Lyrics of
Hurt

Hurt was written by Trent Reznor, first released on Nine Inch Nails album The Downward Spiral in 1994. Later, Johnny Cash covered the song in 2002, which became one of his final hits before his death. The lyrics deal with pain, remorse, and the burden of regret, reflecting Reznors own struggles with depression and substance abuse at the time.

see chords
I hurt myself today to see if I still feel
I focus on the pain the only thing that's real
The needle tears a hole the old familiar sting
Try to kill it all away but I remember everything
 !--Chorus 1-- 
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
 !--Transition-- 
 !--Verse 2-- 
 I wear this crown of thorns upon my liar's chair
Full of broken thoughts I cannot repair
Beneath the stains of time the feelings disappear
You are someone else I am still right here
 !--Chorus 2-- 
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
 !--Outro-- 
If I could start again a million miles away
I would keep myself I would find a way
 (single strum)