Elvis Presley - Hurt - July 24, 1976 Full Album - YouTube

About The Song

Hurt by Elvis Presley: A Soulful Ballad of Heartbreak and Regret

In the realm of music, there are songs that entertain, songs that inspire, and then there are songs that resonate with the very core of our being, stirring emotions so profound they leave an indelible mark on our souls. “Hurt” by Elvis Presley falls into the latter category, a poignant ballad that has transcended generations and genres to become an enduring anthem of heartbreak and regret.

Released in 1976 as part of Presley’s “Moody Blue” album, “Hurt” was originally written by Tim Krauss and Johnny Cash, two country music legends. However, it was Presley’s rendition that transformed the song into an international phenomenon, imbuing it with a raw, emotional intensity that few other artists could match.

Presley’s voice, weathered by years of hard living and the weight of his immense fame, carries the weight of the lyrics with a palpable vulnerability. He sings of a man grappling with the pain of a lost love, his words echoing the universal ache of heartbreak. The song’s opening lines, “I’ve been to the mountaintop / And I’ve been down in the valley below / I’ve been to the ocean’s edge / And I’ve been down in the deepest well,” paint a vivid picture of the emotional rollercoaster one experiences in the aftermath of a shattered relationship.

As the song progresses, Presley delves deeper into the depths of despair, his voice cracking with emotion as he sings, “I know that I hurt someone / And I’m sorry for that / But I didn’t mean to do it / No, I never meant to do it.” These lines capture the essence of regret, the agonizing realization that our actions, no matter how unintentional, can cause irreparable pain to those we love.

The song’s climax arrives with the powerful bridge, where Presley delivers the heart-wrenching lines, “Nobody knows the pain / I’ve been through / But I’m sure that I’ll never be the same / It’s a hurt that won’t go away / It’s a hurt that won’t go away.” These words encapsulate the enduring nature of heartbreak, the lingering scars that remain long after the initial pain has subsided.

“Hurt” concludes with a sense of resignation, as Presley accepts that the pain he has inflicted and endured will forever be a part of him. The final lines, “I’ve had my share of sorrow / And I’ve had my share of rain / But I’m gonna make it through / I’m gonna make it through,” offer a glimmer of hope amidst the despair, suggesting that even in the darkest of times, there is always the possibility of finding strength and resilience.

“Hurt” by Elvis Presley is not merely a song; it is an emotional odyssey, a journey into the depths of human heartbreak. Presley’s soulful rendition has cemented the song’s place as a timeless classic, a testament to the power of music to transcend language, culture, and time, and to touch the very core of our human experience.

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Lyrics

I’m so hurt to think that you lied to me
I’m hurt way down deep inside of me
You said our love was true and we’ll never, never part
Now you’ve got someone new and it breaks my heart

I’m hurt, much more than you’ll ever know
Yes darling, I’m so hurt because I still love you so
But even though you hurt me like nobody else could ever do
I would never ever hurt you, oh you, no you