How to Format Lyrics:

  • Type out all lyrics, even repeating song parts like the chorus
  • Lyrics should be broken down into individual lines
  • Use section headers above different song parts like [Verse], [Chorus], etc.
  • Use italics (<i>lyric</i>) and bold (<b>lyric</b>) to distinguish between different vocalists in the same song part
  • If you don’t understand a lyric, use [?]

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About

Genius Annotation

“Hurt” is the last song on Nine Inch Nails' most popular album, The Downward Spiral, which was released in 1994. The track is riddled with fuzz, distortion, and choppy audio while Trent Reznor’s voice softly flows over the accumulating noise. The instrumentation is meant to provoke nausea as the bending of guitar strings and the hammering of distorted drums increase to the end.

The meaning of the lyrics to “Hurt” are a major point of contention between fans and admirers of Nine Inch Nails — two major themes divide the group: one leaning towards coming back from drug addiction and reflecting on the experience, and the other ending the concept behind The Downward Spiral, where the main character, who attempted suicide in the previous track, survives and realizes that this coping strategy was completely pointless, and that he can still fix everything he has caused. He also discusses herein the so-called legacy he has tried to make; the “empire of dirt.”

Note: Following the idea that the song’s lyrics have two popular themes, each annotation will be labeled with either a “Drug” tag to represent the drug abuse theme and/or the “Concept” tag to take the perspective of album’s storyline.

At the time of this writing, “Hurt” has been covered eight times according to Whosampled.com). Sevendust and Leona Lewis are two of the artists who made their own version of the song, but the most famous rendition was recorded by legendary country and roots rock'n'roll artist Johnny Cash. His version was released in 2002 and is commonly mistaken as a Cash original. Though even Trent Reznor has stated that Cash may have taken it from him:

“I pop the video in, and wow… Tears welling, silence, goose-bumps… Wow. [I felt like] I just lost my girlfriend, because that song isn’t mine anymore… ”

(Alternative Press #194. September 2004.)

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

What did Nine Inch Nails say about "Hurt"?
Genius Answer

Reznor told happymag.tv:

I wrote some words and music in my bedroom as a way of staying sane, about a bleak and desperate place I was in.

He also shared with Rolling Stone that “Hurt” is:

“…a song based on the most personal sentiments, the deepest emotions I have ever had … We were crying when we made it, it was so intense. I didn’t know if I even wanted to put it on the album.

Credits
Produced By
Written By
Instrumentation
Arranger
Sound Designer
Mastering Engineer
Mixing Engineer
Recorded At
Le Pig, Benedict Canyon, Los Angeles, California
Release Date
March 8, 1994
Hurt Live Performances
View Hurt samples
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