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.
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.
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.
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.
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...
@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!
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
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.
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
@HammerFloyd
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.
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...
@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!