Well, not quite. Lyric Analysis (part I)

Lyric Analysis:

Preface-

Am I not living up to what I’m supposed to be? ~Trent Reznor

Too much of human action has been motivated by FEAR!

Terrible Lie!

Don’t take it away from me; I need you to hold on to.

There’s nothing left for me to hide.
I lost my ignorance, security, and pride.
I’m all alone in this world you must despise.
hey God,
I believed your promises, your promises and lies.

terrible lie!

Juxtapose this with Nietzsche’s observation: God is dead.

My interpretation: Tries to convey the agony of someone wanting very much to believe, but, in the end, abandoning belief for what seems more real, for what is not a perceived lie.

Down In It:

I used to be so big and strong.
I used to know my right from wrong.
I used to never be afraid.
I used to be somebody

I used to have something inside
Now just this hole thats open wide.
I used to want it all
I used to be somebody

Ill cross my heart and hope to die but the needle's already in my eye.
And all the world's weight is on my back and I don't even know why.
And what i used to think was me is just a fading memory-
I looked him right in the eye and said goodbye.

I was up above it.
I was up above it.
Now Im down in it.

My interpretation: Losing God and throwing off world views perceived to be false. Sacrificing a false stability and knowledge for a lack of knowledge or a nothingness that is, at least, real and true. Note: Why did Socrates believe he was wise? Because while others claimed to have wisdom and knowledge about things and were wrong and didn’t know it or denied it, Socrates knew he didn’t know any thing, which was one thing more than the others knew.

I don't think I'm projecting with all this religious interpretation either. "hey God" is actually part of the lyrics in the first song. And the second song follows right after the first in order on the album: Pretty Hate Machine. That's a bit of justification and legitimacy then. I'm sure I could scrounge up more, but I don't feel like discussing the particulars. And I swear I do not have any kind of "holier-than-thou" attitude. And I'm not speaking tongue-in-cheek. I'm being frank.