The Hand That Feeds (song)

Album:With Teeth

Length:3:31

Tempo:{{{BPM}}} BPM

Versions:The Hand That Feeds
The Hand That Feeds (DFA Mix)
The Hand That Feeds (DFA Mix Instrumental)
The Hand That Dubs (DFA Version I)
The Hand That Dubs (DFA Version II)
The Hand That Feeds (Photek Dub)
The Hand That Feeds (Photek Dub Instrumental)
The Hand That Feeds (Photek Straight Mix)
The Hand That Feeds (Ruff Mix)
The Hand That Feeds (Beside You In Time)

Live:Live: With Teeth through present

About

'The Hand That Feeds' is the first single of the fifth album With Teeth, and it has received the designation of Halo 18. It began playing in the Nine Inch Nails's official Myspace before it radio release.

Meaning

THTF is a verbal attack on the United States Government, specifically the Bush administration and it's foreign policy, but can be interpreted as speaking out against authority in general.

2005 MTV Movie Awards

Nine Inch Nails was scheduled to perform this song live at the 2005 MTV Movie Awards, but denied Trent Reznor's request to perform in front of a large image of President George W. Bush's face. As a result, Reznor decided to cancel the performance. He was replaced by the Foo Fighters.

Reznor responded on the [NIN Website]:

We were set to perform 'The Hand That Feeds' with an unmolested, straightforward 
image of George W. Bush as the backdrop. Apparently, the image of our President 
is as offensive to MTV as it is to me. See you on tour this fall when we return 
to play in America.

Appearances

Halos

• With Teeth
• The Hand That Feeds
• Beside You In Time

Versions

The Hand That Feeds

This is the album version and is the first track on The Hand That Feeds single.

The Hand That Feeds (DFA Mix)

This remix was available as an iTunes exclusive until it was released as the second track on the Every Day Is Exactly The Same EP.

The Hand That Feeds (Photek Dub)

The third track on The Hand That Feeds single.

The Hand That Feeds (Photek Straight Mix)

The second track on The Hand That Feeds single and the third track on the Every Day Is Exactly The Same EP.

Music Video

The video for this song was directed by Rob Sheridan and Reznor, debuting at NIN.com on March 17, 2005. It's a basic performance video, filmed with a digital camera in the band's rehearsal space. The film has been tinted blue and some distortion does occur, due to the nature of the camera and how it responds to fast movements.

The video caused quite a stir throughout the NIN community. Some didn't like the song, whereas others weren't even sure that this was the official video as it didn't look "done" to them. Still others were quick to note a noticeable positive change in Reznor's physical appearance.

Live

"The Hand That Feeds" has been played live regularly since the Live: With Teeth tour launched in March of 2005.

Lyrics

    You’re keeping in step
    In the line
    Got your chin held high and you feel just fine
    Because you do
    What you’re told
    But inside your heart it is black and it’s hollow
    And it’s cold
    
    Just how deep do you believe?
    Will you bite the hand that feeds?
    Will you chew until it bleeds?
    Can you get up off your knees?
    Are you brave enough to see
    Do you want to change it?
    
    What if this whole crusade’s
    A charade
    And behind it all there’s a price to be paid
    For the blood
    On which we dine
    Justified in the name of the holy and the divine
    
    Just how deep do you believe?
    Will you bite the hand that feeds?
    Will you chew until it bleeds?
    Can you get up off your knees?
    Are you brave enough to see?
    Do you want to change it?
    
    So naïve
    To keep holding on to what I want to believe
    And I can see
    But I keep
    Holding on and on and on and on
    
    Will you bite the hand that feeds you or will you stay down on your knees?