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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
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 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
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 will keep myself
I would find a way
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
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 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
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 will keep myself
I would find a way
Lyrics submitted by i_am_spartacus, edited by Mellow_Harsher
Hurt Lyrics as written by Trent Reznor
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, O/B/O DistroKid, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
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It was originally written by Trent Reznor and performed by his group Nine Inch Nails. It is absolutely about self-harm and drug abuse, especially with the empty dissonant sound of the original.
In JC's version, he brings a different interpretation; an old man defeated by time getting by with medicine (or drugs) and contemplating the loss of his friends and his legacy. The steady tone of inner strength and defeat, and the video containing clips of Johnny's life make it a perfect end to the legacy of one of the greats. In fact, the video was made 3 months before Johnny's wife died and 7 before he himself followed.
Part of understanding the song is understanding the person and the moments in their life. Trent wrote the message you picked up on, while Johnny sang a very different message with the same words.