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| versions = Head Like A Hole<br>Head Like A Hole (Clay)<br>Head Like A Hole (Copper)<br>Head Like A Hole (Opal)<br>Head Like A Hole (Slate)<br>Head Like A Hole (Soil)<br>You Know Who You Are<br>Head Like A Hole (''[[And All That Could Have Been (halo)|And All That Could Have Been]]'')<br>Head Like A Hole (''[[Beside You In Time (halo)|Beside You In Time]]'')
| live = [["Pretty Hate Machine" Promotional Tour]] through present
}}'''"Head Like A Hole"''' is the first track on the 1989 release ''[[Pretty Hate Machine]].'' It was the first commercial success [[Trent Reznor]] had and received wide radio rotation at the time. Though Reznor doesn't dislike the song, he was quite surpised surprised it became as big as it did, especially due to its relatively easy writing process compared to some of the lesser recognized tracks on ''Pretty Hate Machine'' ("[[That's What I Get]]" and "[[Kinda I Want To]]" most notably).
===Song Credits===
===Head Like A Hole (Slate)===
The first track on the ''Head Like A Hole'' single, this version contains more treble than its cousins and a somewhat dancier beat than most, along with higher pitched synths playing the bassline as a lead instead. Its intro is similar to the "(Clay)" remix. The instrumental melody of the original has been replaced and there is no guitar part in the chorus. It also lacks the stereo wipe outro and instead simply loops as it fades out. As indicated on the credits of the ''"Head Like A Hole"'' 12" vinyl single, this remix was completed in July 1989.
====Song Credits====
===Head Like A Hole (Copper)===
Present on the ''Head Like A Hole'' single, the "(Copper)" remix seems to be a cut and paste of the various remixes above, containing bits and pieces, loops and interruptions of the other songs. It contains the dance beat of "(Slate)" but has the layered guitar of the original version as well as a slightly modified instrumental intro. Its outro, unique to this mix, is the "Bow down before the one you serve/you're going to get what you deserve" lyric over a swinging drum-machine loop sampled from "Body Language" by Queen; the drum loop includes part of a scream by Freddie Mercury. The section sampled (from the cymbal crash to when Freddie shouts "Yeah!") is heard from 3:04 to 3:08 in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqLyjg-klhE. As indicated on the credits of the ''"Head Like A Hole"'' 12" vinyl single, this remix was completed in January 1990.
====Song Credits====
===Head Like A Hole (Opal)===
Exclusive to the UK version of the ''Head Like A Hole'' single, the mix is notable for it's its "realistic" drums and strange instrumentation, much of which isn't present on any of the other remixes. It is perhaps the most unique remix, having a different vocal take with a few lyrical differences from the original version of the song (in particular, the verses clearly say "God of money" rather than "God Money"), as well as using an inverted version of the bassline rather than the bassline itself and a totally different drumbeat. The only element that found its way over from the other mixes is the wood percussion intro from the original version of the song, which the drum beat follows exactly. The song ends by fading away while Reznor whispers "You know... you know who you are" repeatedly. This line is found only on this version, though it does appear in the printed lyrics on the ''Pretty Hate Machine'' album. It has been billed as "Head Like A Hole (Demo)" and "Head Like A Hole (Go-Go Mix)" on various bootlegs. As indicated on the credits of the ''"Head Like A Hole"'' 12" vinyl single, this remix was completed in November 1990.
====Song Credits====
"Head Like A Hole" is usually the last song of the show (With Teeth era) or last song before the encore (Self Destruct, Fragility, and Lights in the Sky eras). At the end, the band usually destroy their instruments.
Since the With Teeth era, Trent has left singing of the chorus to the other members of the band. This is possibly due to vocal strain.
==Music Video==
The video contains three different sequences, used at different intervals of the song. During the verses, footage of tribal dancers is undercut with rotating cybernetic heads, creating a strobe effect. For the main chorus and instrumental interludes, the band is seen playing in a large cage with wires and magnetic tape at their feet. The sub-chorus features black-and-white footage of Reznor lowering his head into a tub filled with water and bringing it back up. At the end of the video, Reznor's feet have become entangled in the tape and wires as he is lifted off the ground, hung upside-down and writhes in mid-air. The video features two drummers, one being [[Chris Vrenna]] and the other being [[Martin Atkins]].
An extended version of the video also exists, which is set to the "Copper" mix. This version was used when the video was shown on ''Beavis And Butt-Head'' in 1993. The video was originally going to be directed by [[David Lynch]][http://www.nin-pages.de/1989_Boston_Rock_Dezember_english.htm], whom Reznor would later work with on the ''[[Lost Highway Soundtrack]]'' and the "[[Came Back Haunted (song)|Came Back Haunted]]" music video. An extended version of the video also exists, which is set to the "Copper" mix. This version was used when the video was shown on ''Beavis And Butt-Head'' in 1993.
===Credits===
==Reznor on the songwriting==
<blockquote>"I don't remember what i was thinking about at the time, but it was pretty much about yelling at a beast without putting a face to it. I wrote it at the last minute as a throwaway. The rest of 'Pretty Hate Machine' was already written, and we'd revised everything else about nine times. Up until then song-writing had been a meticulous and agonising process, but this took me 15 minutes in my bedroom. The fact that it produced this huge reaction really pissed me off becuase i I hadn't agonised over it. I was still back in Cleveland, and I had a job working at a studio where I'd spend time at night learning how to record and engineer things and I tried to work out how my voice sounded. I was playing everything myself but I had no confidence in playing guitar. I was convinced that if any real players heard it they'd laugh. Now i I know that's bullshit but at the time I was very insecure."</blockquote>
==Covers==
*{{Youtube|SMZYcvU1UTY|acoustic cover by Ryan Star, a contestant on ''Rockstar: Supernova''}}*{{Youtube|Kwqx8N-MHww|cover by AFI, goth-punk band}}*{{Youtube|SltJMimN9CA|cover by Still Remains, christian metalcore band}}*{{Youtube|LhL8Sl3dWl8|cover by DEVO}}*Impromptu [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v={{Youtube|wNWz-0igZbA |Impromptu Cover] by Amanda Palmer of [[The Dresden Dolls]]}}
==Lyrics==
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