Songs & Lyrics

The Day the World Went Away

“The Day the World Went Away” opens The Day The World Went Away (1999) and has returned in setlists across multiple touring eras.

Record type: Lyrics available
Classification: Official NIN composition
First record: Halo 13 · The Day The World Went Away
Known versions: 9

Song details

About This Song

Available on five Halo releases in 9 titled versions.

Classification: Official NIN composition
First documented release: Halo 13 · The Day The World Went Away
Release date: July 20, 1999
Track position: 1
Running time: 4:33
Tempo: 130 BPM
Known versions: 9

Track Credits

Backing chants by the Buddha Debutante Choir: Melissa Daigle, Judy Miller, Christine Parrish, M. Gabriela Rivas, Heather Bennett, Fae Young and Martha Wood
Additional vocals on "Quiet": Kim Prevost

Live History

Performance span: Fragility through Performance 2007 · Wave Goodbye Tour through Tension 2013 Tour · NIN 2014 Europe/UK Tour through NIN 2022
Live debut: November 14, 1999 · Barcelona, Spain

Versions

The Day The World Went Away
The Day The World Went Away (Instrumental) (Apple Music)
The Day The World Went Away (Instrumental) (Deviations 1)
The Day The World Went Away (Single Version)
The Day The World Went Away (Quiet)
The Day The World Went Away (Porter Ricks Mix)
The Day The World Went Away (And All That Could Have Been)
The Day The World Went Away (Still)
The Day The World Went Away (The Walled Off Hotel version)

Sources: NIN Wiki — The Day The World Went Away (song), revision 67870 (reviewed September 28, 2026). NIN Wiki song record

Words

Lyrics

But in his voice I heard decay
The plastic face forced to portray
All the insides left cold and gray
There is a place that still remains
It eats the fear it eats the pain
The sweetest price he'll have to pay
The day the whole world went away

Na na nah
Na na na, nah
Na na nah
Na na na, nah

Lyrics reproduced with permission for non-profit educational use.

Where it appears

Documented Appearances

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