Nine Inch Nails’ Hurt was re-recorded a number of times, with Johnny Cash having one of the best versions. As today is David Bowie’s birthday, here is one of my favorite renditions. This is from a Bowie concert in 1995 that NIN joined in on. Reznor and Bowie would collaborate together on “I’m Afraid of Americans” and one of my favorites, “The Hearts Filthy Lesson”.
Enjoy.
Lyrics:
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
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 would keep myself
I would find a way