The Great Below (Instrumental)
The Great Below (And All That Could Have Been)
"The Great Below" is the twelfth and final track on the Left disc of The Fragile.
Contents
Song Credits
- End Melodic Guitar: Adrian Belew
- Guitar Ambiences: Danny Lohner
- Atmospheres: Charlie Clouser
Appearances
Halos
- The Fragile
- The Fragile: Deviations 1
- And All That Could Have Been (CD/DVD/VHS)
Seeds
Films
- Man On Fire (2004)
Versions
The Great Below
This is the original album version. A single synthesizer layer fades in from the end of "La Mer," ascending in pitch until it is joined by a deep bass melody, doubled by synthesizers and providing accompaniment for an acoustic guitar melody. These synthesizers and the bassline stop for Reznor's softly-sung vocals, still accompanied by the guitar melody and joined with new, sea-like atmospheric loops. The lyric, "all of this for you," occasions the re-entry of the synthesized bassline and atmosphere layers, which build as the second verse is sung with harmony. These eventually open up to the climax, featuring a driving bassline and layers of wordless vocal melodies shared with "And All That Could have Been," and Reznor's yelled lyrics, which connect the climax into the coda section. Beginning with a new guitar melody, atmosphere layers cycle in as a drum pattern enters and Reznor sings the final lyrics. The drums eventually give way to the fading repetition of atmosphere loops. The song's vinyl mix has a slightly different crossfade with "La Mer."
The Great Below (Instrumental)
Released exclusively through Apple Music as part of The Fragile Instrumental. It retains the mix and arrangement used on the album, but with the full intro, as it does not crossfade from the end of "La Mer."
The Great Below (And All That Could Have Been)
This live version is performed a 1/2-step lower than the album version.
Live
The live performance of "The Great Below" in And All That Could Have Been features Reznor performing the song in front of three large visuals from Bill Viola that initially display an ocean shore and then a figure walking through a field of poppies, culminating in images of water and the sea. The images change as the song progresses.
"The Great Below" was featured on the setlist for the final show of the Wave Goodbye Tour but was not played.
Lyrics
Staring at the sea
Will she come?
Is there hope for me
After all is said and done
Anything at any price
All of this for you
All the spoils of a wasted life
All of this for you
All the world has closed her eyes
Tired faith all worn and thin
For all we could have done
And all that could have been
Ocean pulls me close
And whispers in my ear
The destiny I've chose
All becoming clear
The currents have their say
The time is drawing near
Washes me away
Makes me disappear
I descend from grace
In arms of undertow
I will take my place
In the great below
I can still feel you
Even so far away
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