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 shit
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 implode, edited by Mellow_Harsher, swagshag

Hurt song meanings
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  • +22
    General Comment

    Looking at the plot of the album, I believe this song could be an anthem to the victims of suicide. In the preceding song "The Downward Spiral", the protagonist shoots himself in the head to escape the torture of the Ruiner/Mr. Self-Destruct/the mechanical voice in his head... which is exactly what the Ruiner wanted. The goal of the Ruiner is to make your life miserable and take it, and he is in every one of us. Our protagonist finally gives in and shoots himself, and suddenly the Ruiner is gone, but so is his life. Almost immediately upon taking his life, he (his ghost/soul/whatever) regrets it. He was selfish and weak in thinking suicide was the only solution to something we all fight subconsciously. "You were someone else, I am still right here" is him talking to himself. He was being someone he wasn't, while the human side of him is still there, just now robbed of life. He let down the people who loved him and hurt them ("I will let you down, I will make you hurt"). And if he had any chance to go back and start over, he wouldn't commit suicide, and he'd find a way to deal with the Ruiner by any means possible ("If I could start again, a million miles away, I could keep myself, I would find a way") finally there's the very loud noise that comes with the last line.... I think that's him transcending to Heaven or Hell, depending on how you look at the album. And finally once the noise goes away, there's nothing left behind.

    HammerFloydon August 24, 2011   Link

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