Mr Self Destruct is sort of the overture for The Downward Spiral. It introduces Trent (you) and the Pig (I). It also lays the groundwork for the whole album, and tells where it's going.
I am the voice inside your head And I control you I am the lover in your bed And I control you I am the sex that you provide And I control you I am the hate you try to hide And I control you
The Pig first reveals itself as something small and seemingly normal. It manifests itself very subtlely into everything in Trent's life. Trent does not yet know that the Pig will soon consume him and take complete control. The Pig is deeply rooted in hate.
I take you where you want to go I give you all you need to know I drag you down I use you up Mr. self destruct
The Pig drives him. It filters his reasoning. The Pig will eventually destroy him.
I speak religion's message clear And I control you I am denial guilt and fear And I control you I am the prayers of the naive And I control you I am the lie that you believe And I control you
Religion is, at this point, very important to Trent. It is the main thing that keeps him sane, but he does not fully understand it. The Pig is using this against him by saying that it is naive and a lie. It will take the place of religion in Trent's mind.
I take you where you want to go I give you all you need to know I drag you down I use you up Mr. self destruct I am the needle in your vein I am the high you can't sustain I am the pusher I'm a whore I am the need you have for more
The Pig equates itself with an addiction. It is a corruption of Trent's mind, and it's letting him know that.
I am the bullet in the gun And I control you I am the truth from which you run And I control you I am the silencing machine And I control you I am the end of all your dreams And I control you I take you where you want to go I give you all you need to know I drag you down I use you up Mr. self destruct
The Pig is now saying that Trent needs it, and that it will destroy him.