"Maybe Just Once" is an early Nine Inch Nails demo. It is believed to be one of the demos Trent Reznor sent to record labels to get signed before Pretty Hate Machine.
Appearances
Halos
"Maybe Just Once" has never been officially released.
Other
Versions
Maybe Just Once
This is the only version. It has a high-sheen, late 80s synthpop sound that is not characteristic of NIN. It features a highly percussive synth sound, similar to that on the outro of "That's What I Get". The intro uses a sample of dialog from the film Diner.
Live
"Maybe Just Once" has not been performed live since the VIVIsectVI Tour.
Lyrics
Mickey Rourke (Boogie) and Ellen Barkin (Beth) in Diner (1982)
"...when we were dating, did you care for me?"
"Sure, I did."
"Not because you could do stuff to me...but because you really cared?"
"Of course, Beth. I mean...there was plenty of girls around for a quick pop...
...if that's what I wanted...but I got to tell you...you were good."
I can't believe that what I fear is finally happening to me
Make it hurt
And point the finger at my insecurities
Well I guess I just don't understand about those complexities in your mind
And I guess I just don't understand why this world seems so unkind
Maybe, maybe just once, I could get what's coming
Maybe, maybe just once, I could get what's coming to me
So once again the way you feel will never ever stay the same
And I'm to blame
I wonder just who made the rules up for this game
Well I guess I just don't understand about what you want and what you need
And I guess I just don't understand about why this is how it has to be
Maybe, maybe just once, I could get what's coming
Maybe, maybe just once, I could get what's coming to me
Oh
"He sat down on this bed and he said, 'Christ, what the hell do you think this place is?'
You know, he just couldn't believe it! And I said, 'I don't know but it sure is something
different.'"
So go ahead
You say those thousand things you think you have to say
Look at me
And tell me love's not such a hard word anyway
Well how can you count on me?
I thought you realized for sure
And how can you just believe?
I thought I deserved a little more
Maybe, maybe just once, I could get what's coming
Maybe, maybe just once, I could get what's coming to me
Maybe, maybe just once, I could get what's coming
Maybe, maybe just once, I could get what's coming to me
What's coming to me
What's coming to me
Oh God
Oh, what's coming to me
What's coming to me
What's coming
Oh God
What's coming to me