Changes

| versions =Terrible Lie<br>Terrible Lie (Sympathetic Mix)<br>Terrible Lie (Empathetic Mix)<br>Terrible Lie (Demo - Martin Atkins tape)<br>Terrible Lie (''[[Closure]]'')<br>Terrible Lie (''[[And All That Could Have Been (halo)|And All That Could Have Been]]'')<br>Terrible Lie (''[[Beside You In Time (halo)|Beside You In Time]]'')

===Terrible Lie (Demo - Martin Atkins tape)===

A demo for "Terrible Lie" does exist, but it has only leaked in short clips on the internet. It exists is on a cassette tape handed out by Reznor to important figures. This cassette is also in the possession of [[Martin Atkins]], who has allowed fans to hear excerptsplaybacks. The track is reported to follow the same arrangement as the album version with differences in the bridge and outro, with the bridge entering more abruptly and the outro having Reznor saying "who do you think you're fooling?" During the [[Pretty Hate Machine Tour]], this line appeared frequently on the backing track for this song, and it was long thought to have been a sample from a film.

"Terrible Lie" is the first song from a live performance shown on ''Closure.'' It follows footage from [[Nine Inch Nails ]] fans and protesters alike as well as backstage footage. The classic "[[Pinion]]" intro leads into "Terrible Lie" and a spotlight projects the silhouette of Reznor onto the screen. The band is covered in cornstarch as per usual for the era and Reznor finishes up half singing/half saying "you promised me" into the mike. The video then goes to more fan and backstage footage and is eventually followed by "[[Piggy]]." On the DVD leak of this release, an older Lollapalooza '91 performance of this song is featured in the Appendage section, following "[[Now I'm Nothing]]." Both are recorded in bootleg-like quality.

"Terrible Lie" is often the opening song of Nine Inch Nails shows following an introduction, which may be "[[Now I'm Nothing]]" ([[Lollapalooza]] '91, [[Wave_Goodbye_Tour#NIN.2FJA_2009|NIN/JA 2009]]) or, often, a manipulated pre-recorded version of "Pinion"." The live version typically omits the keyboard and bass harmony for the first half of the first chorus, a feature of the [[Terrible_Lie#Terrible_Lie_.28Sympathetic_Mix.29|Sympathetic mix]]. The ending of the song is extended when performed live and is often concluded with Reznor screaming "you promised me" repeatedly. A brief sample of the words "who do you think you're fooling?" often surrounded the song in performances prior to during the Fragility tour, most often at the end of the song (though also used at the start of the song on ''[[Pretty Hate Machine'' tours as it emerged from the sample collage)Tour]].

The variation performed on the [[Wave Goodbye Tour]] was mostly the same as the version introduced during [[Live: With Teeth]]. However, as the live band is now was then only 4 four members, all synthesizer parts are were absent, leaving only loud guitar riffs (this is most noticeable in the chorus, and right before the outro where there is usually a 'hammer-synth' countermelody played over the chorus progression). During the Australian leg of the Wave Goodbye Tour, the song featured a minimalist intro, using the synth parts that can be heard during the choruses of the studio version.