Nine Inch Nails While I'm Still Here Breyer P Orrdige Howler Remix

Song Credits

• Lindsey Buckingham: Guitar
  
• Pino Palladino: Bass
  
• Trent Reznor: Vocals, Electronics, Saxophone, Percussion, Guitar, Bass
  
• Contains (lyrical) portions of "Weary Blues From Waiting" by Hank Williams, Sr.
  

Appearances

• Hesitation Marks
  

While I'm Still Here

This is the original album version. A simplistic track, it is
dominated by its quirky beat and staccato plucked string instruments. A
busy bassline joins the ascending vocals in the verses, while the nearly
spoken choruses are backed by a droning synth. After the second chorus,
a sort of coda or bridge featuring a more complicated bassline and
staccato baritone saxophone leads directly into "Black Noise". Its call-and-response style verses recall those of "Mr. Self Destruct".

While I'm Still Here (Breyer P-Orridge 'Howler' Remix)

Running Time: 7:03


This remix contains dialog snippets of Genesis and Lady Jaye
Breyer P-Orridge. It begins with the sound of Howler Monkeys at the LA
Zoo, which plays throughout the track. Quarter note kicks replace the
staccato beat of the original version. An instrumentally minimalistic
track, other notable sound effects include a Tibetan Thighbone Trumpet
which sounds in the second verse. 



Unofficial transcription: 



Beginning (spoken by Lady Jaye Breyer P-Orridge): 

    I'm, I'm limited by,
    by time, by gravity.
    Uhhm... by all these physical forces.
    When... really I just uhh... I wish my consciousness
    would be liberated completely free,
    to go everywhere,
    to be everywhere,
    to do everything,
    to be, to be everyone,
    that I've ever dreamed of being.

Middle section (spoken by Genesis Breyer P-Orridge): 

    We do not believe in human feelings,
    nor in human senses,
    nor human needs,
    human values,
    human fears,
    or even human hopes.
    The only purpose or believe,
    is the path from the mind to the brain,
    path from the mind to the brain,
    mind... to the brain,
    This is a preset world, there are no secrets.

Ending (spoken by Lady Jaye Breyer P-Orridge): 

    I feel as though I found my soulmate.
    Uhm I never feel, I never feel alone or lonely,
    that's just something I don't experience 
    / kind of feeling of alienation. 
    No matter how strange the world outside gets,
    I know that there is someone that understands me.

Song Credits

• Remixed by Genesis Breyer P-Orridge, an Angry Love production (BMI)
  
• Engineered by Sean Ragon at Heaven Street Studios, June 2013
  
• Additional Vocals: Genesis and Lady Jaye Breyer P-Orridge
  
• Tibetan Thigh Bone Trumpet & Shiva Naga Serpent Trumpet: Sean Ragon
  

Live

This song debuted live on the first night of the Tension 2013 Tour, and appeared at most of the shows on that tour, transitioning straight into "Black Noise". It featured backing vocals by Lisa Fischer and Sharlotte Gibson.


"While I'm Still Here" has not been played since.

Lyrics

   Only thing I've ever done
   Ticking time is running out
   Closest I have ever come
   Ticking time is running out
   Oh so tired on my own
   Ticking time is running out
   Best days I have ever known
   Ticking time is running out
   
   Yesterday, I found out the world was ending
   
   A little more
   Every day
   Falls apart
   Slips away
   Well I don't mind
   I'm okay
   Wish it didn't have to end this way
   
   These four walls are closing in
   Ticking time is running out
   Oh all the things that might have been
   Ticking time is running out
   Watch young lovers walking by
   Ticking time is running out
   God forgive me if I cry
   Ticking time is running out
   
   A little more
   Every day
   Falls apart
   Slips away
   I don't mind
   I'm okay
   Nothing ever
   Stays the same
   While we can
   Remember when
   We always were
   Yes, even then
   Stay with me
   Hold me near
   While I'm still here

The portion of the final chorus that says:

   We always were
   Yes, even then

Was changed in the final recording to:

   Always were, yeah
   Even then