The song is notable for its instantly recognizable "hammer" synth bassline, similar to the one used in "Kinda I Want To." The song also references "Down In It" in its use of the same recognizable melodic synth voice.
This is the original album version, notable for its use of steel drum synth in the bassline that begins the song. The song itself is minimal in its construction, relying on atmospheric keyboard pads for its harmony and Reznor's singing for the lead melodies until the reappearance of the synth voice from "Down In It" in the latter half of the song. Percussion, present throughout much of the track, is used less obviously compared to the rest of the record: a prominent beat doesn't enter the track until the second half, the first relying on the movement of the bass track and quieter percussion loops.
That's What I Get
Nine Inch Nails Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You took away all my self confidence
Now all that I've been hearing must be true
I guess I'm not the only boy for you
(That's what I get)
How could you turn us into this?
I told you I'd never say goodbye
I'm slipping on the tears you made me cry
But that's what I get
(That's what I get)
Why does it come as a surprise?
To think that I was so naive
Maybe didn't mean that much
But it meant everything to me
(That's what I get)
The lyrics to Nine Inch Nails's song That's What I Get are a reflection of someone who has just gone through a difficult breakup. The opening lines suggest that the singer had finally reached a point where everything in life was making sense, but that was all taken away when their partner left them. The line "you took away all my self-confidence" refers to how the singer's self-worth was tied to their now ex-partner's validation of them. The subsequent lines reveal that the singer has heard rumors that their ex was with someone else, suggesting that perhaps infidelity was involved.
The chorus repeats the phrase "that's what I get," which has a sense of resignation to it. It implies that the singer feels like this is what they deserved, and that their ex's actions were to be expected. However, the second verse is more defiant, with the singer asking their ex how they could have turned their relationship into such a mess, especially after all the time and effort spent learning to kiss and make each other happy. The line "I'm slipping on the tears you made me cry" is particularly poignant, encapsulating the emotional pain that comes with any breakup.
The final verse reveals some introspection on the singer's part. They ask why they were so naive to believe that a relationship with their ex could have worked out, even if it didn't mean much to their ex. Despite this, the singer can't help but feel like the relationship meant everything to them. Overall, the song is a raw and powerful expression of the pain and confusion that comes with a breakup.
Line by Line Meaning
Just when everything was making sense
Right when I thought I had a grip on things, you showed up.
You took away all my self confidence
My confidence was nothing to you as you stripped it all away.
Now all that I've been hearing must be true
All those rumors I heard about you and your deception, were actually valid.
I guess I'm not the only boy for you
I realize now that I'm just one of many other men you've played like this.
(That's what I get)
I should have seen it coming, but I ignored the signs.
How could you turn us into this?
I can't believe you led us to end up like this, in ruins.
After you just taught me how to kiss you
You taught me how to love you, and then ripped it all away.
I told you I'd never say goodbye
I promised I'd always be by your side, but now that's no longer true.
I'm slipping on the tears you made me cry
You left me in ruin, as I break down crying.
Why does it come as a surprise?
How could I not have seen this coming, I was just so naive.
To think that I was so naive
I was so ignorant of your intentions, even though they were so plain.
Maybe didn't mean that much
Perhaps the relationship didn't seem to matter to you.
But it meant everything to me
It was everything to me but apparently nothing to you.
(That's what I get)
Now that it's all said and done, it's clear it was always going to end like this.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Trent Reznor
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dina Brkic
Just when everything was making sense
You took away all my self-confidence
Now all that I've been hearing must be true
I guess I'm not the only boy for you
But that's what I get
That's what I get
That's what I get
That's what I get
How can you turn me into this?
After you just taught me how to kiss you
I told you I'd never say goodbye
Now I'm slipping on the tears you made me cry
But that's what I get
That's what I get
That's what I get
That's what I get
Why's it come as a surprise
To think that I was so naive
Maybe didn't mean that much
But it meant everything to me
That's what I get
That's what I get
That's what I get
That's what I get
That's what I get
That's what I get
That's what I get
That's what I get
That's what I get
That's what I get
That's what I get
T.K.9
One of my favorite songs together with Head Like a Hole c: Even though it reminds me of my relationship with a girl 7 years ago (2008) :(
I listened to this song for the first time in 2001. Back then I liked the beat & tune of the song and did not thought anything for the lyrics.
But by 2008 on wards (when I first lost someone close to me), I listened to this song again and there it was :) . The Lyrics. The song just fits perfectly on the kind of situation I was in with a girl.
Back then everything was all well with her then suddenly the next day all Hell broke loose and I lost her. It was a "That's what I get?! 3:14" moment for me...
(no, she's alive. She found a new guy though) fuck this feels...
fucked up but ye, such women exist in this world.
Dominon92
Just when everything was making sense
You took away all my self confidence
Now all that I've been hearing must be true
I guess I'm not the only boy for you
That’s what I get (4x)
How could you turn us into this?
After you just taught me how to kiss you
I told you I'd never say goodbye
I'm slipping on the tears you made me cry
But that's what I get
That’s what I get (3x)
Why does it come as a surprise?
To think that I was so naive
Maybe didn't mean that much
But it meant everything to me
That what I get (11x)
neal moses
pretty hate machine has to be one of the most important and good albums ever made
Natalie Hendricks
A classic!
Tlpopescu
Pretty Hate Machine = Fucking amazing
Eric Brown
Here here!
demun
I think Faith No More's "The Real Thing" was slightly more ahead of its time for 1989, but PHM is still a great album.
Grammajam
@demun i love both albums to death and back but they're hard for me to compare. they both strike very different moods
minglis88
Only someone as talented as Trent Reznor can make you want to cry yet rip up a dance floor at the same time.
gaspard toussian
Las mejores bandas de 80's y 90's Depeche mode, The cure y NIN
Shawn Biltjinitis
I don't think I would have made it through my teen years without NIN
BlimaWormtong
Бut widhout dhat leading role, and widhout dhat Trans4mation, europe will nαt sœrvive∴