Songs & Lyrics
The Becoming
“The Becoming” appears on 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
- 3
Song details
About This Song
Three titled versions are documented.
- Classification
- Official NIN composition
- First documented release
- Halo 08 · The Downward Spiral
- Release date
- March 8, 1994
- Track position
- 7
- Running time
- 5:31
- Tempo
- 150 BPM
- Known versions
- 3
Track Credits
- Production
- Flood and Trent Reznor
- Mixing Engineer
- Alan Moulder
- Ring Mod Guitar
- Adrian Belew
- ARP2600
- Flood
Live History
- Performance span
- Dissonance · Performance 2007 · Wave Goodbye Tour · NIN 2014 Europe/UK Tour · Cold And Black And Infinite Tour through NIN 2022
Versions
- The Becoming
- The Becoming (Instrumental)
- The Becoming (Still)
Sources: NIN Wiki — The Becoming, revision 67468 (reviewed September 28, 2026). NIN Wiki song record
Words
Lyrics
I'm stuck in this dream it's changing me I am becoming
The me that you know had some second thoughts
He's covered with scabs he is broken and sore
The me that you know doesn't come around much
That part of me isn’t here anymore
All pain disappears it's the nature of my circuitry
Drowns out all I hear no escape from this my new consciousness
The me that you know used to have feelings
But the blood has stopped pumping and he's left to decay
The me that you know is now made up of wires
And even when I'm right with you I'm so far away
I can try to get away but I've strapped myself in
I can try to scratch away the sound in my ears
I can see it killing away all my bad parts
I don't want to listen but it's all too clear
Hiding backwards inside of me I feel so unafraid
Annie, hold a little tighter I might just slip away
It won't give up it wants me dead
Goddamn this noise inside my head
Lyrics reproduced with permission for non-profit educational use.
Where it appears