Lyrics Hurt

Hurt was written by Trent Reznor and originally released in 1994 as part of the Nine Inch Nails album The Downward Spiral. The deeply personal lyrics delve into themes of pain, despair, and reflection. Johnny Cash later covered the song in 2002, shortly before his death, which was critically acclaimed for the emotion conveyed in his performance and the music video, turning the song into a powerful testament to pain, loss, and redemption.

I hurt myself today, to see if I still feel
I focus on the pain, the only thing thats real
The needle tears a hole, the old familiar sting
Try to kill it all away, but I remember everything

What Have I become, my sweetest friend
Everyone I know, goes away in the end
And you could have it all, my empire of dirt
I will let you down, I will make you hurt

I wear this crown of shit, upon my liars chair
Full of broken thoughts, I cannot repair
Beneath the stains of time, the feeling disappears
You are someone else, I am still right here
(Pause) Bm for one measure

What Have I become, my sweetest friend
Everyone I know, goes away in the end
And you could have it all, my empire of dirt
I will let you down, I will make you hurt

If I could start again, a million miles away
I would keep myself, I would find a way.