Johnny Cash/Nine Inch Nails - Hurt
Hello! Below you'll find my "Hurt" chords & lyrics chart as well as a tutorial video on how to play the piano accompaniment.
This powerful song was written by Trent Reznor for Nine Inch Nails, but this tutorials focuses on the acoustic Johnny Cash version. It's a real testament to the quality of the song that it can work so well in very different styles.
Enjoy!
Hurt Piano Tutorial
Here's a piano tutorial video for Hurt:
Hurt Chords & Lyrics
D = Dadd2
[Intro]
| Am | C D | Am | C D |
[Verse 1]
Am C D Am C D Am
I hurt myself today to see if I still feel
C D Am C D Am
I focus on the pain the only thing that's real
C D Am C D Am
The needle tears a hole the old familiar sting
C D Am C D (G)
Try to kill it all away but I remember everything
[Chorus]
G Am7 Fadd9 C G
What have I become? My sweetest friend
Am7 Fadd9 C G
Everyone I know goes away in the end
Am7 Fadd9 G G
And you could have it all my empire of dirt
Am7 Fadd9 G (Am)
I will let you down I will make you hurt
G Am7 Fadd9 C G
What have I become? My sweetest friend
Am7 Fadd9 C G
Everyone I know goes away in the end
Am7 Fadd9 G G
And you could have it all my empire of dirt
Am7 Fadd9 G (Am)
I will let you down I will make you hurt
[Transition]
| Am | C D | Am | C D |
| Am | C D | Am | C D |
[Verse 2]
Am C D Am C D Am
I wear this crown of thorns upon my liar's chair
C D Am C D Am
Full of broken thoughts I cannot repair
C D Am C D Am
Beneath the stains of time the feelings disappear
C D Am C D (G)
You are someone else I am still right here
[Chorus]
G Am7 Fadd9 C G
What have I become? My sweetest friend
Am7 Fadd9 C G
Everyone I know goes away in the end
Am7 Fadd9 G G
And you could have it all my empire of dirt
Am7 Fadd9 G (G)
I will let you down I will make you hurt
G Am7 Fadd9 C G
What have I become? My sweetest friend
Am7 Fadd9 C G
Everyone I know goes away in the end
Am7 Fadd9 G G
And you could have it all my empire of dirt
Am7 Fadd9 G (G)
I will let you down I will make you hurt
[Outro]
G Am7 Fadd9 G G
If I could start again a million miles away
Am7 Fadd9 G
I would keep myself I would find a way
G Am7 Fadd9 G G
If I could start again a million miles away
Am7 Fadd9 G
I would keep myself I would find a way
This document is the author's own work and represents his interpretation of this song. It's intended solely for private study, scholarship or research.
This chord chart is here only to support online learning. We recommend buying official transcripts from a licensed and reputable publisher.
Hurt Piano Tips
1. Take It Slow: It's counterintuitive, but the quickest way to get comfortable and sound great playing a song is to practice it very slowly at first. Steady rhythm and counting are crucial to sounding like a pro, so let yourself get used to feeling the beat at a slow, easy tempo. Once you can nail "Hurt" slowly, *gradually* speed it up. You'll sound much better than if you jumped in at full speed!
2. Use The Pedal Wisely: Utilize the sustain pedal to connect the chords smoothly, timing your lifts with the arrival of a new chord. For help with sustain pedal timing, check out this video.
3. Simplify if need be: "Hurt" still sounds great even if you simply hold out the chords and ignore most of the rhythm patterns and extra details in the tutorial video. Feel free to keep it simple, especially if you sing while playing. As you get comfortable, you can always add the fancy stuff later.
