“The Hand that Feeds”
Nine Inch Nails
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?
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 naive
I keep holding on to what I want to believe
I can see
But I keep holding on and on and on and
on
Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees? [8X]
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
Nine Inch Nails
Named one of the “Most Influential People in America” by Time Magazine and “The Most Vital
Artist in Music Today,” Trent Reznor has turned music on its ear. Using electronic music to fully explore
the genre of Industrial music as the “group” Nine Inch Nails, Reznor has had one hit after another. The
group’s debut album Pretty Hate Machine tore up the charts and cemented Reznor as one of the most
important new musicians of the twentieth century. Reznor has performed and recorded with a number of
artists over the years including David Bowie (look for “I’m Afraid of Americans”). Most recently, Nine
Inch Nails created a bit of controversy for pulling out of the MTV Music Awards due to a dispute over their
song “The Hand that Feeds.” Reznor wanted to perform the song in front of a large picture of George W.
Bush but MTV had some reservations. NIN decided to pull out of the performance rather than reach a
compromise with MTV.
Directions: on a sheet of paper, compare this lyrical poem to Animal Farm.
1. How is this poem related to the novel?
2. Choose a line from the poem that might describe an animal in the novel.
Explain your choice.
3. What does it mean to “bite the hand that feeds?” Explain the literal and figurative
meaning behind the saying.