Maybe Just Once
Maybe Just Once (Purest Feeling)
"Maybe Just Once" is an unreleased track demoed for Nine Inch Nails' first album, Pretty Hate Machine, and also the third track on the bootleg album Purest Feeling.
Contents
Appearances
Other
- Purest Feeling
Versions
Maybe Just Once (Demo)
Running Time: 4:13
Demo version leaked in 2025. The leak stated: "included on tapes distributed by TVT Records to solicit producers and foreign distribution deals." It has a somewhat high-sheen, late 80s synthpop sound that is not characteristic of NIN. It features a highly percussive synth sound, similar to that on the outro of "That's What I Get".
Maybe Just Once (Purest Feeling)
Running Time: 5:16
Version from the Purest Feeling bootleg. Similar in sound to the demo. The last two lines of the first two verses are switched, and Reznor sprinkles the line "Oh God" a couple of times during the outro.
The intro uses a sample of dialog from the film Diner and the bridge uses another, unidentified sample.
Diner sample in the intro:
Beth (Ellen Barkin): "...when we were datin', did you care for me?"
Boogie (Mickey Rourke): "Sure, I did."
Beth: "You know, I don't mean just cause you could do stuff to me...but, but because you really cared?"
Boogie: "Of course, Beth. I mean...there was plenty of girls around for a quick pop...
...if that's what I wanted...but I got to tell you...you were good."
Sample in the bridge:
"He sat down on this bed and he said, 'Christ, what the hell do you think this place is?'
You know, he just couldn't believe it! And I said, 'I don't know but it sure is something
different.'"
Live
"Maybe Just Once" has not been performed live since the VIVIsectVI Tour.
Lyrics
I can't believe that what I fear is finally happening to me
Make it hurt
And point the finger at my insecurities
Well I guess I just don't understand about what you want and what you need
And I guess I just don't understand about why this is how it has to be
Maybe, maybe just once, I could get what's coming
Maybe, maybe just once, I could get what's coming to me
So once again the way you feel will never ever stay the same
And I'm to blame
I wonder just who made the rules up for this game
Well I guess I just don't understand about those complexities in your mind
And I guess I just don't understand why this world seems so unkind
Maybe, maybe just once, I could get what's coming
Maybe, maybe just once, I could get what's coming to me
Oh
So go ahead
You say those thousand things you think you have to say
Look at me
And tell me love's not such a hard word anyway
Well how can you count on me?
I thought you realized for sure
And how can you just believe?
I thought I deserved a little more
Maybe, maybe just once, I could get what's coming
Maybe, maybe just once, I could get what's coming to me
Maybe, maybe just once, I could get what's coming
Maybe, maybe just once, I could get what's coming to me
What's coming to me
What's coming to me
What's coming to me
What's coming to me