This song was also released as a promo single and controversial music video. The title is evidently taken from the preface of the bondage novel The Story of O.

Additionally, the song describes an experience, both literal and metaphorical of being a slave to a broken machine. In Trent Reznor’s case, the ‘master’ is the Music Industry Establishment. However, any listener can relate to it as a template for society as a whole.