Songs & Lyrics
The Hand That Feeds
“The Hand That Feeds” opens The Hand That Feeds (2005) and has remained in Nine Inch Nails setlists from Live: With Teeth to the present.
- Record type
- Lyrics available
- Classification
- Official NIN composition
- First record
- Halo 18 · The Hand That Feeds
- Known versions
- 10
Song details
About This Song
Available on four Halo releases in 10 titled versions.
- Classification
- Official NIN composition
- First documented release
- Halo 18 · The Hand That Feeds
- Release date
- March 28, 2005
- Track position
- 1
- Running time
- 3:31
- Tempo
- 128 BPM
- Known versions
- 10
Track Credits
- Writing and performance
- Trent Reznor
- Production
- Trent Reznor, Alan Moulder
- Programming
- Atticus Ross
- Mix
- Alan Moulder
Live History
- Performance span
- Live: With Teeth through present
- Live debut
- March 23, 2005 · Fresno, CA
Versions
- The Hand That Feeds
- The Hand That Feeds (Instrumental)
- The Hand That Feeds (DFA Mix)
- The Hand That Feeds (DFA Mix Instrumental)
- The Hand That Dubs (DFA Version I)
- The Hand That Dubs (DFA Version II)
- The Hand That Feeds (Photek Dub)
- The Hand That Feeds (Photek Straight Mix)
- The Hand That Feeds (Ruff Mix)
- The Hand That Feeds (Beside You In Time)
Related Records
- Music video: The Hand That Feeds
- Official multitracks available
Sources: NIN Wiki — The Hand That Feeds (song), revision 68913 (reviewed September 28, 2026). NIN Wiki song record
Words
Lyrics
In the line
Got your chin held high and you feel just fine
Because you do
What you're told
But inside your heart it is black and it's hollow
And it's cold
Just how deep do you believe?
Will you bite the hand that feeds?
Will you chew until it bleeds?
Can you get up off your knees?
Are you brave enough to see
Do you want to change it?
What if this whole crusade's
A charade
And behind it all there's a price to be paid
For the blood
On which we dine
Justified in the name of the holy and the divine
Just how deep do you believe?
Will you bite the hand that feeds?
Will you chew until it bleeds?
Can you get up off your knees?
Are you brave enough to see?
Do you want to change it?
So naïve
To keep holding on to what I want to believe
And I can see
But I keep
Holding on and on and on and on
Will you bite the hand that feeds you or will you stay down on your knees?
Lyrics reproduced with permission for non-profit educational use.
Where it appears
Documented Appearances
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