Editing The Nobodies

{{Disambiguation|the song|the single|The Nobodies (single)}}

{{Song
|Name        = The Nobodies
|Cover       = HolyWood(InTheShadowOfTheValleyOfDeath).jpg
|Artist      = [[Marilyn Manson (band)|Marilyn Manson]]
|Album       = [[Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death)]]
|Released    = November 13, 2000
|Recorded    = 1999–2000 at the Mansion in Death Valley, California
|Genre       = Alternative metal, industrial metal
|Length      = 3:35
|Label       = [[Nothing]], [[Interscope Records|Interscope]]
|Writer      = [[Marilyn Manson]]
|Composer    = [[John 5]], Marilyn Manson
|Producer    = Marilyn Manson, Dave Sardy
}}
"'''The Nobodies'''" is the third and final single and the tenth track of the fourth album ''[[Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death)]]''. The song was inspired by the Columbine massacre which took place on April 20, 1999. Also, the title was taken from statements made by Mark David Chapman, John Lennon's assassin, stating that he "felt like a nobody."

As early as February 10, 2001, Manson had made indications that the song would be chosen as the album's third single.<ref name="Kerrang Guns, God & Government Tour">{{cite journal |last1= |first1= |last2= |first2= |date=2001-02-10 |title=Guns, God & Government Tour |journal=''Kerrang!'' |volume= |issue=839 |pages= |publisher=Bauer Media Group |doi= |url= |accessdate=2011-04-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nme.com/news/marilyn-manson/7580 |title=It's Goth To Talk |publisher=''NME'' |date=2001-04-30 |accessdate=2011-04-01}}</ref> The third single was released in physical format, on September 3, 2001, in the UK and, on October 6, 2001, in the US.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/news/marilyn-manson/9056 |title='Nobodies' Here! |work=NME |publisher=IPC Media |date=2001-08-21 |accessdate=2011-06-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amazon.com/Nobodies-Marilyn-Manson/dp/B00005NV6T/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1301662882&sr=1-2 |title=Nobodies (Import, Single) |publisher=Amazon.com |accessdate=2011-04-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://rateyourmusic.com/release/single/marilyn_manson/the_nobodies_f1/ |title=The Nobodies |publisher=Rate Your Music |accessdate=2011-04-01}}</ref>

A remixed version of the song would later appear in the 2001 Johnny Depp film ''From Hell''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Wiederhorn |first=Jon |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1450469/marilyn-manson-cover-tainted-love.jhtml |title=Marilyn Manson Cover 'Tainted Love,' Record Live DVD |publisher=MTV News |date=2001-11-01 |accessdate=2011-04-01}}</ref> Also, despite its usage of harsh vocals, the band has performed an acoustic version of the song.

== Appearances ==
[[File:TheNobodies2005.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|"The Nobodies" (2005 Against All Gods)]]
=== Albums ===
* ''[[Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death)]]''
* ''[[Lest We Forget – The Best Of]]''
=== Singles ===
* "[[The Nobodies (single)|The Nobodies]]"

== Versions ==
* The Nobodies <small>— Appears on ''Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death)''.</small>
* The Nobodies (Acoustic Version) <small>— Appears on ''Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death)'' UK version.</small>
* The Nobodies ([[2001/06/22 Denver, CO|Live]]) <small>— Appears on the the "The Nobodies" single.</small>
* The Nobodies (Live) <small>— Appears on the ''[[Guns, God and Government World Tour]]'' DVD.</small>
* [[The Nobodies (2005 Against All Gods Mix)]] <small>— Appears on the ''[[The Nobodies: 2005 Against All Gods Mix]]'' EP.</small>
* [[The Nobodies (Burn 69 Mix)]] <small>— Appears on the ''The Nobodies: 2005 Against All Gods Mix'' EP.</small>
* [[The Nobodies (Stephane K Rock Dub Mix)]] <small>— Appears on the ''The Nobodies: 2005 Against All Gods Mix'' EP.</small>
* [[The Nobodies (Wormwood Remix)]] <small>— Appears on the ''From Hell Soundtrack''.</small>

== Music video ==
[[File:TheNobodiesScreenshot.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|Manson dressed in a devil-like costume in the music video]]
The music video for "The Nobodies" was directed by Paul Fedor.<ref name="Metal Edge Moral Minority"/> It premiered on MTV in June 2001.<ref name="Metal Edge Moral Minority"/> Technical presentation of the video uses shaking camera techniques, varying perspective shots, closeups, and fast scene shot changes.

Originally, the frontman expressed desire to film the music video in Russia "because the atmosphere, the desolation, the coldness and the architecture would really suit the song."<ref name="Kerrang Guns, God & Government Tour"/> Another concept called for the incorporation of the MTV stunt and prank reality TV series, ''Jackass'', due to the song's inclusion in the ''Jackass'' soundtrack.<ref name="Metal Edge Moral Minority"/> However, this idea was abandoned after the show began drawing the ire of U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.), who was among the politicians who targeted Marilyn Manson for blame after the Columbine High School massacre.<ref name="Metal Edge Moral Minority">{{cite journal |last1= Chirazi |first1=Steffan |last2= |first2= |date=2001-06 |title=Marilyn Manson: Moral Minority |journal=Metal Edge |volume= |issue= |pages= |publisher=Zenbu Media |doi= |url= |accessdate=2011-04-17}}</ref><ref>[http://lieberman.senate.gov/newsroom/release.cfm?id=208679 Senator Joe Lieberman: News Release].</ref> Marilyn Manson explained the idea for the music video thus,

{{cquote|I already had a story for the video that I wanted to do, a sort of Marilyn Manson fairy tale about some children escaping from an orphanage and seeking refuge with me after fleeing from some terrible, evil nuns who abused them—as all nuns do, I guess. So I decided that they would be watching ''Jackass'' on television and the nuns would be upset with them, which is why they'd leave. But now I don't know what they'll be watching [...] Maybe Joseph Lieberman—That might be the most appropriate thing.|author=Marilyn Manson |source=Marilyn Manson: Moral Minority<ref name="Metal Edge Moral Minority"/>}}

=== Synopsis ===
The music video begins with children being watched by two oddly dressed, elderly characters with peculiar headsets on. The children seem to be mesmerized by a television showing nothing but static, however their guardians turn it off. Manson is seen in many forms throughout the video, including a devil-like costume in which he appears in when indoors. As the chorus hits, one of the children finds a concealed passageway leading to a snowy forest area where Manson dressed as a tree-like humanoid (as depicted on the single's cover) is singing with the rest of the band behind him. Manson and the children's oppressors begin to have some sort of confrontation as the setting returns back indoors; he pours money from a hollow deer head and scatters it on the floor as the pair kneel down to gather it (this seems to be a trap of Manson's, as when they are kneeling, root-like objects begin to drag them away). Another variation of Manson is later seen, it is similar to the tree-like appearance, though lacking branches and possessing exposed feet in contrast to them being connected to the ground. During the conclusion of the video, Manson and the children are waiting by a machine that is being fed the bodies of the victims of Manson's trap by using the long branches to bring them in. The machine transforms them into a grotesque pie, which the group then begins to eat at a dinner table. The music video has appeared in three forms: the original video, the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qi5nTb-NRFU Against All Gods Remix version] (which is nearly identical to the original, however, any scenes of the band members, other than Manson himself, have been replaced with different footage), and the Burn 69 Remix version, which is interspersed with scenes of the movie ''From Hell''.

=== Analysis ===
The video itself seems to contain a vast amount of symbolism. It attempts to expose the controlling and aggressive behavior of the media and religion, a common theme throughout the "Holy Wood" era. The "elderly characters" have costumes that seem to be parodying that of religious figures, and dominate the lives of the depraved children. When the children are discovered to be missing, these characters begin to search for the children using guard dogs and are seemingly intimidated by Manson (this scene can be seen as a possible display of how sheer hostility is used to control and instill fear in others). Upon Manson's appearance, they immediately bend down to kiss his ring and are easily pleased by his donation of money (a sign of their greed and obsession with riches). Manson acts as the savior of the children, shielding them inside his cloak and destroying their tyrannical guardians. The video slightly corresponds with the lyrics of the song (both dealing with media violence), though bears no references to the Columbine High School Massacre, which serves as the primary example of this violence in the lyrics.

{{Photos
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| nobodies-behind-the-scenes-1.jpg =
| nobodies-behind-the-scenes-2.jpg =
| nobodies-behind-the-scenes-3.jpg =
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}}

== Lyrics ==
     Today I am dirty
     and I want to be pretty
     Tomorrow, I know that I'm just dirt
     
     We are the nobodies
     we wanna be somebodies
     when we're dead,
     they'll know just who we are
     
     Yesterday I was dirty
     wanted to be pretty
     I know now that I'm forever dirt
     
     We are the nobodies
     we wanna be somebodies
     when we're dead,
     they'll know just who we are
     
     Some children died the other day
     we fed machines and then we prayed
     puked up and down in morbid faith
     you should have seen the ratings that day...

== Trivia ==
* The song was ranked 75th " 250 best hard rock song of all time" by Swedish paper ''Aftonbladet'' in 2011.
* An acoustic version of the song performed by Kurt Engfehr is featured in the Michael Moore film ''Bowling for Columbine''.
* The song was featured in the Gumball Episode of ''MTV Jackass''.
* Additional lyrics were recorded and included solely in the [[The Nobodies (2005 Against All Gods Mix)|2005 Against All Gods Mix]] and the [[The Nobodies (Stephane K Rock Dub Mix)|Stephen K Rock Dub Mix]] of this song.
* The lyrics, "Today I'm dirty," "Tomorrow I know I'm just dirt," are quotes from the 20th century serial killer '''Carl Panzram''' the day before his execution. ''"So if I succeed in my effort at suicide tonight then this will sure be the last I’ll ever say or write on this earth. The choice is mine and I fully realize just what I am doing. I would like to have it known just why I do this. I had no choice about coming into this world and nearly all of my 38 years in it I have had very little to say or do about how I should live my life. People have driven me into doing everything I have ever done. Now the time has come when I refuse to be driven any further. Tonight I die and tomorrow I go to the grave farther than that no man can drive me I am sure glad to leave this lousy world and the lousier people that live in it. But of all the lousy people in this world I believe that I am the lousiest of them all. Today I am dirty but tomorrow I’ll be just DIRT."'' [http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Carl_Panzram]

== References ==
<references/>

{{Videography}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nobodies}}
[[Category:Marilyn Manson songs]]
[[Category:Songs from Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death)]]
[[Category:Songs from Lest We Forget (The Best Of)]]
[[Category:Marilyn Manson songs with music videos]]
[[Category:Holy Wood era]]