Changes

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

| BPM = 108| versions =Something I Can Never Have <br> Something I Can Never Have (''Natural Born Killers Soundtrack'')<br>Something I Can Never Have (''[[Still]]'') <br> Something I Can Never Have (NBK Version''[[Closure]]'')<br>Something I Can Never Have (''[[Beside You In Time (halo)|Beside You In Time]]'')| live =[["Pretty Hate Machine" Promotional Tour]] through [[NIN 2013 Festival Tour]]<br>[[NIN + QOTSA Tour]] through [[NIN 2014 Europe/UK Tour (1990) - Present ]]<br> Common[[I Can't Seem To Wake Up 2017]] to present}}'''"Something I Can Never Have"''' is the fifth track on the 1989 release ''[[Pretty Hate Machine]].'' It is apparently a song about lost love and missed chances, though the true story about the song isn't widely (or at all) known. It is the first chronological song in which [[Trent Reznor]] plays a piano and in which he uses the word "fuck" ("fading fucking reminder"). A stripped-down version can be found on ''[[Still]]'', which has an accompanying performance video released at the time on [[nin.com]]. ===Song Credits===*Production: Trent Reznor, John Fryer*Engineer/Mix: John Fryer ==Appearances=====Halos===*''Pretty Hate Machine''*''[[Closure]]''*''[[And All That Could Have Been (halo)|And All That Could Have Been]]'' (Deluxe Edition)*''[[Still]]''*''[[Beside You In Time (halo)|Beside You In Time]]'' ===Seeds===*''[[Collected]]''*''[[The Definitive NIN - Deep Cuts]]''*''[[The Definitive NIN - Quiet Tracks]]'' ===Other===*''[[Natural Born Killers Soundtrack]]'' ==Versions=====Something I Can Never Have===This is the original album version. It begins with the decending pitch drone that segues in from "[[Sanctified]]" as the piano that dominates for most of the song creeps in. The song is notable for its ambient backing, including conflicting sounds of machinery and nature such as the buzzes, hisses and door slams that accompany the music as well as the ambience of wind and chirping birds buried far behind the "industrial noises." The song itself is fairly straightforward and gets louder as it progresses; notably, Reznor's vocals seem to grow in volume and emotion as the song progresses, the song surging up as it enters the last chorus. After it, the ambience suddenly drops out on the last few lines, draining away and only leaving the chirping birds in the background. The "atmospheric keyboards" in the song are [[samples|sampled]] from an unused This Mortal Coil session. On the 2010 remastered vinyl edition, the song begins the second side; as such, it lacks the drone guitar at the beginning, simply starting with the lone piano motif before the bass synth joins in and the song proceeds as usual. ===Something I Can Never Have (''Natural Born Killers Soundtrack'')==='''''Running Time: 4:04''''' An edited/remixed version of the song appearing on the soundtrack to the motion picture, ''Natural Born Killers,'' which was arranged and produced by Reznor himself. The song only contains the first verse and chorus, after which it deviates into an alternate piano section which slowly wanders to the song's end. The song also contains samples from the movie as well as several sound effects including:* A thunderclap (at the very beginning)* Nocturnal birds (during the fade off of the thunderclap)* A movie sample of the two main characters (Mickey and Mallory) arguing (just after the piano starts)  Mickey: Let me tell you something, this is the 1990's. Alright? In this day and age, a man has to have choices. A man has to have a little bit of variety. Mallory: What are you talking about, variety? Hostages? You want to fuck some other women, now? Is that what you're talking about, Mickey? Why'd you pick me up? Why'd you take me out of my fucking house and kill my parents with me?! Ain't you committed to me?! Where are we fucking going?!! Mickey: Just relax, alright? It's me, your lover, not some demon, not your father. Alright, relax. Mallory: No, you're not my fucking lover. You're not my fucking- You've been loving me?! You've been fucking loving me?! Huh?! You've been loving me real...(''fade out'') * A rattlesnake (during the movie sample after the man speaks the second time)* Fire crackling and hissing (towards the end)* Native American chanting (just after the fire sounds) Even with the extended piano part, the song is a full minute and forty seconds shorter than its album counterpart.

==About=Something I Can Never Have (''Still'')===The fifth song on the first [[Nine Inch Nails]] album, [[Pretty Hate Machine]], it is a song about lost love and missed chances, though the true story about the song isn't widly (or at all) known. It is the first song in which [[Trent Reznor]] plays a piano and is the first song in which he uses the word "fuck" ("fading fucking reminder").''''Running Time: 6:39'''''

====Song Credits====*[[Pretty Hate Machine]]Performance: Trent Reznor, Jerome Dillon*Mix engineering: [[Natural Born Killers SoundtrackAlan Moulder]]*[[Closure]] (Live)Engineering: Alan Moulder*Second engineering: [[StillLeo Herrera]] (Reworked)*Programming: [[Beside You In Time (halo)|Beside You In TimeKeith Hillebrandt]] (Live)

===VersionsSomething I Can Never Have (''Closure'')===Indicative of performances from the [[Self Destruct Tour]], this live performance video has the stage blanketed in purples and blues. The arrangement retains its album instrumentation and structure, but features additional drum parts.

*Something I Can Never Have*===Something I Can Never Have ([[Still]]''Beside You In Time'')===*Something I Can Never Have After Reznor sings "just a fading fucking reminder," strange "bell-ringing" sound effects are heard in the background ([[Natural Born Killers Soundtrack]] Versionwhich are more audible on the 5.1 surround tracks).At the end of the second chorus, Reznor seems to be weeping.

===Song Credits=Live==*Production: Trent ReznorA difference from the studio version for many years was noticeably louder drums that are persistent in the choruses. The keyboard part is usually played by the bassist ([[Danny Lohner]] and [[Jeordie White]]). However, since joining the band in 2009, [[John FryerIlan Rubin]]*Engineer/Mix: John Fryeralso plays keyboard and the song is played with no drums.

===Live, The version from the [[ClosureBridge School Benefit]]===''I have not seen , like all the songs from this particular performance, if anyone has is performed entirely with string instruments and would like Reznor on vocals. No synthetics were used at all during this performance, but the arrangements seem to post a description, please do so. I would greatly appriciate it.'' --correlate with extended live version of the song played in concert by [[User:GrayscaleRain|GrayscaleRainNine Inch Nails]] 01:03, 26 February 2007 (PST).

===General=Covers==The only notable difference between the album version and live version are the notably louder drums"Something I Can Never Have" has been covered by a variety of artists. More information can be found [[Covers Of NIN|here]].

Echoing you your voice just like the ringing in my ears

Scraping through my head ‘till till I don’t don't want to sleep anymore

I’m I'm down to just one thing and I’m stating I'm starting to scare myself

Back then I couldn’t couldn't do the things that I can do now

Though it all looks different now, I know it’s it's still the same Everywhere I look you’re you're all I see

I’m I'm down to just one thing and I’m I'm starting to scare myself

The very last verse only appears in the ''Pretty Hate Machine'' booklet. ==External Links==*[http://vimeo.com/61676920 "Something I Can Never Have" (''Still'') music video] <BR>{{succession box | title=[[Pretty Hate Machine#Track Listing|Pretty Hate Machine]] | before= [[Sanctified]]| after= [[Kinda I Want To]]| track= 5}}[[Category:NIN Songs]][[Category:Know The Score]][[Category:Songs With Unused Lyrics]]