Changes

| 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 = Pre-Hate (1988) - Present [[VIVIsectVI Tour]] through [[Wave Goodbye Tour]]<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.

'''''<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 1989 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 has been stated " by [[Trent ReznorSkinny Puppy]] . I'll admit that this song is the first he ever wrote and is a rare treat to hear livenow. Following the "Down In It" single releaseBut, um, lyrically, I was just experimenting with just kind of a music video train-of-thought, writing down whatever I thought and all it was was made. ===Inspiration===In a 1994 radio broadcast biography kind of Reznor... I hate to say what I'm talking about, but I'll do it now, since it's so old I just like to think about it now. It was said 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 "Down In It" was inspired by certain things don't work out the way you hoped they would at a certain stage and a relationship that lot of the illusions you had then recently ended for him with been led to believe growing up in a woman named Krissyfairly sheltered environment... Just, I dunno, I was kind 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>

Reznor has openly admitted that this song "At some point in the early 90s, a Gatorade commercial was using a total rip-off of "Dig Down In It" by [[Skinny Puppy]]" ===Song Credits===*Production: Trent soundalike song, and Reznor, [[Adrian Sherwood]], [looked into the possibility of 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]]''

*''[[Head Like a A Hole (halo)| Head Like a A Hole]]''

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

Appears This version originally appeared on the ''[[Purest Feeling]]Down In It'' single as the last track"Skin" mix, differing from its offical counterparts as and would become the version that it has an extended intro with strange screams and odd staticappears on ''Pretty Hate Machine. It also includes about 1 minute and 8 seconds of distorted clippings of '' In chronological order, this is the first [[Nine Inch Nails]] song at ever released to the end as a finish to general public. A different version was originally intended for the album, but the "Skin" mix was chosen instead.[https://www. Musically theninhotline.net/archives/articles/display/530] Since the ''Down In It'' single had been released ahead of the album and this substitution had not yet been made, it's extremely close was not referred to as the original or album version on the single. Producer Keith LeBlanc mentioned in a printed interview[https://imgur.com/gallery/bgq1z] that "Down In It" was the song he got to "really put my signature on". His revisions (Demothe "Shred", "Singe", and "Skin" mixes)draw heavily from the tracks "Mechanical Movements" and "Einstein" version from the his album ''Head Like a HoleStranger Than Fiction'' US single, released earlier the same year (1989). 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 [[samples]] during 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'' (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 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 Running Time: 3:46'''Pretty Hate Machine'' with an unadulterated version of the "Terrible Lie" intro tacked onto the end which fades out.

====(Demo III)====Appears The version that appears on the ''Purest Feeling IIPretty Hate Machine'' bootleg. Almost exactly is in fact the same "Skin" remix, but it is not listed as such on the album. It also appears on ''Purest FeelingDemos and Remixes'' with an unadulterated version, simply lacking of the extra layering and sound effects as well as "[[Terrible Lie]]" intro tacked onto the distorted outtroend, 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 Reznor 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 songRunning Time: 6:51'''''

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

===Down In It (Shred)=Song Credits====A mix that appears on both the ''Down In It'' *Reproduced and ''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

'''''Running Time: 7:04 and 7:21''''' A mix that appears on both the ''Down In It'' and ''Head Like a Hole'' singles. It'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 vinyl singles compared to a full sized LP Maxi Single. ====Song Credits====*Reproduced and remixed by Adrian Sherwood, Keith LeBlanc ===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'''''

===Live, from [[Closure]]Down In It (''Purest Feeling'')===This is a live version found on the ''Closure'' home video. It was filmed on the [[Self-Destruct Tour]] between 1994 and 1997.'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. ===GeneralDown 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==

[[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 Cleveland 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.

This was the first video to be met with controversy. To film the shots of lifeless Reznor===Credits===*Director: Eric Zimmerman & Benjamin Stokes*Producer: Jim Deloye*Cameraman: Eric Zimmerman, he was covered with cornstarch to create the illusion of decay and cameras were tied to heavy-duty ballons that were tied down. During the filming of these scenesBenjamin Stokes, one of the balloons broke free and took the camera with it, drifting some 200 miles before being found 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 matter, all scenes that depict Reznor's body lying on the ground behind the building were deleted.Eric Koziol & Eric Matthies*Editor: Eric Zimmerman & Benjamin Stokes

Kinda like a 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]]