Lyric discussion by Ron34 

Cover art for Precious Pain lyrics by Melissa Etheridge

The meaning that I get from this is everybody has a hunger or scar or deep pain that they cling to and from her perspective even though it's "empty and cold" it still keeps her alive because its all that she has is this pain and in a sense it keeps her " safe in these chains" as she puts it since it's the only thing she has to rely on since there is nothing or nobody else.

Song Meaning

In a nutshell I it's about longing and loss in love.

@Ron34 I think it's about all pain.that's all some of us have and so that's what keeps us alive"keeps me going"....