Songs & Lyrics
Head Like a Hole
“Head Like a Hole” opens Pretty Hate Machine (1989) and has remained in Nine Inch Nails setlists from the first touring cycle to the present.
- Record type
- Lyrics available
- Classification
- Official NIN composition
- First record
- Halo 02 · Pretty Hate Machine
- Known versions
- 11
Song details
About This Song
Available on five Halo releases in 11 titled versions.
- Classification
- Official NIN composition
- First documented release
- Halo 02 · Pretty Hate Machine
- Release date
- October 20, 1989
- Track position
- 1
- Running time
- 4:59
- Tempo
- 115 BPM
- Known versions
- 11
Track Credits
- Production
- Flood, Trent Reznor
- Engineering
- Flood, Kennan Keating, Keith LeBlanc, Doug de Angelis, Ken Quartarone
- Additional remix production
- Keith LeBlanc
- Mix
- Keith LeBlanc
- Credit
- Studio(s) mixed at Soundtrack Studios Studio A NYC (21st location) on Neve VR60
- Credit
- 2nd Engineer(s) Scott Canto
Live History
- Performance span
- "Pretty Hate Machine" Promotional Tour through present
Versions
- Head Like A Hole
- Head Like A Hole (Slate)
- Head Like A Hole (Clay)
- Head Like A Hole (Copper)
- You Know Who You Are
- Head Like A Hole (Opal)
- Head Like A Hole (Soil)
- Head Like A Hole (Radio Edit)
- Head Like A Hole (John Fryer Mix)
- Head Like A Hole (And All That Could Have Been)
- Head Like A Hole (Beside You In Time)
Related Records
Sources: NIN Wiki — Head Like A Hole (song), revision 69491 (reviewed September 28, 2026). NIN Wiki song record
Words
Lyrics
God Money just tell me what you want me to
God Money nail me up against the wall
God Money don't want everything he wants it all
No you can't take it
No no you can't take it
(You can't take that away from me)
Head like a hole
Black as your soul
I'd rather die than give you control
Head like a hole
Black as your soul
I'd rather die than give you control
Bow down before the one you serve
You're going to get what you deserve
God Money's not looking for the cure
God Money's not concerned about the sick among the pure
God Money let's go dancing on the backs of the bruised
God Money's not one to choose
No you can't take it
No no you can't take it
No you can't take that away from me
Head like a hole
Black as your soul
I'd rather die than give you control
Head like a hole
Black as your soul
I'd rather die than give you control
Bow down before the one you serve
You're going to get what you deserve
You know who you are
Lyrics reproduced with permission for non-profit educational use.
Where it appears
Documented Appearances
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