Songs & Lyrics
Mr. Self Destruct
“Mr. Self Destruct” opens The Downward Spiral (1994) and has returned in setlists across multiple touring eras.
- Record type
- Lyrics available
- Classification
- Official NIN composition
- First record
- Halo 08 · The Downward Spiral
- Known versions
- 7
Song details
About This Song
Available on two Halo releases in 7 titled versions.
- Classification
- Official NIN composition
- First documented release
- Halo 08 · The Downward Spiral
- Release date
- March 8, 1994
- Track position
- 1
- Running time
- 4:30
- Tempo
- 100 BPM
- Known versions
- 7
Track Credits
- Production
- Flood and Trent Reznor
- Mixing engineer
- Alan Moulder
- Texture generating guitars
- Adrian Belew
Live History
- Performance span
- Self Destruct Touring Cycle · With Teeth Fall Arena Tour through Wave Goodbye Tour · Cold And Black And Infinite Tour through present
- Live debut
- August 27, 1994 · Rochester, NY
Versions
- Mr. Self Destruct
- Mr. Self Destruct (Instrumental)
- The Art of Self Destruction, Part One
- Self Destruction, Part Two
- Self Destruction, Part Three
- Self Destruction, Final
- The Beauty of Being Numb (Section A)
Sources: NIN Wiki — Mr. Self Destruct, revision 67463 (reviewed September 28, 2026). NIN Wiki song record
Words
Lyrics
I am the lover in your bed And I control you
I am the sex that you provide And I control you
I am the hate you try to hide And I control you
I take you where you want to go
I give you all you need to know
I drag you down I use you up
Mr. Self Destruct
I speak religion's message clear And I control you
I am denial guilt and fear And I control you
I am the prayers of the naïve And I control you
I am the lie that you believe And I control you
I take you where you want to go
I give you all you need to know
I drag you down I use you up
Mr. Self Destruct
I am the needle in your vein And I control you
I am the high you can't sustain And I control you
I am the pusher I'm a whore And I control you
I am the need you have for more And I control you
I am the bullet in the gun And I control you
I am the truth from which you run And I control you
I am the silencing machine And I control you
I am the end of all your dreams And I control you
I take you where you want to go
I give you all you need to know
I drag you down I use you up
Mr. Self Destruct
I am the need in you for more And I control you
You let me do this to you I am an exit
Lyrics reproduced with permission for non-profit educational use.
Where it appears