"The Hand That Feeds" is a verbal attack on the United States Government, specifically the Bush Administration and its foreign policy, but can be interpreted as speaking out against abusive authority in general. Nine Inch Nails was scheduled to perform this song live at the 2005 MTV Movie Awards, but MTV denied Trent Reznor's request to perform in front of a large image of President George W. Bush's face. As a result, Reznor decided to cancel the performance. NIN was replaced by the Foo Fighters.
Reznor responded on the official NIN website: "We were set to perform "The Hand That Feeds" with an unmolested, straightforward image of George W. Bush as the backdrop. Apparently, the image of our President is as offensive to MTV as it is to me. See you on tour this fall when we return to play in America."
This is the album version and is the first track on The Hand That Feeds single. In the album version, the intro of the song is heard at the end of the previous song, "The Collector". In the single version, the intro is incorporated into the track.
The music video for this song was directed by Rob Sheridan and Reznor, debuting at NIN.com on March 17, 2005. It's a basic performance video, filmed with a digital camera in the band's rehearsal space. The film has been tinted blue and some distortion does occur, due to the nature of the camera and how it responds to fast movements. The video also features a digital zoomâthe image appears so pixelated and interlaced because Sheridan used key-framing to create digital camera movements and zooms in post, giving the visuals an even grittier feel. The video caused quite a stir throughout the NIN community. Some didn't like the song, whereas others weren't even sure that this was the official video as it didn't look "done" to them. Still others were quick to note a noticeable change in Reznor's physical appearance.
Initially, there were plans to create an animated video using GNN, the same company that created Eminem's "Mosh" video. The plans were scrapped sometime during pre-production, after a synopsis of the plot and a casting sheet were leaked to the internet, and because the end result was poorly received by Reznor and Sheridan.
The Hand That Feeds
NIN Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got your chin held high and you feel just fine
'Cause you do what you're told
But inside your heart it is black, it is hollow and it's cold
Just how deep do you believe?
Will you bite the hand that feeds?
Will you chew until it bleeds?
Are you brave enough to see?
Do you wanna change it?
What if this whole crusade's a charade
And behind it all there's a price to be paid
For the blood 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 wanna change it?
So naive
I keep holding on to what I wanna believe
I can see
But I keep holding on and on and on and on
Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees?
Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees?
Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees?
Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees?
Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees?
Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees?
Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees?
Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees?
The opening lines of NIN's "The Hand That Feeds" describe a perfect follower, someone who "keeps in step and in line" and "does what they're told." However, despite the outward appearance of being content, the singer suggests that this person's heart is "black, hollow, and cold." The lyrics then pose a series of questions, asking just how deeply this person believes in their beliefs and whether they're willing to challenge the status quo in order to effect change, even if it means "biting the hand that feeds."
The song appears to be a condemnation of blind obedience and a warning against those in power who justify their actions as being in service to a higher power. The line "for the blood which we dine, justified in the name of the holy and the divine" speaks to a history of violence being carried out by religious institutions in the name of faith. It's also possible to read the lyrics as a broader critique of anyone in a position of authority using their power to exploit and manipulate those beneath them.
The repeated refrain of "will you bite the hand that feeds you?/will you stay down on your knees?" is a challenge to the listener to consider their own complicity in systems of oppression, and whether they're willing to take action against it. In the final lines, the singer admits to their own naivete in holding onto their beliefs, even as they seem to be at odds with the reality around them.
Line by Line Meaning
You're keeping in step and in line
You are conforming to societal expectations and norms.
Got your chin held high and you feel just fine
You are confident in your conformity.
'Cause you do what you're told
You obey authority without question.
But inside your heart it is black, it is hollow and it's cold
Your conformity has left you empty and disconnected from your emotions and moral compass.
Just how deep do you believe?
How strong is your conviction in your beliefs?
Will you bite the hand that feeds?
Will you rebel against those in power who provide for you?
Will you chew until it bleeds?
Will you continue to fight for what you believe in, even if it hurts you?
Can you get up off your knees?
Can you stand up for yourself and what you believe in?
Are you brave enough to see?
Are you willing to face the truth, even if it challenges your beliefs?
Do you wanna change it?
Do you desire to create positive change?
What if this whole crusade's a charade
What if the cause you are fighting for is not really what it seems?
And behind it all there's a price to be paid
Will there be consequences for fighting against those in power?
For the blood which we dine
Are the sacrifices made worth the cost?
Justified in the name of the holy and the divine
Is the cause being fought for justified by religious or moral principles?
So naive
You were once innocent and uninformed, but now realize the truth.
I keep holding on to what I wanna believe
You still cling to your beliefs in spite of the harsh realities of the world.
I can see
You have gained an understanding of the truth.
But I keep holding on and on and on and on
You are reluctant to let go of your beliefs, regardless of the cost.
Will you stay down on your knees?
Will you continue to submit to those in power?
Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you rebel against those in power who provide for you, even if it means sacrificing comfort and security?
Contributed by Abigail H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@midorivid235
"The Hand That Feeds"
You're keeping in step
In the line
Got your chin held high and you feel just fine
Cause 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 naive
I keep holding on to what I want to believe
I can see
But I keep holding on and on and on and on
[8X]
Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees?
@fluteloopsyd
Random boring story here, I just really want to say this, lol.
So I changed schools when I came to live with my dad almost a year ago. I'd been in band since 5th grade. When I moved, I stayed in band, but this year I'm not because of how one of my credits transferred, so I had to drop it this year (which I'm mostly okay with anyway since my new school's band sucks and I don't like the teaching.đ ).
So when I was getting ready to move, I had this feeling that this year now that I'm gone, they were going to play songs I've always loved, and THEY SURE FREAKING DID, LOL
Right before I moved we started learning a marching arrangement of this song (which at the time I hardly knew, but I'm starting to really like nin) for basketball games. This year, they played freaking Fall Out Boy and Coldplay songs for the marching season, two bands that were part of my childhood and development of my taste in music, lol.
Gosh.
So I was just looking through my old music, and found my sheet for this song, and now I miss it more than normal, lol.
Tl;dr: my old school played this song for marching band, I'm not in band anymore, and I miss it all, lol.
@angelcastellanosmartinez2412
Nine Inch Nails Lyrics
"The Hand That Feeds"
You're keeping in stepÂ
In the lineÂ
Got your chin held high and you feel just fineÂ
Cause you doÂ
What you're toldÂ
But inside your heart it is black and it's hollow and it's coldÂ
Just how deep do you believe?Â
Will you bite the hand that feeds?Â
Will you chew until it bleeds?Â
Can you get up off your knees?Â
Are you brave enough to see?Â
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 naive
I keep holding on to what I want to believe
I can see
But I keep holding on and on and on and on
[8X]
Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees?
@__iconoclast7744
Remember staying up all night for the premiere of this on MTV. NIN was such a critical part of my adolesence, what a great memory.
@Emp6ft10in
Trent is an amazing an example of someone who did something unique and it created magic. Remember, his first album came out in the 80's when rock hair bands were on top. None of that mattered to him. He did him and look what he has created! It's 2021 and he is still here as strong as ever.
@Jennifer-xw8tc
Truly
@indegruv
Uh Ministry and a whole genre of "industrial" was already fully swinging
@Emp6ft10in
@@indegruv - And where are they now?
@L0zza
@@Emp6ft10in Still making music and performing to huge crowds as always - as much as I love Trent and NIN, they certainly didn't invent industrial, and there is a lot more to the industrial scene than just them
@michelemichele7178
@@L0zza but, you guys, Emp6ft10in NEVER said Trent is INVENTED anything.đ¤ˇ
@takobeya78
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