In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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
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
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Standing On The Edge Of Summer
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
No Surprises
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Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
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.
How come you didn't give an interpretation for the previous four songs? I was enjoying walking with you through The Downward Spiral
Haha I'm sorry, I had been listening to this album over and over again interpreting and reinterpreting and what not. I was obsessed. Then I decided to take a break, and I never really got back around to it for a while. I'll put them up soon though, don't worry. I just wanna make sure I fully understand the songs and believe in my interpretation beforehand.
@HammerFloyd <br /> <br /> Wow! This is exactly what I felt after listening to this and the preceding song. A guy goes crazy, kills a bunch of people but then... This. It was a few days ago I was listening to this song and I realized my life does have meaning. And I vowed never to take my own life because I should value it as I value all the people around me. This song changed my life.
@HammerFloyd I think this is a great interpretation and I agree with it, but I want to propose an alternative. what is in the previous song The Downward Spiral, our protagonist didn't die literally, but figuratively, representing that Mr. Self Destruct/Ruiner had fully consumed our protagonist which is portrayed as his death. This song, Hurt, could be from the point of view of our antagonist, who is, in a way, now fused with our antagonist? "I hurt myself today" could be the Ruiner saying he purged his good, and hurt his good side? I don't know if this is what Reznor intended, but when we look at the context of the rest of the album, we see that every song is sung by either our protagonist or the Ruiner, and this pattern is only followed with this song if our protagonist is alive or singing from purgatory. Just my thoughts!
this is a song talking about being at the absolute bottm of depression. its something that unless you have been there or watched someone there you never really understand
I hurt myself today to see if I still feel (I feel so dead and empty, I was just wondering if I still had any feeling) I focus on the pain the only thing that's real (everything seems surreal, but at least I know the pain is real) the needle tears a hole the old familiar sting (I’ve done drugs to deaden my senses for so long its familiar, normal) try to kill it all away but I remember everything (I try to make the memories and pain go away, but it won’t go)
what have I become? my sweetest friend (you are the closest to me, I adore you, help me) everyone I know goes away in the end ( I drive everyone away from me)
you could have it all my empire of dirt (if you want me you can take it, but I’m worthless) I will let you down I will make you hurt (I will do to you what I’ve done to everyone else, drive you away with my self loathing)
I wear this crown of shit (my crowning achievement in life is that I have achieved nothing) upon my liar's chair ( I don’t know the truth anymore so it all must be lies) full of broken thoughts I cannot repair (I try but I cant keep my head together) beneath the stains of time the feelings disappear ( i don’t remember how to feel its been so long since I have) you are someone else (you have changed) I am still right here (I have not)
if I could start again a million miles away I would keep myself I would find a way (if I could do it all over again. Away from all the people I know and love I wouldn’t lose who I was, I’d find a way to show them I really do care. It wouldn’t have to end this way)
being depressed and harming myself, that's exactly how I interpret this song.<br />
I like the line by line interpretation.<br /> <br /> I always thought of "everyone I know goes away in the end" being more of the fact that in death they no longer exist, depending on your view of what life and reality is.
@demonicaangel This is the most accurate interpretation I’ve read yet.
@demonicaangel This is it. Very accurate.
the whole song reminds me of how sometimes you feel like you are absolutely nothing. and sometimes its all the time that you feel that way.
there is one perticular line in this song that speeks to me "you can have it all my empire of dirt" i think it means everything i have in my life means nothing to me, i dont do it to please myself, and id give it up in a heartbeat that describes my whole life
this song is definitely about heroin. The needle verse is about heroin-a pain killer. the rest is about despair and hitting rock bottom for a drug addict. Listen to some alice in chains songs...Layne was another drug addict and was reflected in song. Rezner has done heroin...well known.
To me it means, you could follow my path in life, and create for yourself what i have, but even though it seems great, it's worthless, it's shallow, it has no true meaning.
in response to chrisv, for some reason, everyone thinks everthing nin is drug related, it's not, trent wasn't even an addict before his success , this has nothing to do with drug addiction but life itself.
To tehmonkay -- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trent_Reznor Trent had multiple drugs and alcohol issues. This song is about was written when he was taking heroin and it's about how he can't live like that anymore basically. <br /> Just fyi.
.. another beautiful song. There are four musical Gods out there; Trent is one of them. The other three are McLachlan, Alanis, and Maynard.
I don't really think this song relates to drug use. Yes, it does say 'tear a hole' with a needle--
[the needle tears a hole the old familiar sting try to kill it all away but I remember everything ]
--but I believe that, again, as usual, it's a metaphor for unwanted memories. You try to block them out because, at one point, they were so beautiful but now they're simply.. a painful reminder. Or, hell, not even beautiful. Maybe just painful. And you don't want to remember anymore, but you can't help yourself..
I agree with lorienmariene [this song is about self loathing] and primusboy [this song is about not being good enough.]
The reference to the empire of dirt, crown of shit; maybe things that were once beautiful, or at least valuable, but now worthless. You can have them all--they don't mean anything to me anymore.
And then there are the references to another person, someone I'm sure he was once close to, but who is now moving on with their life--but while they move on, he is "still right here."
A painful, painful song. In short: Maybe there was something beautiful in your life once, but someone tore it away from you, and destroyed it. Nothing matters anymore. All you have is the memory, and the hurt.
But if you had to do it all again, you would.
I like how only lead singers get to count as "musical Gods".
I know right? Doesn't this guy realise how creative Maynard's bandmates are for instance? Adam Jones in particular. But that's another story.
I never thought of "the needle tears a whole" as being a drug reference myself either. I thought of it more as actually inflicting pain upon oneself. Much in the way that many people have cut themselves in times of suicidal thought. Why not use a needle. It's actually quite soothing.<br /> <br /> Yes, only singers a musical Gods. If you can't use your voice as an instrument, you can only obtain Demi-God status. Just a harsh fact of life. Though, in the case of Trent, it does make sense as he is pretty much a solo artist behind a band name.<br /> <br /> And I totally forgot about Tool. They seemed to disappear when music evolved. I hear you can only find them in the some relic format that involves lasers and discs or something like that. I really wish they would move on actually. I miss listening to Tool, but I am equally as stubborn as them. If music is not on Rdio, then it ceases to exist in my world.
I never thought of "the needle tears a whole" as being a drug reference myself either. I thought of it more as actually inflicting pain upon oneself. Much in the way that many people have cut themselves in times of suicidal thought. Why not use a needle. It's actually quite soothing.<br /> <br /> Yes, only singers count as musical Gods. If you can't use your voice as an instrument, you can only obtain Demi-God status. Just a harsh fact of life. Though, in the case of Trent, it does make sense as he is pretty much a solo artist behind a band name.<br /> <br /> And I totally forgot about Tool. They seemed to disappear when music evolved into the next level of digitalization. I hear you can only find them in the some relic format that involves lasers and discs or something like that. I really wish they would move on actually. I miss listening to Tool, but I am equally as stubborn as them. If music is not on Rdio, then it ceases to exist in my world.
Sorry for the double post. I thought I was fixing the typo on my original. This site could use some improvements. No way to delete the old one, so its encased here forever now, so that Grammar Nazis can poke at it and please their twisted desires to make others feel inferior for not proof reading :P
The song lyrics seem to be from a heroin addict/dealers perspective. The references to the needle and killing pain. Dirt is a street term for heroin so his Empire of Dirt could symbolize his drug business or all the dope hes wasted money on and done. He talks about his crown of thorns and liars chair which could symbolize all the mental and physical pain hes afflicted on other people and himself because of the drug.
I like how the abstract can be interpreted in so many ways. I never knew that dirt was a term for heroin. I think of the Empire of Dirt as being a way of looking back on one's accomplishments over a lifetime and seeing them as worthless.
@SaintPsilocybin "Dirt"? Wow these comments are not only full of wisdom but also tidbits like "Dirt is heroin" - I didn't know that and I used to be a heroin dealer!! ;LOL
I think this song is purely tragic
I think it's pretty obvious that it's about someone inflicting physical pain on themselves to see if they can feel anything else besides the pain they're feeling inside.... umm, as for Squall02 and rev.manson.... what you said was pretty insensitive... first off squall, it's not that kids fault that his gf would cut herself, and as for you manson, it's very painful to be in a relationship w/ someone that does that because first, it makes you feel like you aren't good enough to make them feel better, and second, it isn't exaclty easy to watch someone emotionaly dying like that.....annnyhow, great song.
this meaning means so much to me because i do mutilate myself and sometimes i need somone yo say something positive like you did
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurt_(Nine_Inch_Nails_song)
"Interestingly enough, when I wrote the song [Hurt] I had no idea what was in store for me. I wrote the album about somebody who follows this path who was an extension of me. But it was in my head. I hadn't actually lived it. Then later I lived it. I didn't realise the record was a premonition. I was using the metaphor of drugs at the forefront of what was going on. But I wasn't a junkie. Later I became one, but I didn't know there was an addict in me that just hadn't bloomed out of the dirt yet." TRENT REZNOR Nine Inch Nails
I meant to post my comment as a reply to your post. Oh well.