"Getting Smaller" is the ninth track on the 2005 release With Teeth. The lyrics may address Trent Reznor coming back from his addictions as a humbled person.
According to at least one media promo listening[1], the working title for the song was slightly longer, appearing as "Getting Smaller Every Day." The "flip flop" lyric is a reference to the song "Navvy" by Pere Ubu.
Contents
Song Credits
- Live drums: Dave Grohl
Appearances
Halos
- With Teeth
Seeds
Other
- Tony Hawk's Project 8 video game
Versions
Getting Smaller
This is the original album version. Crossfading in from the end of "Only," it begins with frantic and seemingly random distorted guitar playing, punctured by the chorus guitar riff. Grohl's live drums soon begin accompanying, leading into the first verse, accompanied by a different guitar riff. The song opens up in volume and layering for the choruses, their lyrics yelled out by Reznor with a delay effect. A third different guitar riff leads the bridge, which also features layered atmospheric synthesizers over the drum beat that build in intensity and lead into the final chorus.
Getting Smaller (Instrumental)
Running Time: 3:47
Released exclusively through Apple Music.
Live
"Getting Smaller" was played live on the Live: With Teeth tour in 2005-06, but was a setlist rarity. On this version, Jeordie White would play rhythm guitar while Alessandro Cortini roamed the stage playing bass. It was also played at least once during the Lights In The Sky Tour.
Lyrics
Getting a little erratic here And I don't know who to trust I guess they got a way of reading my mind I guess I got to adjust I got my arms that flip flop flip flop flip I got my head on a spring Well I thought I got you on my side I haven't got fucking anything I'm just a face in the crowd Nothing to worry about Not even trying to stand out I'm getting smaller and smaller and smaller And I have nothing to say It's all been taken away I just behave and obey I'm afraid I am starting to fade away Can kind of see out the cracks When I press up to the wall I'm not looking to stand up real high I'd be happy to crawl I think I'm losing my grip But I can still make a fist You know I still got my one good arm That I can beat—I can beat myself up with I'm just a face in the crowd Nothing to worry about Not even trying to stand out I'm getting smaller and smaller and smaller And I have nothing to say It's all been taken away I just behave and obey I'm afraid I am starting to fade away Hey and for what it is worth I really used to believe That maybe there's some great thing That we could achieve And now I can't tell the difference Or know what to feel Between what I've been trying so hard to see And what appears to be real My world is getting smaller every day Hey hey hey hey And that's OK
In the actual recording, the first line of the third verse is changed:
I kind of see through the cracks
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