Songs & Lyrics
The Warning
“The Warning” appears on Year Zero (2007) and has returned in setlists across multiple touring eras.
- Record type
- Lyrics available
- Classification
- Official NIN composition
- First record
- Halo 24 · Year Zero
- Known versions
- 4
Song details
About This Song
Available on three Halo releases in 4 titled versions.
- Classification
- Official NIN composition
- First documented release
- Halo 24 · Year Zero
- Release date
- April 17, 2007
- Track position
- 9
- Running time
- 3:38
- Tempo
- 90 BPM
- Known versions
- 4
Live History
- Performance span
- Lights In The Sky Tour · NIN 2013 Festival Tour · NIN + QOTSA Tour · NIN 2014 Europe/UK Tour · Peel It Back Tour
- Live debut
- September 10, 2009 · Los Angeles, CA
Versions
- The Warning
- The Warning (Instrumental)
- The Warning: Stefan Goodchild featuring Doudou N'Diaye Rose
- The Warning (Nine Inch Noize Version)
Related Records
- Official multitracks available
Sources: NIN Wiki — The Warning, revision 69070 (reviewed September 28, 2026). NIN Wiki song record
Words
Lyrics
Some say it's a sign
I was standing right there
When it came down from the sky
The way it spoke to us
You felt it from inside
Said it was up to us
Up to us to decide
"You've become a virus
Killing off his host
We been watching you with all of our eyes
And what you seem to value most
So much potential
Or so we used to say
Your greed, self-importance and your arrogance
You piss it all away
We heard her cry
We have come to intervene
You will change your ways and you will make amends
Or we will wipe this place clean"
Your time is ticking away
Some say it was a sign
Your time is tick-tick-ticking away
You can take this as a warning
You can take this as a sign
He is already among you
Waiting for his time
And it is coming
Yes indeed
A celebration of ignorance
Self-importance and greed
The virus will eat the host
The virus will eat the host
Your time is tick tick ticking away
Your time is tick tick ticking away
And you won't do a thing
It's already over
Tick tock
Tick tock
Lyrics reproduced with permission for non-profit educational use.
Where it appears