Hurt
Hurt (Quiet)
Hurt (Live)
Hurt is the final track from The Downward Spiral.
Contents
Meaning
The meaning of this song is entirely debatable. Some may interpret this as a depressing suicide note, while others may find it to describe someone finding a new lease on life.
Covers
Hurt has been covered by a variety of artists, such as Matthew Good, Peter Murphy, and Sevendust. The song gained popularity in 2002 when it was famously covered by Johnny Cash, at the recommendation of producer Rick Rubin. This caused a lot of confusion for the audiences of Johnny Cash, who generally weren't familiar with the work of Nine Inch Nails, often resulting in miscrediting the song to Cash. In Cash's version, the line "crown of shit" is changed to "crown of thorns", but is otherwise unchanged.
The Video
The video is simply tour footage of Trent singing behind the projection screen, with the image in the screen being featured prominently. This was released after a fully produced music video was scrapped.
Lyrics
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 what have I become? my sweetest friend everyone I know goes away in the end you could have it all my empire of dirt I will let you down I will make you hurt I wear my crown of shit on my liar's chair full of broken thoughts I cannot repair beneath the stain of time the feeling disappears you are someone else I am still right here what have I become? my sweetest friend everyone I know goes away in the end 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