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"La Mer" is the eleventh track from the Left disc of The Fragile. Its main melodic elements and bassline are taken in a different direction with "Into The Void." Trent Reznor has stated that "Adrift And At Peace" is the conclusion to "La Mer."
The lyrics are in Creole French. It is one of the many NIN songs that includes the phrase "Nothing Can Stop Me Now," and one of the few to include a vocalist other than Reznor. In addition, it was the first instrumental written for The Fragile.
The song itself was conceived during a very dark period in Reznor's life. When on stage in 2009 he disclosed that he had rented a house at the time on an ocean with the external intent to write some music, but in reality had contemplated suicide there. This song was the only song to come out of that time and place. He still feels strange playing it live because it serves as a reminder of this period.
It can be argued that the song is heavily influenced by the Debussy piece of the same name. Both songs build up to create a sonic atmosphere, and both are (obviously) titled the same.
When asked about any classical composers who have inspired him, Reznor said in a Yahoo! Chat in December 1999:
"Debussy. I was sitting in Big Sur, losing my mind. His contribution was that you need to be regimented, with whatever you decide to do. When I was sitting there, Debussy and I had a mind meld for a second. I felt the need to plagiarize the title, "La Mer". He revolutionized the Mozart bullshit world of everything was rigid and stabilized."
It begins with piano chords accompanied by standup bass and is then accentuated by drums playing a jazz rhythm and e-bow guitar. This is one of the few songs by Nine Inch Nails that is played with almost all acoustic instruments. It consists of a 3/4 time signature superimposed over a 4/4 time signature. Its piano theme is also used at the end of "We're in This Together."
On The Fragile vinyl and 2017 DE download, the introductory piano chords and standup bass are repeated one extra time before the solo begins over top, and the ending denouement is slightly longer, featuring more spoken samples. Because of this, the transition into "The Great Below" is also slightly different than the original CD version.
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