6-30-11 - "Mistakes We Knew We Were Making" ~ MAE

Here's one from one of my favorite albums of all time.  I talked about the album and the band in previous posts, so I won't rehash that now.  This song has a great syncopation to its 6/8 timing, kind of makes you imagine a waltz in a movie or something, and closes with an ethereal outro.


The lyrics are pretty heavy; sounds like young lovers took a relationship to the physical consummation and ended up conceiving.  They weren't prepared for a life-changing event of that magnitude, yet they knew beforehand that a baby was a potential consequence of their decision (hence the song title).  They had to grow up fast, but ended up seeing the wondrous side of creating a new life, and that sometimes even our mistakes can work out for good.


Or at least that's how I'm interpreting it... what do you think?

"Riding on the fumes that spark us
while igniting dreams..."

6-29-11 - "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) ~ The Proclaimers

This is gonna get complicated.  But hopefully also fun.  Bear with me (or just scroll down and watch/listen to the song.)


I watched an episode of How I Met Your Mother tonight with my brother.  The episode featured this song* as a cassette single that got stuck in a character's car stereo and was thus the only thing they could listen to for the bulk of 199,999 miles put on the vehicle.


This song is great.  It's also featured on a countdown list called The 100 Worst Songs Ever.  That's how you know it's legit.


My college uses this song as an icebreaker for incoming freshman classes, by making upperclassmen, faculty and staff get on stage and do a choreographed dance (teaching such moves as the prairie dog and frantic skiier to the 1000 freshmen).  Sentimental memories there for me... I wish I had this on video.  It's quite a sight to behold.


The song is not only insanely catchy and a testament to true love, it's also educational.  I just learned the meaning of the word "haver", and I bet you didn't know the definition until you clicked that link, either!


The Proclaimers are a band comprised primarily of blond Scottish twins.  Guys, not girls... and pretty dorky guys at that.  But come on, who doesn't love twins?  or dorks?  It's pretty great watching the one stand behind the other's shoulder and sing the echos / harmonies in the music video....


OH!  Did I mention that Johnny Depp is in the video?  Guess the song made the soundtrack of 1993's "Benny and Joon" starring everyone's favorite actor...

In conclusion, this may in fact be The Best Song Ever.  Or maybe it's not, but it's still pretty great, eh?


"If I get drunk well I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the man who gets drunk next to you
And if I haver yeah I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the man who's havering to you..."


* - downside of Blogger: they are in bed with YouTube and do not allow embedding of videos from other sites like Vimeo.  Why can't we all get along?

6-28-11 - "Fun, Fun, Fun" ~ The Beach Boys

So it's officially summer as of last week, and tonight we're going to just enjoy a fun summer song (see what I did there)?  The Beach Boys were kings of summery tunes that embodied the spirit of American youth and adventure.  Sometimes they sang about surfing, sometimes cars, sometimes girls... sometimes all three. This one's mostly about the latter two, and kicks off with a sweet little tribute to Chuck Berry and "Johnny B. Goode"...

(OK, so maybe Brian Wilson got a little lazy, rhyming "now" with "now" with "now" here, but I think we can forgive that in light of the awesome harmonies and fun story... woops, did it again!)


"Well the girls can't stand her
'Cause she walks looks and drives like an ace now
She makes the Indy 500 look like a Roman chariot race now
A lotta guys try to catch her
But she leads them on a wild goose chase now..."

6-27-11 - "Samson" ~ Regina Spektor

Here's a pretty awesome song, with beautiful piano and lyrics that are deep and layered.  It's a departure from the other Regina Spektor songs I've posted earlier this year, but it's an example of her range and talent - she can do upbeat poppy songs, and then bring you to tears with a tune like this.

I don't know exactly what this one is about.  According to the internets, it was inspired by a friend who was battling cancer ("not much hair left on his head..."), but it also has some obvious Biblical references and themes of love.  I think it's intentionally weaving all of these concepts together, and leaving some room for interpretation...

"Beneath the stars came falling on our heads
But they're just old light, they're just old light..."

6-26-11 - "Follow You Down" ~ The Gin Blossoms

OK, folks, it's time for the Nineties at Nine!  Except it's not nine, unless you happen to be reading this at nine... but anyway.  Here's a song you'll likely remember from 1996 or so; it's one of those insanely catchy pop rock summery tunes that flood the airwaves for months when they're released... fortunately, even though it was overplayed back then, enough time has passed that it's pretty cool to listen to again.


Seems to be about sticking with a lover (or just a great friend?) through good times and bad, come what may... or maybe it's about getting back together with an ex after a failed relationship, or maybe it's about a bandmate who got into self-destructive pattern... take what you will from it.

"Let's not do the wrong thing and I'll swear it might be fun
It's a long way down when all the knots we've tied have come undone..."

6-25-11 - "The Great Unknown" ~ The Damnwells

I love the lyrical play in this one.  It's a kind of depressing, yet hopeful song, and they borrow a couple lines you'll recognize from other tunes.  I think the intent is to convey that no matter how much is wrong in the world, there is beauty and joy to be found, and the ultimate point of life is the journey into the great unknown...

A quiet tune, set to some pretty guitar strumming.  

"Just follow the stars and speeding red cars
Into the great unknown..."

6-24-11 - "We Don't Gotta Work It Out" ~ Fitz And The Tantrums

Here's an early one for ya, and a quickie.  This is one of the sweet bands you can check out at Schenley Plaza tonight at the WYEP Summer Music Festival, if you're in Pittsburgh.  I'd totally be there if I wasn't on my way out of town.  Dang.  All the best stuff happens when other awesome stuff is happening...


Anyway, song is pretty catchy and has a 60s-ish soul vibe, seems to be about infidelity and revenge, or something... check it:


"Don't Gotta Work It Out" (grooveshark)


Live performance:

"Baby, gonna even the score
cause you've been giving that love, oooh, all over town..."

6-23-11 - "Don't Get Stuck (Proud Elephants)" ~ Delicate Steve

This guy was on World Cafe the other day, and he's got some pretty sweet and fun tunes.  It's instrumental, it's ethereal, it'll make you smile and probably bob your head or tap your toes or something.


Steve Marion is just a kid from Jersey (the only black mark on him) who wrote some music and recorded it.  But it's a little different than anything I've ever heard before, and he's got a heck of a PR team ~ they wrote an utterly fictitious, but highly entertaining, press release hyping the band, complete with lines such as "...most of these songs are both too musical and too insane for the typically dim-witted American consumer."   It's epic.


Give the song a shot; tell me what you think.  The video has some psychedelic moments and old cartoons to add to the experience if you so desire, or just listen:

PS - you can take a gander at the entire album over on Bandcamp:  


delicatesteve.bandcamp.com

6-22-11 - "Eine kleine Nachtmusik" ~ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Mozart was a pretty amazing dude.  He was composing music by the time he was five, and is widely regarded to be one of the greatest (if not the greatest) composers in history.  I personally rank Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, and Chopin right up there with him, and it's a pretty thin margin between them.


You've almost definitely heard this piece.  It's got a pretty recognizable opening that's been used in various movies, TV shows, etc. so it's probably tickled your ears on numerous occasions.


Here's the tune; it's officially known as Serenade No. 13 for Strings in G Major, and the German title translates to "A Little Serenade" or, literally, "A Little Night Music".  The video is actually only the first movement (the most recognizable), but I highly recommend the entire four-movement piece, which you can find in the Grooveshark link below.

Serenade No. 13 for Strings in G Major (Grooveshark)

6-21-11 - "Sons & Daughters" ~ The Decemberists

Here's a catchy and hopeful song for the summer solstice.  By the way, have you ever stopped to think that from the first day of summer (i.e. - today, unless you're one of the fine folks from the Southern Hemisphere who checks out my blog) on, the days are getting shorter?  Summer is actually the waning of the days... so every day of your summer is less awesome than the last.  What a downer, eh?


But anyway, the song.  It's about the hope of moving forward to a new place and starting a new life.  I think a listener could apply it to starting a new phase in life, as well; you don't have to be immigrating to a new country or anything to draw meaning from the song...

"We'll build our walls aluminum
We'll fill our mouths with cinnamon..."

6-20-11 - "Big Jet Plane" ~ Angus & Julia Stone

Are you in the mood for a mellow song about fleeting love?  If not, come back to this one when you are and go listen to something more depressing, or catchy, or just plain silly.

For the record, Angus & Julia are siblings, not lovers... so the song is about some other girl.  There are some husband and wife artists out there, but this is not one of them.  Score another one for wikipedia...

This one's just about wanting to take your lover on a trip to see the world.  Which is something I plan to do at some point in my life.  Because the world is awesome, and must needs be explored!

"She smelled of daisies, smelled of daisies
She drive me crazy, drive me crazy..."

6-19-11 - "Beautiful Things" ~ Gungor

So my friend Jake's friend Scott posted this song a while ago on his song of the day blog*, and I checked it out and was impressed.  I didn't want to just go post it myself right away though, because that just seemed like copying.  But I heard Jake and a couple other friends** play the song today and it just hit me, so now you're getting it tonight. 


* - wait, you mean I'm not the only person in the world doing this?
** - friendly post tonight, eh?


Harmonies and instrumentation.  This song has them.  I like those things.  Self-described as "liturgical post-rock", Gungor's sound is rich and full.  The way the song builds just resonates, and the breakdown with the glockenspiel is great.


Live version:

Album version:

"All this earth
Could all that is lost ever be found?
Could a garden come out from this ground, at all?"

6-18-11 - "Born" ~ Over The Rhine

This is a slow one, with beautiful harmonies and lyrics.  I wonder what they're talking about deep into the night....

"Secret fears, the supernatural
Thank God for this new laughter
Thank God the joke's on me

We've seen the landfill rainbow
We've seen the junkyard of love
Baby it's no place for you and me..."

6-17-11 - "Kisses Over Babylon" ~ Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

¿Habla español?  If not, you'll have to pull up the full lyrics on freetranslation.com to fully grasp this song.  I know a little Spanish, but I had to look it up, not gonna lie.  It's a pretty interesting story, actually... and I definitely love me some Ed Sharpe!


The video is a long-form music video that's actually part two of a story sequence told through the music videos of several songs by ES&MZ.  Probably worth starting from part one if you're gonna watch it; if you just want the tune, here's the grooveshark link:


"Kisses Over Babylon"

"Parlante con el mar del cielo
pide que la sed de crecer
en todo la creacion me Dios
y el manifiesto...


Speak to the earth and sky
ask that the thirst grow
in all of God's creations
and in the manifestation..."

6-16-11 - "One Headlight" ~ The Wallflowers

It's late and I'm super tired, so you'll be spared in-depth commentary on this one, although I think the lyrics merit some attention.  And hey, I just learned that the lead singer of The Wallflowers, Jakob Dylan, is Bob Dylan's son.  How about that.


Have yourself some good old 90s alt-rock:

"I seen the sun comin' up at the funeral at dawn 
The long broken arm of human law ..."

6-15-11 - "False Creek Change" ~ Said The Whale

Here's a song about the loss of innocence.  A town grows up, a boy grows up there, and he's looking back at memories of his childhood and mourning the way the special elements of the neighborhood he remembers were gradually erased by industry and the expansion of the city.  The first part of the song refers to the 1986 World's Fair, which catalyzed the transformation.


When I was in Vancouver last year, I drove through this area, and it's easy to see that while some of the unique and charming stores and parks still exist, they're lost in the hustle and bustle now.  Kind of a wistful commentary about the sacrifices made in the name of "progress".

Live acoustic session for those so inclined:

"I've watched the walls of Yaletown

growing up over my mountain view
My old horizon under the clouds
I'll be sad when I'm thinking of you
I'll be sad when I'm thinking of you..."

6-14-11 - "Wavin' Flag" ~ K'naan

American History Pop Quiz: What is the origin of Flag Day?  I bet Wikipedia will tell us!  Yay for flags!  I love flags, and have a small collection from countries I've visited... plan on expanding that soon!


Today being Flag Day was a convenient way for this song to pop into my head, and I figured I'd roll with it.  K'naan has some pretty good songs, and this one just might be my favorite.  It's a depressing yet hopeful look at the strife in Somalia (K'naan's native land).

Also, here's a version that came out last year as an unofficial World Cup anthem.  It's a little peppier and poppier but also good, just presents a different mood:

(there's even a version with Justin Bieber, but you're gonna have to go find that one for yourself...)


"Out of the darkness, I came the farthest
out of the hardest survival
Learn from these streets, it can be bleak,
accept no defeat, surrender retreat..."

6-13-11 - "We Tigers" ~ Animal Collective

So I listened to this after my buddy and his wife mentioned it on facebook (she was saying how weird he is for listening to stuff like this first thing in the morning after waking up...)  This one's a little different.  But I am really digging it, even though I'm not really sure what's going on.  It's got a cool driving beat, and some chanting and whooping and whatnot, and fairly unintelligible lyrics.  But the vocals are spectacular, in some strange way.


I give up on trying to describe it; give it a shot and tell me what you think.

"i've felt worse but i feel the curse of knowing what i shouldn't be
don't know where we'll go but let's walk around and pretend to own houses we see.."

(disclaimer: according to the band's website, these lyrics are from the song, but since my untrained ear can only discern about 4 words throughout, I cannot verify.  but I like the line.  and maybe a few dozen more listens will help me start to understand what they're saying...)

6-12-11 - "Lover Of The Light" ~ Mumford & Sons

You know how a lot of times an athlete will have a great rookie season, but struggles the next year?  You know how sometimes an artist or band puts all their best material on their debut release, and then their second album is kinda 'meh'?  I promise you that Mumford & Sons will not be one of those who have a sophomore slump.  They've been playing a few new songs in concert lately, and they're just as powerful as the songs from "Sigh No More".  The melodies, harmonies, and instrumentation are a beautiful backdrop for heavy-hitting lyrics.


As I mentioned, I watched M&S and Arcade Fire's Bonnaroo performances last night.  I've yet to see either band in person, but I'm looking forward to an opportunity to do so - both bands bring it when they're on stage.  This is one of the new ones M&S are playing, and it's just swell:

"I know I tried, I was not stable
Flawed by pride, I miss my sanguine eyes
So hold my hands up...breathe in, breathe out..."

6-11-11 - "Rococo" ~ Arcade Fire

Just had an enjoyable evening watching Mumford & Sons and Arcade Fire's performances at Bonnaroo from the comfort of my own home, thanks to the miracle of modern technology.  Here's one of my favorites from Arcade Fire.  "Rococo" was a style of art in 18th century France which involved ornate and often embellished stylings.  The term is used in modern vernacular to describe something that's overdone in order to draw attention.


I like the driving bass line, and the haunting repetitive chorus and vocals; they create an eerie sensation that helps convey the unsettling message.  This song probably has something to do with the culture of trying to stay ahead of the curve, trying to be something you're not, or trying to fit in with the cool crowd.  Also seems to be criticizing the culture of The Next Big Thing, and the hipster mentality of "I liked <insert band here> when they were still underground, but now they've 'sold out' (made it big/started earning some money to pay back years of sacrifice) and I just don't like them any more..."  So much of our culture these days is thrust upon us, and people just eat it up.  Learn to think for yourself and make your own decisions.  


(sorry for the Vevo, but it's a pretty sweet vid of a live performance:)

(album version:)

"they build it up just to burn it back down...


they seem wild but they are so tame..."

6-10-11 - "Cecilia" ~ Simon & Garfunkel

As promised, here's a song with a lot lighter of a mood than yesterday's.  This one's either about a relationship on the rocks or the trials and tribulations of a songwriter... or both, perchance?  St. Cecilia is the patron saint of music in the Catholic faith; Paul Simon supposedly was trying to express the fleeting nature of artistic inspiration.


Either way, it's just a fun song with unusual percussion and cool harmonies:

"Jubilation,
she loves me again,
I fall on the floor and I'm laughing..."

6-9-11 - "What About Them" ~ John Reuben

I've had it on my mind to do this one for a while now, but didn't want to just gloss over it, so I waited until I had some time to think this post through.  Let me preface this by saying that my main goal with this blog is always to highlight music that I enjoy for various reasons - the beat, the instrumentation, the harmonies, deep lyrics, sappy romantic lyrics, challenging lyrics, sometimes humorous lyrics... I'm not trying to promote an agenda, just to chronicle my own journey through life via music, and perhaps introduce you readers to a new artist you may grow to love, or to a song that will change your perspective on life.  This song, however, has had a profound impact on me, so I'm going  to go into detail as to what it means to me; read on if you like but don't feel obligated.


(here's the song; feel free to listen while you read my ramblings below, or skip the rant and just enjoy the music)

I grew up in a Christian home, going to church three times a week.  I still consider myself a Christian, but there is a lot about American Christianity with which I struggle.  This song pretty much explains my thought process.  America was founded on the principles of freedom from tyrannical rule, but as the country developed and expanded, the European transplants waged war on those who already were living across the land.  And look where America is today.  A bloated government monster machine exists solely to keep itself fat and happy.  The ever-growing cycles of debt and taxation are staggering; the wars are fought over questionable causes, the populace live for entertainment, blissfully unaware of the tragedies of the world and within our own country.  We'd rather worry about whom to vote for on American Idol than worry about the hungry woman sleeping under a highway overpass on a 13-degree winter's night.  We'd rather watch LeBron or Tiger get their comeuppance than read about the nuclear crisis in Japan, the uprising in Cote d'Ivoire (or a number of other countries), or the natural disasters across the globe.  We'd rather get lost in <insert sitcom / medical show / crime drama here> than get involved in helping the people suffering due to these natural and human-inflicted problems.


It's all too easy to get wrapped up in "the American Dream" - go to college, get a job, find a spouse, have 2.5 kids, you know the schtick.  It's all too easy for the Christians in America to ignore the sermon on Sunday morning by thinking about kickoff between the Steelers and Browns in a few short hours, and to salve their consciences by dropping a check in the offering plate and sending $20 a month to the kid whose photo is on the fridge.  It's all too easy... but that doesn't make it right.  I'm all for reaping what you sow (i.e. - the capitalist mindset that hard workers should see the rewards of their labors), and it's nice to have a nice house and some other comforts.  But how do I justify buying a big screen TV when I already have a working TV (or three), and there are people all along the Mississippi whose homes were just destroyed by floods?  How do I rationalize dropping $45 on a concert or $100 on tickets to a sporting event when there are people in my own city (to say nothing of the rest of the world) who haven't had a meal today?  The only answer I have is by putting it out of mind completely.


So, what am I trying to say here?  If you're a Christian, don't let complacency, apathy, and the plush comforts of your privileged life take hold - take every opportunity to help those less fortunate, and never take for granted the many blessings in your life.  If you're not a Christian, don't let the actions (or inaction) of ignorant American Christians color your judgment of all believers or the true message of Christianity.  Over history, many evils have been committed "in the name of Christ" (and in the name of other religions), and in the present day, one of the greatest is apathy toward the plight of our fellow man.  But there are Christians in this world who truly sacrifice their own pleasures and comforts to serve others.  Read up on the persecuted church in China for one example.  And don't just think this song is speaking to Christians - no matter your beliefs, you need to stand up for them and live out the principles in making the world a better place.  I'm not necessarily saying we should all abandon everything we own and send every cent to help the aforementioned afflicted people; but I think most of us could cut back on the $4 coffees and think a little harder before signing up for the super premium cable package or $50/month data plan for our phones.  Live life, enjoy it, but don't forget about those who haven't been as fortunate as you.


PS - I'm speaking to myself here as much as anyone else.  I constantly find myself taking my cushy life for granted and failing to live out my faith by helping those in need.  Just a disclaimer; I'm not condemning anyone nor pointing fingers...


PS2 - I promise I won't be so depressing and preachy tomorrow.


"what a prosperous, wondrous place
remember to say grace before we scrape our plates..."

6-8-11 - "Elephant Gun" ~ Beirut

Thanks to the miracle of technology (read: facebook), I just heard this song and this band for the first time, and I can't stop listening.  My friends in Bright Black Bright (more on them another day) posted the song.  It's a beautiful track with a bit of a circus-y feel (and not just because of the Elephants in the title - something about the 3/4 time, the accordion, and the trumpet).  Kinda a wistful, whimsical mood - you're not sure whether to be happy or sad.  The lyrics are a bit of a puzzle, but seem to deal with regretting missed opportunities in life, yearning for adventure (hunting the big game with the proverbial elephant gun), or possibly it's a metaphor for a war (or several wars...)


(Wow, could I get any more parenthetical?)


Let me know what you think:

"it rips through the silence, all that is left is all that I hide..."

6-7-11 - "Spiderwebs" ~ No Doubt

Going with a fun one from the days of our youth.  Well, my youth... I don't presume to know the age of the reader.  Anyway, it's just a fun ska-ish tune about getting over a dude who keeps calling, or maybe it's about the way technology has permeated our society to the point where "helpful" and "useful" things become a nuisance or even a curse...

"Communication, a telephonic invasion..."

6-6-11 - "Rattling Locks" ~ Josh Ritter

So, one of the highlights of last night's *free* Josh Ritter show was when the openers, The David Wax Museum, came out to join Josh and his band for Rattling Locks.  They brought a fun percussion section to an already driving song, and then Ritter & his band went straight into "Harrisburg", complete with a story about their journey from Philly to Pittsburgh earlier in the day.  I wish I'd have had the camera rolling for these two, but alas, I failed to do so.  I'm hoping someone else will post a vid with both songs, but for now, here's "Rattling Locks":


Live at Hartwood Acres 6-5-11 (sorry, it cuts off before the end, but you'll see the fun way they did it, with the percussion and the bass player going nuts...):

Album version:

"I had a dream where I was dyin',
but it wasn't no nightmare ~
I was peaceful as I fell;
and if I was fallin' into heaven,
heaven must be hotter than the Bible tells..."

6-5-11 - "Born With A Broken Heart" ~ The David Wax Museum

If my last name was Wax, my band name would probably be this.  These guys (& gal) opened for Josh Ritter tonight at Hartwood Acres, and believe you me, it was worth every penny.  Ok, so it was free, but still, I'm quite glad to have been there.  David Wax Museum brings a fusion of Mexican folk stylings and Americana that's pretty entertaining.  This particular one isn't so much Mexican as just plain fun, but if you listen to a few others you'll catch that feel.  They even feature the quijada (donkey's jawbone) on several songs:

And now for the song itself:

"There are men who will stand accused,

but they won't be told the why

they were strong, so were beaten down

but the sun look gold through blackened eyes..."

6-4-11 - "Broken Bride: Part 1" ~ Ludo

This is a song about love lost.  It's also about time travel.  It's pretty awesome, in that strange, kinda nerdy way... what would you do if you lost the love of your life?  What if you could somehow go back and prevent it?  What if you spend 15 years building a time machine, but then something went horribly wrong and you ended up in prehistoric times?  Pretty much what's going on here... it's part of a concept album which tells more of the story, if you're interested.

So yeah, this one's a bit silly, but I think it's a fun song despite the depressing aspect of the lyrics...

"I crashed before the birth of Christ, pterodactyls swarming..."

6-3-11 - "Penny Lane" ~ The Beatles

Oh, just a catchy little song by a fun little group from Liverpool... you've probably never heard of them.

"he likes to keep his fire engine clean,
it's a clean machine..."

6-2-11 - "I Don't Want To Be" ~ Gavin DeGraw

So if you've been following my posting habits, you won't be surprised that I like Gavin DeGraw.  He brings a fairly unique blend of piano-based rock/pop and intriguing vocal stylings, and although some of his songs are light (perhaps even trite), some of them hold lyrical weight.


This one is kind of an anthem for the high school and college crowd.  The message is pretty clear, and yeah, some of us may be past the stage where we try to conform to the trends and cliques just to fit in at school, but I think it applies to adult life as well.  It's all too easy to compromise in the corporate world if it opens a door or even just to get through an awkward project quicker or easier.  But is it really worth it?


None of us is perfect, and we can all seek to improve ourselves; but conversely, we shouldn't be afraid to be who we are, even if not everyone out there likes it.  Sticking to one's convictions in the face of opposition is the height of courage, be it in the workplace or the halls of a high school.  Live life, but not to please others.  Live life in such a way as to be able to sleep at night, knowing you made the world a better place and did so without bowing to the will of others.

"Part of where I'm going is knowing where I'm coming from..."

6-1-11 - "Hurt" ~ Nine Inch Nails

I'm not a huge NIN fan, in fact I can't say I've ever actively listened to most of their works.  However, this song is pretty powerful and gripping.  Some say it's about Trent Reznor's addiction to drugs, others say it's about suicide, others still have differing opinions... guess it shows that art is in the eye of the beholder.  No matter how it was originally written, we can all relate to the self-destructive tendencies expressed in the song.  We all make choices in life that we regret or that end up ending poorly for us.  We all hurt the people we care about.  Life is all about getting through this and finding a way to carry on.  Reznor does seem to realize that there is more to life than what he's been doing, although the song doesn't delve into finding fulfillment but leaves you with the feeling that he thinks it's too late or that redemption is impossible...


The live music video with Reznor on keys is stunning; I've included the studio recording as well.

Studio: "Hurt"


"and you could have it all
my empire of dirt..."