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A Warm Place (3:23)

Cover of The Downward Spiral

From The Downward Spiral and 7 other releases

A Warm Place can be regarded as the turning point of the album. It is the only instrumental, discounting the practically inaudible spoken words at the beginning. Its tranquil and soothing nature highly contrasts with the other tracks on the album, which all contain loud and angry parts.

The previous track, “Big Man With A Gun,” is arguably the most chaotic on the album. The narrator asserts his power and domination over samples of tortured screams. The last instance of “nothing can stop me now” in the album is shouted, and this is perhaps his last straw (no pun intended). At just over a minute and a half, “Big Man With A Gun” suddenly collapses, and “A Warm Place” starts immediately.

The narrator has begun a drastic change in point of view. He experiences a moment of clarity to truly consider his situation in a way unhindered by intoxicants, or perhaps enhanced by them. Backed by the melancholy piano tune, he realizes who he has become and what he has done. He had known subconsciously before, and he had voiced the varying attributes (the title of “The Becoming” being the most obvious example), but he had not yet come to grips with the real consequences of his character and actions, which differ from the extreme views he had expressed previously. “Warm” contrasts with the cold, indifferent quality of machines, which are sampled throughout the album. This “warm place” relates to the womb or to the rise in body temperature during intercourse, where life begins.
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water rolls down the skin like tiny beads
eyes close so that they might see
touching him.(illum tangendo)
this sun is a star in someone else's sky

MetroLyrics Full lyrics at MetroLyrics

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  • nyfelim

    zawsze rzygam podczas trwania tej piosenki, bo to trochę zbyt dużo Piękna jak na jedną osobę.

    6 Feb 10:30pm Reply

  • strom-z

    one of the most beautiful things he's created. I always have to let it lead into "eraser"..

    2 Feb 12:56am Reply

  • WeilandEsDios

    One of the most beautiful songs ever written.

    23 Dec 2012 Reply

  • everfreee

    one of the best tracks on the album! this song always inspires me to create.

    6 Dec 2012 Reply

  • christles

    One of my favorites.

    3 Dec 2012 Reply

  • digout

    a goodie :)

    13 Oct 2012 Reply

  • Eightbit-boy

    This is definitely something unreal, something godly.

    15 Sep 2012 Reply

  • Dosva

    "According to the NINwiki the phrase 'The best thing about life is knowing you put it together' is repeated, very quietly, about six times at the beginning of the song, but bugger me if I can hear it." It's definitely there, but extremely faint. You may need some high end headphones or monitors to pick it up well.

    12 Sep 2012 Reply

  • Lucyfier

    'am not fan of this band, but, this track is so... beautiful, reminds me the summer with friends in the night on the beach, definitely love it.

    6 Jul 2012 Reply

  • fariborz69

    MMMM

    4 May 2012 Reply

  • NickWire77

    18 Apr 2012 Reply

  • Elidoan

    I hear definite similarities between this and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amJGBOGAd0U. Just an observation

    9 Apr 2012 Reply

  • WhiskyPlease

    beautiful sound

    30 Mar 2012 Reply

  • nicolasbj

    it´s really warm LOL

    24 Mar 2012 Reply

  • trent107

    MASTERPIECE

    19 Mar 2012 Reply

  • familyguy02011

    A Warm Place is definitely referring to a vagina, especially after Big Man with a Gun, but this song is more beautiful than any vagina.. just saying.

    24 Feb 2012 Reply

  • createeternity

    Trent is such a talented musician that he can convey that sense of total helplessness, that sinking feeling, without even using vocals.

    14 Feb 2012 Reply

  • CabinnerZ

    Strangely I have always had a waking dream of a lovely underwater vista when I listen to this, but I have always felt warm in the dream either way!

    3 Feb 2012 Reply

  • hiddensinful

    Warm and beautiful, while still sad {2]

    14 Jan 2012 Reply

  • MCIS

    Warm and beautiful, while still sad. <3

    9 Jan 2012 Reply
    • All 355 shouts

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