (Deconstructed)
This is a remix by Keith Hillebrandt which was featured as a website-only download for a limited time on NIN.com during The Fragile era, along with versions of "No, You Don't" and "La Mer." According to Reznor, its structure was the inspiration for "The Frail."
The Fragile (Still)
This stripped-down version is on Still, which was originally packaged with the Deluxe Edition CD of And All That Could Have Been and is curently available through NIN.com. It is performed mostly solo on a keyboard.
Song Credits
- Performance: Trent Reznor, Jerome Dillon
- Mix engineering: Alan Moulder
- Engineering: Alan Moulder
- Second Engineering: Leo Herrera
- Programming: Keith Hillebrandt
Live
When played during the Fragility tours and the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards, the song would remain very similar to the album version except somewhat louder. During the Performance 2007 tour, a modified Still version of the song was played.
Lyrics
She shines
In a world full of ugliness
She matters
When everything is meaningless
Fragile
She doesn't see her beauty
She tries to get away
Sometimes
It's just that nothing seems worth saving
I can't watch her slip away
I won't let you fall apart
She reads the minds of all the people as they pass her by
Hoping someone can see
If I could fix myself I'd—
But it's too late for me
I won't let you fall apart
We'll find the perfect place to go where we can run and hide
We'll build a wall and we can keep them on the other side
…But they keep waiting
…And picking…
It's something I have to do
I was there, too
Before everything else
I was like you