im sorry but hurt is....overplayed for me now

Well, I don't know if I would be so harsh in describing what the songs' meaning is, but BlacklightFreakout....you have to realize that not everyone chooses their pain, but it is inflicked upon them by what life has dealt them.

You can't underestimate depression and true sadness....it's your soul dieing, and you basically have no will to live when that happens.

I STILL LOVE THIS SONG.....my "only" complaint is that it has become iconic in the sense that it encapsulates what NIN is to many mainstream fans. And we all know NIN CANNOT be encapsulated!! It is too many things to be just one thing or in this case, one song.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/12/2008 02:15AM by PJRock75.

BlacklightFreakout posted:

I dislike that song with a fucking passion. It is like one of those songs created for people who refuse to take their Prozac

And you listen to Nine Inch Nails?!? That's about as ridiculous as a Rage Against the Machine fan getting annoyed with "Killing in the Name of" because it's too political.

Oddly enough, happy songs tend to annoy me.

PJRock75 posted:

Well, I don't know if I would be so harsh in describing what the songs' meaning is, but BlacklightFreakout....you have to realize that not everyone chooses their pain, but it is inflicked upon them by what life has dealt them.

You can't underestimate depression and true sadness....it's your soul dieing, and you basically have no will to live when that happens.

I STILL LOVE THIS SONG.....my "only" complaint is that it has become iconic in the sense that it encapsulates what NIN is to many mainstream fans. And we all know NIN CANNOT be encapsulated!! It is too many things to be just one thing or in this case, one song.

Well said

I don't have a depressive nature so I've never related to it on that level but I can appreciate it for what it is. It's a bit dated though IMO. That's not what NIN is to me anymore: omg I hate myself, I'm gonna cut myself I'm so gawthy...lame. It makes me laugh to see that people still describe the band and Trent as "goth" or whatever because when I see him I see a high school gym coach or something.

And I hate hearing it live--the crowd clapping, singing along,& random meatheads screaming ruins it.

neoistheone4 posted:

NINWiki posted:

The meaning of this song is entirely debatable. Some may interpret this as a depressing suicide note, while others may find it to describe someone finding a new lease on life.

It should be noted that the lyric "A million miles away" is referenced in both the songs 1,000,000 and All The Love in the World, and the suicidal themes surrounding the songs, especially "1,000,000," may indicate a connection.

I agree with the first paragraph. I think it's the suicide note left when he blowed his fucking brains out in The Downward Spiral

On the second paragraph... well. I just don't agree. "Being a million miles away" is a common expression. I mean, nothing special. I think 1.000.000 is about being so pissed off not, in any case, about suicide

Put the gun
In my mouth
Close your eyes
Blow my fucking brains out
Pretty patterns
On the floor
That's enough for you
But i still need more

I think that this verses relate to "I don't feel any thing at all". It's like "ok, severe my hands and separate myself into pieces. I'm so numb that I can't feel the pain and you need more than that to make me bow down"



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/12/2008 08:28AM by blackholedays.

I only have a minute, got class, so on the whiz...

I would keep my self, I would find a way.

I would be healthy, not do drugs, have a better, healthier mindset. I would find another way to be happy, instead of simply finding pleasure in something easy like drugs, that will eventually tear me apart.

To me, it's totally debatable. the only thing is, in the final lyrics he states, "IF i could...I WOULD..."

"IF" means that it won't happen. He probably won't be able to repair from his mistakes. There's no choice in changing. In sense, he probably hurt himself to where he won't be able to recooperate. I think he finally realizes everything that he was doing was wrong and hurtful to others and to himself and when he finally wants to change, I think it's too much to repair, so he does the only thing left. same with "would", it means he won't change. if he said i "WILL" that would be he's going to make a difference, but "would" means he won't be able to. It's sad, i hate songs about suicide or even near-suicidal, to me there's always hope in life, and others are so depressed or ill in their lives that they find it's the only way. I believe that's what he rights about in these lyrics (to me).

It can also mean that he can't go back in time, which we would all wish we could do, and change the past. Instead he regrets his past and guilts over his mistakes and he's finally feeling the sorrow. The final lyrics "IF" probably means if "HE COULD" meaning if he had the choice of going back, "I WOULD" means he determined to change his past and make himself better again.

I like to think happy by saying that he will finally change and go back to his normal roots and pick himself up after everything that has been happening to him. That he's found the happiness to being himself again. That's he's turned a different cheek and moved on from his past. That's my Christian side of me.

Johnny Cash's version is more emotional and deals with more of a Christian point of view. It deals how he hurt Jesus and his Family, more focusing on his Wife, by doing the things he regretted doing in the past. That's what I always felt what Hurt was about. Though, throughout Downward Spiral, I think Hurt is simply guilt, regret and sorrow for the things the person has done.

Last Note: It could also mean a "state of mind" suicide. Where the character kills the other person inside of him, like his persona or "alter-ego". He probably had an urge to do all the wrong things in the Downward Spiral that when he finally sees the wrong, he kills off his persona and goes back to himself.

hopefully most of this made sense. lol.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/12/2008 10:53AM by xKillerZombiex.

"If" implies that the following or preceding action is plausible. "Could" would imply that the action cannot be done. "Would" implies that it will be done. Know your linguistics.

Maybe I'm a dumbass for the above comment.

I always saw Hurt as a drifting spirit regretting his recent suicide (in the song The Downward Spiral).

The crashing noise at the end basically tells the spirit just went to hell or whatever.

**shrugs** Maybe just me.

that song is really confusing and very smart its hard for me to tell what its about

Its about bunny rabits ppl.

now u know.

I am pretty sure it is about all the feelings that surround a desperate person that realizes that he is self-destructing (with drug use) and taking all the people/things he loves with him. Not sure if you guys know how addicted Johnny Cash was during his life but the song is a perfect fit for him also.
EDIT: This song can never be played enough as far as I am concerned. It remains the only song that I still get chills from, both live and recorded, probably due to the fact that I have been in that same place before in my life. It always serves as a reminder of a time/place in my life that I can not, WILL not return to.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/19/2008 04:10AM by jodiFL.

this is definatly one of the strongest songs i ever heard. there was a while when i heard i couldnt help but cry inside cuz of all the visions i felt adn related to. and i agree with videodrone, trent lyrics can be interpreted in many ways and there are tons of thigs that each persons experiences and relate to in some way or another. for me when i hear hurt, i cant help but vision heroin and all the evils along with it. specially the very last 2 lines, thats the most emotional part for me.

I hurt myself today
To see if i still feel
I focus on the pain
The only thing that's real


I have never understood why people would hurt themselves to feel. I don't understand cutting or anything like that. Why would you hurt yourself? Can someone explain.