I survived, everything
I have tried everything, everything, everything and anything

All the walls begin to devolve away
Do your hands begin to shake, shake, shake, shake, shake?
And just who do you think you used to be?
All beings to bend and break, and break, and break, and break

Wave goodbye, wish me well
I've become, something else, something else, something else
Just as well, really

But this thing that lives inside of me
Will surely rise and wake, and wake, and wake, and wake, and wake
And the seed that bleeds right through to me
And it comes to grab and take, and take, and take, and take

I am home, I believe
I am home, I am free
I am home, I can see
Always here, finally

I am home, I believe
I am home, I am free

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to the Nine Inch Nails song "Everything" are open to interpretation, as is typical of much of Trent Reznor's music. However, there are several themes that emerge. Firstly, there is a sense of survival and overcoming adversity. The singer proclaims "I survived, everything, I have tried, everything", suggesting that they have faced challenges and come out the other side. Despite this achievement, there is also a sense of unease, with the walls beginning to "devolve away" and the singer's hands beginning to shake. It seems that the past is catching up with them, and they are unsure of who they used to be.

However, the most striking feature of the song is the repeated declarative statement "I am home". This could mean many things, but it seems to indicate a sense of finally finding one's place in the world. The singer asserts that they are free, and that they can see clearly now. There is a sense of triumph and release in these lines, as if the singer has finally reached a state of peace and acceptance. The final repetition of "I am home" feels like a definitive statement of identity and belonging, and the resolution of the struggles that have come before.

Overall, "Everything" is a complex and enigmatic song that invites multiple readings. However, themes of survival, self-discovery, and acceptance all seem to be present. The repeated refrain of "I am home" is particularly striking, suggesting that the singer has found a sense of rootedness and purpose that had previously eluded them.

Line by Line Meaning

I survived, everything
I have overcome all of life's challenges and difficulties

I have tried, everything (everything, everything)
I have attempted all that life has to offer, both good and bad experiences.

All the walls begin to devolve away
The walls that I have built around myself to protect me from life's harshness are slowly crumbling.

Do your hands begin to shake shake shake shake shake?
Are you feeling overwhelmed by the changes that are happening around you?

And just who do you think you used to be?
As you grow and change, you may question who you once were and how you got to where you are now.

All beings to burn to break to break to break
As you evolve and grow, you may feel a sense of destruction and loss as parts of yourself are shed.

Wave goodbye, wish me well
As I move forward in my journey, I bid farewell to my past and welcome new experiences.

I've become, something else (something else, something else, just as well)
As I change and evolve, I become a new version of myself, but that is okay because it allows me to grow.

But this thing that lives inside of me
There is a core part of me that remains constant despite all the changes and transformations.

Will surely rise awake awake awake awake
This part of me will awaken and guide me through my journey.

And the sead that brekas right through to me
I will encounter challenges that try to break me down, but I will overcome them.

And it comes to grab and take and take and take and take
These challenges may be difficult, but they will not conquer me. I will take from them what I need to grow.

I am home, I believe
I feel a sense of belonging and comfort within myself.

I am home, I am free
I am at peace and feel free to be my true self.

I am home, I can see
Through all of the changes and difficulties, I have gained a clearer understanding of who I am.

Always here, finally
I have arrived at a place where I feel a sense of permanence and stability in my life.

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Trent Reznor

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

SabrinaOnlineFan96

on Hurt

12w

This is the most depressing song ever. I listened to this a lot back in November-December 2022.

SabrinaOnlineFan96

on Eraser

12w

This song is so intense. It sounds like music from a horror movie. I love the Dissonance Tour version, but I don't like the Polite version, as it just sounds like one of those easy listening tracks. This song has gory vibes.