Changes

| BPM = 115| versions =Heresy<br>Heresy (Instrumental)<br>Heresy (Version)<br>Heresy (Blind)<br>Heresy (Demo)| live = [[SelfDestruct Warm-Destructup]]<br>[[Performance 2007]] and <br>[[Year Zero Warm-Up Wave Goodbye Tour]]}}'''"Heresy"''' is the third track on ''[[The Downward Spiral (halo)|The Downward Spiral]].'' In 2004, a demo version was included with the Tenth Anniversary 2-disc SACD of ''The Downward Spiral.''

===Meaning===In an interview with U. Magazine published April 1994, [[Trent Reznor]] spoke about the meaning behind the lyrics of this song:<blockquote>"I was trying to explore some of the paranoia I have as a sexually active person in the age of AIDS," he says of "Heresy." " I guess I feel cheated for not growing up in a more liberated era. At the same time, what gets me mad is the third track on way the right wing has used the 'convenience'of this epidemic in helping to promote their own agenda." [[The Downward Spiral (halo)|The Downward Spiral]]http://nothing.nin.'' In 2004, a demo version was included with the Tenth Anniversary 2-disc SACD of ''The Downward Spiralnet/int30.''html]</blockquote>

*Production: [[Trent Reznor]]

Best described lyrically as a scathing attack on religion (particularly Western Christianity), "Heresy" contains synthesized bass, simple and powerful drum loops, and distorted guitar riffs backing aggressive vocals and moody atmospherics. The lyrics are ripe with Nietzschean concepts and allude to the infamous "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_Is_Dead God Is Dead]" statement. Like many other songs on the album, the song's bridge contrasts heavily with the verses and choruses by being considerably quieter. This is also the second song on the original album to contain "The Downward Spiral Motif" and is played (in power chords at Drop D tuning) by the guitars during the chorus as follows:<br>[[Image:Heresy_Motif_Tab.JPG|The motif found in the chorus]] ===Heresy (Instrumental)===Released by Reznor through his [[remix.nin.com]] account, this is an unmastered and vocalless versionof the album cut.

Coming soon'''''Running Time: 5:19''''' This remix samples "In Suburbia" and "Television Believers" from Aron Ranen's ''Religion In Suburbia''.====Song Credits====* Manipulation: [[Charlie Clouser]]

'''''Running Time: 5:32''''' This version splices up the bass track and the drums to create a dancier beat (like the "Slate" remix of "[[Head Like A Hole (song)|Head Like A Hole]]"). In the The choruses there is are much less layeringlayered. On June 22, 2011, Joseph Bishara commented on the creation of the remix on his facebook page: "It was a great time - working at Bryan Adams studio in Vancouver with Dave Ogilvie and Anthony Valcic - programmed around the tracks, and we recorded hours of live at the console mixes, later edited into Heresy and Reptile remixes." A slightly extended version of this mix appears on the promo-only vinyl of ''Closer To God''.====Song Credits====* Manipulation: [[Dave Ogilvie]], Anthony Valcic, Joe Bisara

This demo version is found on the 2-disc Deluxe Edition of ''The Downward Spiral.'' The vocals in the verses are solely whispered, rather than both whispered and are not as layered sung in Reznor's high register as they are in the final on album version. As well, the tempo is slower(105 instead of 115 BPM), and the structure is altered, specifically in the featuring a differently-arranged introduction.

When performed during the Self Destruct warm up shows in 1994, the This song was has been played very similar faithfully to the album versionsince 1994. The only noticeable difference is the much louder guitars to the point where the famous The Downward Spiral motif in the chorus However, it can be heard clearly. The way considered a setlist rarity because it was has only been played on the [[Self Destruct Warm-up]] tour (twice), [[Performance 2007]] tour and [[Wave Goodbye Tour]] in 1994 is similar to how it is played 20072009.

He sewed his eyes shut Because because he is afraid to see He tries to tell me What what I put inside of me He’s He's got the answers To to ease my curiosity He dreamed a god up And and called it Christianity God is dead And no one cares If there is a Hell I'll see you there He flexed his muscles To keep his flock of sheep in line He made a virus That would kill off all the swine

His perfect kingdom Of killing, suffering Your God is dead and pain Demands devotionno one cares Atrocities done in his nameIf there is a Hell I will see you there

God is deadHe flexed his muscles to keep his flock of sheep in line And no one caresHe made a virus that would kill off all the swine If there is a HellHis perfect kingdom of killing, suffering and pain I'll see you thereDemands devotion atrocities done in his name

(Your God is dead) God is dead (And no one cares) And and no one cares (Drowning in his own hypocrisy) If there is a hell Hell I'll will see you thereIt should be noted that the printed lyrics contain lines not sung in the studio recording: