Halo 19 · With Teeth
Halo 19 · With Teeth

Songs & Lyrics

Getting Smaller

“Getting Smaller” appears on With Teeth (2005) and has returned in setlists across multiple touring eras.

Record type
Lyrics available
Classification
Official NIN composition
First record
Halo 19 · With Teeth
Known versions
3

Song details

About This Song

Three titled versions are documented.

Classification
Official NIN composition
First documented release
Halo 19 · With Teeth
Release date
May 3, 2005
Track position
9
Running time
3:35
Tempo
84 BPM
Known versions
3

Track Credits

Live drums
Dave Grohl

Live History

Performance span
Live: With Teeth · Lights In The Sky Tour
Live debut
March 25, 2005 · Davis, CA

Versions

  • Getting Smaller
  • Getting Smaller (Instrumental)
  • Getting Smaller Every Day (Demo)

Sources: NIN Wiki — Getting Smaller, revision 67517 (reviewed September 28, 2026). NIN Wiki song record

Words

Lyrics

And I don't know who to trust
I guess they got a way of reading my mind
I guess I got to adjust
I got my arms that flip flop flip flop flip
I got my head on a spring
Well I thought I got you on my side
I haven't got fucking anything

I'm just a face in the crowd
Nothing to worry about
Not even trying to stand out
I'm getting smaller and smaller and smaller
And I have nothing to say
It's all been taken away
I just behave and obey
I'm afraid I am starting to fade away

Can kind of see out the cracks
When I press up to the wall
I'm not looking to stand up real high
I'd be happy to crawl
I think I'm losing my grip
But I can still make a fist
You know I still got my one good arm
That I can beat—I can beat myself up with

I'm just a face in the crowd
Nothing to worry about
Not even trying to stand out
I'm getting smaller and smaller and smaller
And I have nothing to say
It's all been taken away
I just behave and obey
I'm afraid I am starting to fade away

Hey and for what it is worth
I really used to believe
That maybe there's some great thing
That we could achieve
And now I can't tell the difference
Or know what to feel
Between what I've been trying so hard to see
And what appears to be real

My world is getting smaller every day
Hey hey hey hey
And that's OK

I kind of see through the cracks

Lyrics reproduced with permission for non-profit educational use.

Where it appears

Documented Appearances