Changes

| album = ''[[Pretty Hate Machine]]''

| BPM = 104| versions =Down In It <br>Down In It (Skin)<br>Down In It (Shred)<br>Down In It (Singe)<br>Down In It (Keith LeBlanc Mix)<br>Down In It (Demofrom ''Head Like A Hole'')<br>Down In It (Demo IIfrom ''Demos & Remixes'')<br>Down In It (Demo IIIBig Whole Mix)<br>Down In It (''[[Purest Feeling (halo)|Purest Feeling]]'')<br>Down In It (Demo IV''[[Closure]]'')<br>| live = Hate [[VIVIsectVI Tour]] through [[Wave Goodbye Tour (1990) - Present ]]<br> Uncommon[[NIN 2022]]}}[[Image:Downinitnotes.png|thumb|"Down In It" notes published on [[nin.com]] during ''[[The Fragile (halo)|The Fragile]]'' era.]]'''"Down In It"''' was the first single for the 1989 album ''[[Pretty Hate Machine]]'' and the third track on the disc. It has been stated by [[Trent Reznor]] that this song is the first he ever wrote and is a rare treat to hear live. Following the ''[[Down In It (halo)|Down In It]]'' single release, a music video was made. "[[Kinda I Want To]]" specifically uses this song's beat and drum patch in its bridge, while "[[That's What I Get]]" and "[[The Only Time]]" both use its recognizable melodic synth voice.

'''''<blockquote>"Down In It''''' "... That was probably... that was the first single for song I'd ever written. And I sat down, I took a very experimental approach to it. And the album [[Pretty Hate Machine]] and original version I did was about half speed of the third track one on the discrecord. And it was a total rip-off of "Dig It is said to be the first song that " by [[Trent ReznorSkinny Puppy]] ever wrote under the name Nine Inch Nails . I'll admit that now. But, um, lyrically, I was just experimenting with just kind of a train-of-thought, writing down whatever I thought and is all it was was a rare treat kind of... I hate to hear livesay what I'm talking about, but I'll do it now, since it's so old I just like to think about it now. Following the Down In It single releasewas just this feeling of, like, at an earlier stage of my life I thought I had my act together, I thought I knew what I wanted to do. I thought, and thought I had pride in myself, and as I'd gotten older, and realized that certain things don't work out the way you hoped they would at a certain stage and a lot of the illusions you had been led to believe growing up in a music video fairly sheltered environment... Just, I dunno, I was madekind of coming of age, realizing that, you know, things might not work out sort of feeling. That's kind of the bridge of the song.</blockquote>

===Inspiration===In At some point in the early 90s, a 1994 radio broadcast biography of Reznor, it Gatorade commercial was said that using a "Down In It was inspired by a relationship that had then recently ended for him with a woman named Krissy. " soundalike song, and Reznor has openly admited that this song is basically his version looked into the possibility of Skinny Puppy's "Dig It" ===Song Credits===*Production: Trent Reznor, [[Adrian Sherwood]], suing them.[[Keith LeBlanc]]*Engineeringhttps: Trent Reznor, Adrian Sherwood, Keith LeBlanc, [[Kennan Keating//www.theninhotline.net/archives/articles/display/598]]*Mix: Adrian Sherwood

*[[Down In It (halo)|''Down In It]]''*[[''Pretty Hate Machine]]''*''[[Head Like a A Hole (halo)| Head Like a A Hole]]''*''[[Closure]]'' (music video and live performance) ===Seeds===*''[[Collected]]''*''[[The Definitive NIN - The Singles]]''

*''[[Purest Feeling (halo)|Purest Feeling]] - non-official'' (unofficial)*''[[Purest Feeling IIDemos & Remixes]] - non-official'' (unofficial)

===Producer Keith LeBlanc mentioned in a printed interview[https://imgur.com/gallery/bgq1z] that "Down In It===Appears " was the song he got to "really put my signature on [[Purest Feeling]] as ". His revisions (the last track"Shred", differing "Singe", and "Skin" mixes) draw heavily from its offical counterparts as that it has an extended intro with strange screams the tracks "Mechanical Movements" and odd static. It also includes about 1 minute and 8 seconds of distorted clippings of the song at the end as a finish to the "Einstein" from his album. Musically it's extremely close to 'Stranger Than Fiction'', released earlier the same year (Demo1989) version . The fast-paced synth prominent at the beginning of "Skin" is from "Mechanical Movements", and the main drum pattern is from "Einstein". Additionally, the crowd chant [[Head Like a Hole (halo)|Head Like A Holesamples]] US singleduring each chorus have appeared in other tracks associated with LeBlanc's band Tackhead, such as "Reality" by Gary Clail & Tackhead and "Stadium Rock" by The Barmy Army.

===Down In It (Demo)=Song Credits====Appears on [[Head Like a Hole (halo)|Head Like A Hole]] (US) as the last track*Reproduced and remixed by Adrian Sherwood, it's extremely similar to the [[Purest Feeling]] version, except that it lacks the long intro and all the extra layering of it's Purest Feeling counterpart as well as the distorted outro. Most likely it's the definitive "original version" of Trent Reznor's very first song as Nine Inch Nails.Keith LeBlanc

====Down In It (Demo IISkin)====Appears on the [[Purest Feeling II]] bootleg. It's simply the (Skin) version from [[Pretty Hate Machine]] with an unadulterated version of the Terrible Lie intro tacked onto the end which fades out.''''Running Time: 3:46'''''

====(Demo III)====Appears The version that appears on ''Pretty Hate Machine'' is in fact the "Skin" remix, but it is not listed as such on the album. It also appears on ''Demos and Remixes'' with an unadulterated version of the "[[Purest Feeling IITerrible Lie]] bootleg. Almost exactly the same as " intro tacked onto the Purest Feeling versionend, simply lacking the extra layering and sound effects as well as the distorted outtro, though it does retain the extended drumbeat intro and is probably the version the Purest Feeling version was based uponwhich fades out.

====Down In It (Demo IVShred)====Appears on the [[Purest Feeling II]] bootleg. It's an odd version with Trent whispering a good portion of his vocals an odd beat set compared to the others. It also includes faux-Oriental sounding synths which are noticably absent in any of the other versions of the song''''Running Time: 6:51'''''

===Down In It (Skin)===The A mix from that appears on both the [[''Down In It (halo)|Down In '' and ''Head Like a Hole'' singles. It]] single basically retains the original song with an extended intro and later chosen to be a long instrumental area that makes up the mix that appeared on [[Pretty Hate Machine]]entire latter half of the song.

===Down In It (Shred)=Song Credits====A mix that appears on both the [[Down In It (halo)|Down In It]] *Reproduced and [[Head Like a Hole (halo)|Head Like A Hole]] singles. It's basically retains the original song with an extended intro and a long instrumental area that makes up the entire latter half of the songremixed by Adrian Sherwood, considered the "extended single version" of the song by some.Keith LeBlanc

A mix that appears on both the [[Down In It (halo)|Down In It]] '''''Running Time: 7:04 and [[Head Like a Hole (halo)|Head Like A Hole]] singles. It7:21''''s a mostly instrumental "dub" mix of the song with minimal vocals and strange warping and mixing of the beats with heavy bass emphasis. It should be noted that this mix is actually 18 seconds longer on the Head Like A Hole (US) single than it was on the Down In It single. The reason for this is unknown, though it's probably due to the time constraints imposed on Vinyl singles compared to a full sized LP Maxi Single.

==The Video=="A mix that appears on both the ''Down In It'' and ''Head Like a Hole'' singles. It's a mostly instrumental " was dub" mix of the song with minimal vocals and strange warping and mixing of the first Nine Inch Nails videobeats with heavy bass emphasis. It was directed by Eric Zimmerman and Benjamin Stokes, who also directed "should be noted that this mix is actually 18 seconds longer on the ''Head Like A Hole'' (US) single than it was on the ''Down In It'' single." The video depicts Reznor running through downtown Cleveland and climbing reason for this is unknown, though it's probably due to the roof of time constraints imposed on vinyl singles compared to a building, where he falls to his death. Bandmates [[Richard Patrick]] and [[Chris Vrenna]] discover the body days laterfull sized LP Maxi Single.

This was the first video to be met with controversy. To film the shots of lifeless Reznor, he was covered with cornstarch to create the illusion of decay ====Song Credits====*Reproduced and cameras were tied to heavy-duty ballons that were tied down. During the filming of these scenes, one of the balloons broke free and took the camera with it, drifting some 200 miles before being found remixed by a farmer. The camera was turned over to local police who, upon seeing the raw video footage, assumed it was a snuff film and the FBI was called in to investigate. The incident was even reported on "Hard Copy" and recalled in an interview for SPIN magazine. Because MTV and its US affiliates were uncomfortable with the video's subject matterAdrian Sherwood, all scenes that depict Reznor's body lying on the ground behind the building were deleted.Keith LeBlanc

==Performed Live=Down In It (Keith LeBlanc Mix)==='''''Running Time: 4:28'''''

Leaked in 2025. The leak stated: "this early mix was included on an internal tape of ''Pretty Hate Machine'' made in the [[TVT Records|TVT]] offices in 1989. As the rest of the tape contained final mixes, it is thought to be the originally intended version to appear on the album, referred to by Trent Reznor as the 'original mix' in a March 1990 ''Alternative Press'' interview." This seems to line up with a 1995 article from ''Musician'' magazine[https://www.theninhotline.net/archives/articles/display/614] which states that LeBlanc had done pre-production work on "Down In It" before it was handed over to Adrian Sherwood. This version begins with a short beat containing the hi-hat and kick drum with a bit of synth work before the kick drum continues on, with the main synth melody beginning the album version. This is then followed by a stripped-back first verse similar to the demo version from the "Head Like a Hole" single, before progressing similarly to the final/"Skin" version. ===Down In It (Demo from ''Head Like A Hole'')==='''''Running Time: 3:55''''' Appears on ''Head Like a Hole'' (US) as the last track. Also appears on the ''Demos and Remixes'' and ''Purest Feeling II'' [[bootlegs]]. On the UK ''Down In It'' single, the [[Untitled (from Head Like A Hole)|unlisted track]] from ''Head Like A Hole'' is appended to this track.  This version is stripped down and begins with two hits of the snare before going into the first verse, without the heavy synth work beginning the album/"Skin" version. ====Song Credits====*Writing, performance, production, mixing: Trent Reznor ===Down In It (Demo from ''Demos & Remixes'')==='''''Running Time: 4:35''''' Appears on the ''Demos & Remixes'' bootleg. Almost exactly the same as what is heard on ''Purest Feeling'', simply lacking the extra layering and sound effects as well as the distorted outro, though it does retain the extended drumbeat intro. There also exists a version (with a running time of 4:26) from a cassette tape handed out by Reznor to important figures. One of these cassettes is in the possession of [[Martin Atkins]], who has allowed fans to hear playbacks. Based on what fans have heard, this is the same demo. ===Down In It (Big Whole Mix)==='''''Running Time: 4:09''''' Appears on the ''Demos & Remixes'' bootleg. It's an odd version with Reznor whispering a good portion of his vocals under an odd beat. It also includes faux-Oriental sounding synths which are noticeably absent in any of the other versions of the song. ===Down In It (''Purest Feeling'')==='''''Running Time: 6:20''''' Appears on ''Purest Feeling'' as the last track, differing from its official counterparts as that it has an extended intro with strange screams and odd static. It also includes about one minute and eight seconds of distorted clippings of the song at the end as a finish to the album. Musically it's extremely close to the "(Demo)" version from the ''Head Like a Hole'' US single. ===Down In It (''Closure'')===This is a live version found on the ''Closure'' home video. It was filmed on the [[Self-Destruct Tour]] between 1994 and 1996 and cut to include different footage and accompanying audio from different performances. ==Live==As of [[Fragility 2.0]], Reznor had stated that he didn't like the song as much as he used to, but during the later legs of the [[Live: With Teeth Tour]]tour, it seemed as if he's changed his mind about the song, playing it more as the tour progressed.The song usually features a lot of destruction from Reznor towards the end. While the song was not performed by Nine Inch Nails during the [[Peel It Back Tour]], [[Boys Noize]] would play the "Boys Noize Dubwerk" remix of the song (a shortened version of the "Singe" remix) in his opening set. ==Music Video==[[Image:Downinitstill.jpg|thumb|Screenshot from the "Down In It" video]]"Down In It" was the first Nine Inch Nails [[Nine Inch Nails music videos|music video]], completed in September 1989 to accompany the single release. [https://cplorg.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/iiif/p16014coll5/39203/full/full/0/default.jpg] It was directed by Eric Zimmerman and Benjamin Stokes for H-Gun, who also directed "[[Head Like A Hole (song)|Head Like A Hole]]". The video depicts Reznor running through downtown Chicago and climbing to the roof of a building, where he slips and falls to his death. Bandmates Richard Patrick and [[Chris Vrenna]] discover the body days later. An extended version of the video also exists, which is set to the "Shred" mix. This was the first video to be met with controversy. To film the shots of lifeless Reznor, he was covered with cornstarch to create the illusion of decay and cameras were tied to heavy-duty balloons that were tied down. During the filming of these scenes, one of the balloons broke free and took the camera with it, drifting some 200 miles before being found by a farmer in Michigan. The camera was turned over to local police who, upon seeing the raw video footage, assumed it was a snuff film and the FBI was called in to investigate. The incident was even reported on ''Hard Copy'' and recalled in an interview for ''SPIN'' magazine. Because MTV and its US affiliates were uncomfortable with the video's subject matter, all scenes that depict Reznor's body lying on the ground behind the building were deleted. ===Credits===*Director: Eric Zimmerman & Benjamin Stokes*Producer: Jim Deloye*Cameraman: Eric Zimmerman, Benjamin Stokes, Eric Koziol & Eric Matthies*Editor: Eric Zimmerman & Benjamin Stokes

Kinda like a could cloud I was up way up in the sky and I was feeling some feelings you wouldn’t wouldn't believe Sometimes I can’t can't believe them myself and I decided I was never coming down

Now I’m I'm down in it

Try to laugh about it now but isn’t isn't it funny how everything works out (“I "I guess the joke’s joke's on me,” " she said)

Now I’m I'm down in it

Now just this hole that’s that's open wide

I’ll I'll cross my heart and hope to die but the needle’s needle's already in my eye And all the world’s world's weight is on my back and I don’t don't even know why

I looked him right in the eye and said “goodbye”"goodbye"

Now I’m I'm down in it The second line is changed on the final recording to:  Sometimes I don't believe them myself and I decided I was never coming down The fourth line is changed on the final recording to:  But I watched it way too long, it was pulling me down Backing vocals in ''Pretty Hate Machine'' version:  Rain, rain, go away, come again some other day During live performances, the last line of the third verse is often changed to:  I looked him right in the eye and waved goodbye ==External Links==*[https://vimeo.com/17071944 "Down In It" music video (Remastered)]*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkphW38WyYo "Down In It" live in Europe 2000]*[https://vimeo.com/17037838 ''Hard Copy'' segment about the FBI investigation] <BR>{{succession box | title=[[Pretty Hate Machine#Track Listing|Pretty Hate Machine]] | before= [[Terrible Lie]] | after= [[Sanctified]] | track= 3}}[[Category: NIN Songs]][[Category:Music Videos]]