Mr. Self Destruct

Album:The Downward Spiral

Length:4:30

Tempo:{{{BPM}}} BPM

Versions:Mr. Self Destruct
The Art of Self Destruction, Part One
Self Destruction, Part Two
Self Destruction, Part Three
Self Destruction, Final

Live:1994 - 2007

About

Mr. Self Destruct is the first song off The Downward Spiral. It begins with a sample from the film THX 1138, and immediately picks up with a very up-temp and aggressive first verse.

Performed live

Often used to open shows during the later Self Destruct tours. It begins with a much faster drum beat intro than the album version and features heavy amounts of guitar feedback at various points in the song. During the Pre-Year Zero Tour (and possibly the With_Teeth tours), Alessandro Cortini joins the rest of the band at the front of the stage playing guitar only to immediately return to the back when the song is finished.

Lyrics

I am the voice inside your head
and I control you
I am the lover in your bed
and I control you
I am the sex that you provide
and I control you
I am the hate you try to hide
and I control you
 
I take you where you want to go
I give you all you need to know
I drag you down I use you up
Mr. Self-destruct
 
I speak religion's message clear
and I control you
I am denial guilt and fear
and I control you
I am the prayers of the naive
and I control you
I am the lie that you believe
and I control you

I take you where you want to go
I give you all you need to know
I drag you down I use you up
Mr. Self-destruct

I am the needle in your vein
and I control you
I am the high you can't sustain
and I control you
I am the pusher I'm a whore
and I control you
I am the need you have for more
and I control you
I am the bullet in the gun
and I control you
I am the truth from which you run
and I control you
I am the silencing machine
and I control you
I am the end of all your dreams
and I control you

I take you where you want to go
I give you all you need to know
I drag you down I use you up
Mr. Self-destruct