Resources for Loss

"Hurt" by Johnny Cash, contributed by Sam Silverstein (2021)

I selected Johnny Cash's song, "Hurt" because it gives a unique perspective into the life of one of the most famous American Artists of all time. In this final year of living, Johnny Cash is able to reflect on his life and be totally honest with himself. Even though he has numerous hit singles and is a world renowned artist, his drug addiction has pushed away all of the people in his life, and he is finally realizing that they are the most important aspect of life. His "crown of thorns" and "empire of dirt" represent two words that we normally associate with power, and instead he turns them into pain and sorrow. This song represents all of the self inflicted wounds that ultimately made Johnny Cash feel like his life was wasted, and now it is too late to change that fact. 

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
And you could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt
I wear this crown of thorns
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'm 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

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