Sunday, August 3, 2008

Poetry Train Monday - 60 - Hurt


For today's Poetry Train, I'd like to share some lyrics that my newest character Scorpius would claim as his own. This song was written by Trent Reznor (shown at left) of Nine Inch Nails.










Hurt


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 my crown of shit
On my liar's chair
Full of broken thoughts
I cannot repair
Beneath the stain of time
The feeling disappears
You are someone else
I am still right here

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

If I could start again
A million miles away
I would keep myself
I would find a way

- Trent Reznor, 1994

Here's an unbelievable cover of Nine Inch Nails' song by Johnny Cash. Talk about a man who knows how to pour his own life experience into the lyrics and bring out the truth in the lyrics' story.

Here's a solo version by Trent Reznor for a telethon in support of those affected by Hurricane Katrina.

15 comments:

Thomma Lyn said...

Oh, I am a huge Trent Reznor fan! Have been since the early nineties. :) And "Hurt" is one of my favorites.

Thanks for that fabulous video, too!

Interesting that Scorpius would relate to "Hurt." I have a character in my WIP who is rather Reznor-esque, except he's not a musician. :)

Julia Phillips Smith said...

Yes, Thomma Lyn - Scorpius has lots of baggage that he'll end up working through with the mistress of the keep, Lady Elinor.

It's such a great song. I love the lines:

'You could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt'

Anonymous said...

Thanks for posting this. I too love this song. And for sometime now, it seems like it is written for me.

yellowed piee of paper

Jill said...

Wow that is a beautiful song, but it is darker than what I'm use of you. But it is lot smoother than what NIN does usually.
It goes good with one of my favorite song of the moment Pain from Three Doors Down!

Julia Phillips Smith said...

I'll check that one out, Jill.

Anonymous said...

I've always loved Nine Inch Nails. This is a great contribution to the train!

Unknown said...

Wow - I didn't know you liked Nine Inch Nails, too!

Unknown said...

Hey, when are you going to post another section of Brotherhood of the Blood? I enjoyed reading them.

Julia Phillips Smith said...

Bobbi - thanks for the encouragement about the Brotherhood of Blood excerpts! I won't be posting anymore from that one, as more of the story would give too much of my specialized world away. Spoilers, basically, in TV/film terms. I am working on getting it published, however. A long, drawn-out process, but a worthwhile one.

Akelamalu said...

I've heard of NIN but never actually heard them. Loved the two videos Julia, thanks for introducing me to them.

Anonymous said...

funny how song lyrics has much emotions, that is probably why so many people like music and not just for the music but for the words

I really like the last part, makes of a lost person still trying very hard to be found

Kelly Boyce said...

Is it me, or does Trent also look a little like Scorpius??

Julia Phillips Smith said...

Actually, Kelly - I'd thought that, too.

Karina said...

You know, I don't think I ever paid attention to all the lyrics in this song...wow, pretty powerful stuff! The Cash cover is amazing!

Julia Phillips Smith said...

I know, Karina - Johnny Cash tells an entirely different tale than Trent's version, which is also a heart-tugger. Both so raw.