entry129
Commentary on the lyrics for Nine Inch Nails - All The Love In The World as written by the artist Trent Reznor.
Watching all the insects march along
Seem to know just right where they belong
Smears of face reflecting in the chrome
Hiding in the crowd I’m all alone
No one’s heard a single word I’ve said
They don’t sound as good out side my head
It looks as though the past is here to stay
I’ve become a million miles aw…
Why do you get all the love in the world?
Why do you get all the love in the world?
All the jagged edges disappear
Colors all look brighter when you’re near
The stars are all a fire in the sky
Sometimes I get so lonely I could…
Why do you get all the love in the world?
Why do you get all the love in the world?
Why do you get all the love in the world?
Why do you get all the love in the world?
Why do you get all the love in the world?
Why do you get all the love in the world?
Why do you get all the love in the world?
Why do you get all the love in the world?
Why do you get all the love in the world?
Why do you get all the love in the world?
Why do you get all the love in the world?
Why do you get all the love in the world?
Why do you get all the love in the world?
Why do you get all the love in the world?
Why do you get all the love in the world?
Why do YOU get all the love in the world?
Why do you get all the love in the world?
Why do YOU get all the love in the world?
Why do you get all the love in the world?
Why do you get all the love in the world?
Why do you get all the love in the world?
Why do you get all the love in the world?
Why do you get all the love in the world?
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I felt it necessary to state Trent Reznor is an artist rather than the lyricist of this piece. These set of lyrics have a personal and introspective diary approach. He is by no means a good lyricist. He is however, adequate and effective at it. Trent is an artist that creates an overall feel and mood using sound as his primary mechanism and lyrics secondary instead of having lyrics as standalone poetry. Though the music is missing here, I find these lyrics interesting enough to analyze in the silence of cyberspace.
Line 1 & 2: It is mystery to biologist how insects, while having no brain, are able to perform complex tasks with striking, concentrated purpose. This simply does not make any sense. How does an insect know what to do with it’s life? In a paradoxical contrast, humans are often left in life without purpose, drive or ambition. Many humans gaze into the bare night sky looking for clues to their purpose among the pinpoints of light - clues that will reveal the meaning of their existence - a message from heaven - a supernova - so that when tomorrow comes the meaning of their lives will be a question or puzzlement no more. “Fate, it seems, is without a sense of irony.” - Morpheus, The Matix. Those with the intelligence to interpet the message of the stars are blinded by it’s light, while those creatures without a mind are all-seeing. Therefore, do we empty our mind to see the light?
Line 3: Unable to see ones Self clearly
Line 4: The paradox of feeling alone when surrounded by people.
Line 5: The words - lyrics - committed to paper have been misinterpreted. Or, the artists message was not communicated effectively.
Line 6: The artists grand, beautiful & sublime idea exits the mind as subjective crap.
Line 7: That which one commits to becomes their history. Or, a resolution of past mistakes as a fact and as reality.
Line 8: Perhaps this line can be interpreted as growing up or maturing. Another possibility is the artist feeling distant from the person they once were. Who this person is now - who this person has become - is so different from the character - if you will - of the past that it invokes a feeling of disconnection with ones past.
Line 9 & 10: I have wondered for a year and a half what these mean. I thought once that Trent was referring to “God”. But I have changed my mind. I now believe he is referring to no one other than himself. He falls to see why he is famous. Therefore, it is a rhetorical question.
Line 11 & 12: I think this means the dissolving of hate and other negative emotions that are often associated with the word “dark”. His organs are soft and his blood is red on the inside. Seriously, it’s about letting go of negative emotions. The resulting feeling is complicity. Lastly, line 12 is about feeling alive when looking inwards, feeling positive and inspired when looking inside. This is a progression from line 3 where the view of the Self was obstructed and not clear.
Line 13: The inspiration that blossoms after finding or seeing the view of ones true Self unobstructed. The feeling of purpose flows through the veins and fills Trent with vigor and life (line 12). Inspiration leads to a sense of overwhelming purpose. The lack thereof begins the lyrics at line 1. Overall this invokes a sense of divinity or fate in the inspired artist, Trent. Since it is commonly assumed that divinity and fates reside in the heavens or sky, Trent writes “The stars are all a fire in the sky.” This in no way is regarded as a negative statement of hate or anger, but rather hope, destiny and purpose.
Line 14: An afterthought. The missing word is “die.” How tragic.