John Mayer – The Hurt

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Send "The Hurt" Ringtone to Cell

I’m a good man
in a dark room
in a big town
under a full moon
it’s a friday and I’m almost home

I’m in a good place
full of head space
got a brand new pack in my suitcase
but it’s dinner and then it's bed alone
How do you break a mended heart?
I'm bored and want something to do

I wanna fall, fall asleep
asleep in the arms, the arms of a woman
a woman who doesn't, doesn’t deserve my love

I wanna lie, lie to myself
myself and someone else
just to feel something, something that hurts me
the hurt makes me feel alive

Gonna make it, like I need her
gonna miss her the moment I meet her
and it’s only gonna get worse from there

I’ll be rappin' there in the shower
she’ll be here by the end of the hour
I can do better
but I can’t do better now

How do you break a mended heart?
I'm bored and want something to do

I wanna fall, fall asleep
asleep in the arms, the arms of a woman
a woman who doesn’t, doesn’t deserve my love

I wanna lie, lie to myself
myself and someone else
just to feel something, something that hurts me
the hurt makes me feel alive

So long is over
nice to skip the chance you get to know you
why did I think this was true?
Because I want to

I wanna fall, fall asleep
asleep in the arms, the arms of a woman
a woman who doesn’t, doesn’t deserve my love

I wanna lie, lie to myself
myself and someone else
just to feel something, something that hurts me
the hurt makes me feel alive

I wanna fall
I wanna need
I wanna laugh, cry, say goodbye
beg, lie, cheat and steal

Send "The Hurt" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by Mezz115


The Hurt song meanings
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12 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment:You guys have got this wrong. The man is numb and bored, he's not hurt, just hasnt been challenged by a girl in a long time.

    He knows he can have who he wants but is unwilling to wait for it.

    The hurt refers to producing emotions in other people that may hopefuly pierce his numbness. This is preferable to the bored numbness of knowing you can have anyone but want no one in particular.

    What makes this song great is this is such an original and unsellable concept, because most of the population is on the other end. They are not good looking charming musicians and want to relate to pain, not numb superiority.
    Flag juandon October 14, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think Hammer224 nailed it. I can relate. I was involved in a 4 year relationship a while back, but then I learned to get over it. I learn to move on and do my own shit. I got my own place and I can't really complain about my job, but the emptiness is still there. There are times where I wake up and I start missing that feeling of missing somebody. I miss stressing over that, because it made me feel alive. I think what John's saying in the song is that he's tired of living his life on cruise control. He needs that pinch in life to show that he's still living.
    Flag AnonUser23on October 28, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I have the mp3 if anyone wants it email me: Lingeringreverie@hotmail.com

    This song is EXACTLY what I feel... I think at this point I want comfort more than anything else. You know you're better than what you have..you know you CAN do better--but it's learned helplessness..

    I want someone to be there for me and make me feel ok--even if I know the person is not going to be there forever. My love life has sucked from the get-go...(sighs)
    Flag Lingeringreverieon September 22, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I know, I can't believe he hasn't released this one yet. I've looked everywhere for it.
    Flag gabby891on September 20, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I haven't really heard this song much, but these lyrics look really incredible. The explanations you guys have provided really let this song shine as well.
    I don't suppose anyone has a quality version of this song? I'm sure there isn't a studio one yet, but any good recording would be nice..
    Flag IketheHeroon July 28, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I 100% agree with brit brat. I think that if this song hits close to home, the lyrical meaning becomes very clear. It's about loving someone who doesn't deserve you but still keeps you around because he/she has some kind of feeling for you or just wants you there. That person will constantly let you down, but when you try to stay away, they'll wisk you back, then let you down again. You know you can do better, but you can't let go of what's there and if you did, you'd be bored out of your mine completely away from them. It could be compared to a cigarette, you don't need it, but when you have it, you can't stop yourself.
    Flag tizzleon June 30, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I love this song. I see it as if he's talking about being with someone just out of necessity, because it's better than being alone. The 'lie to myself' I think means that he's lying to himself when he says he loves her, he's just with that other person out of convenience. Even when a realtionship's bad for you, you're still there, even if you're being hurt, if it's not working out or if it's not real, feeling the hurt is better than feeling nothing at all. I guess in the end it does sort of make you feel alive.
    Flag gabby891on May 14, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:love this song, and john of course.
    rather groundbreaking.. i mean- at least in my experience, it seems like love has kind of gone to shit these days. mostly because of this kind of "convenience" thing that comes with having busy schedules/ commitment issues/ and just the overall complexity of relationships.
    Flag kevindevineluvahon February 26, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song, hits so close to home, It's about loving someone so much, and knowing at the same time, that is the worst thing for you. Knowing that being with this person will hurt you so much, but maybe, just a little bit less than not having them at all. It's knowing they don't deserve you, knowing you could do better, but not wanting to. It's about the numbness you start to feel, and the pain itself feels better than feeling nothing at all...lying to yourself, and everyone else, only to make yourself believe, that in the end that person does love you.... when in fact, they don't at all.
    Flag brit_braton June 08, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I guess I see this song as taking place after a major breakup. He is a lonely soul who thinks he has gotten over the original girl only to find he is more lonely than ever. He turns to a rebound, the girl who doesn't deserve his love. This creates a feeling, a hurt, and when your in this stage most times this hurt is the best feeling.
    Flag Hammer224on February 26, 2007   Link

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