Songs & Lyrics
Terrible Lie
“Terrible Lie” appears on Pretty Hate Machine (1989) and was performed from the Pretty Hate Machine Promotional tour through NIN 2022.
- Record type
- Lyrics available
- Classification
- Official NIN composition
- First record
- Halo 02 · Pretty Hate Machine
- Known versions
- 7
Song details
About This Song
Available on five Halo releases in 7 titled versions.
- Classification
- Official NIN composition
- First documented release
- Halo 02 · Pretty Hate Machine
- Release date
- October 20, 1989
- Track position
- 2
- Running time
- 4:39
- Tempo
- 88 BPM
- Known versions
- 7
Track Credits
- Production
- Flood, Trent Reznor
- Engineering
- Flood, John Fryer, Doug de Angelis
- Mix
- John Fryer, Trent Reznor
Live History
- Performance span
- "Pretty Hate Machine" Promotional Tour through NIN 2022
Versions
- Terrible Lie
- Terrible Lie (Sympathetic Mix)
- Terrible Lie (Empathetic Mix)
- Terrible Lie (Demo)
- Terrible Lie (Closure)
- Terrible Lie (And All That Could Have Been)
- Terrible Lie (Beside You In Time)
Sources: NIN Wiki — Terrible Lie, revision 69618 (reviewed September 28, 2026). NIN Wiki song record
Words
Lyrics
Am I not living up to what I'm supposed to be?
Why am I seething with this animosity?
Hey God, I think you owe me a great big apology
Terrible lie
Hey God, I really don't know what you mean
Seems like salvation comes only in our dreams
I feel my hatred grow all the more extreme
Hey God, can this world really be as sad as it seems?
Terrible lie
Don't take it away from me
I need someone to hold on to
Don't take it away from me
I need someone to hold on to
Hey God, there's nothing left for me to hide
I lost my ignorance, security and pride
I'm all alone in a world you must despise
Hey God, I believed the promises, the promises and lies
Terrible lie
You made me throw it all away
My morals left to decay
How many you betray
You've taken everything
Terrible lie
My head is filled with disease
My skin is begging you please
I'm on my hands and knees
I want so much to believe
I need someone to hold on to
I need someone to hold on to
I need someone to hold on to
I need someone to hold on to
I give you everything
My sweet everything
Hey God, I really don't know who I am
In this world of piss.
Hey God, I believed your promises, your promises and lies
Lyrics reproduced with permission for non-profit educational use.
Where it appears