Hurtin' Me, Hurtin' You
Love's Painful Paradox: Hurtin' Me, Hurtin' You
Lyrics
Here I am, out in the rain
Expressing the narrator's current situation of being in the rain.
I know I can't ever wash out the pain
Acknowledging that the pain is indelible and cannot be washed away.
I never meant to be cruel or untrue
Claiming unintentional cruelty or dishonesty.
But I'm just hurtin' me when I'm hurtin' you
Recognizing the reciprocal nature of pain in a relationship.
Girl I won't say, I'm hurtin' more
Denying an emphasis on personal suffering.
I know that you've heard all that before
Acknowledging the familiarity of the narrator's statements about hurt.
So go on believe what you wanna believe
Encouraging the listener to believe what they choose.
But I'm hurtin' you then I'm hurtin' me
Highlighting the consequence of hurting the other person in the relationship.
I know it's hard to keep hangin' on
Recognizing the difficulty of maintaining the relationship.
You think that I hold all of the cards, I know you're wrong
Rejecting the idea that the narrator has all the advantages in the relationship.
And girl just like me, you ain't got a clue
Comparing the listener to the narrator, suggesting a lack of understanding.
I'm just hurtin' me when I'm hurtin' you
Reiterating the theme of reciprocal pain in the relationship.
You know I love you baby, God only knows that I do
Affirming love for the listener, acknowledging divine awareness of this love.
I know I've been bad baby
Admitting wrongdoing without intention, expressing remorse.
I never, ever meant to be bad to you
Clarifying the unintentional nature of the narrator's negative actions.
I never meant to be cruel or untrue
Repeating the assertion of unintentional cruelty or dishonesty.
But I'm just hurtin' me when I'm hurtin' you
Restating the central theme of mutual hurt in the relationship.
I know it's hard to keep hangin' on
Reiterating the difficulty of sustaining the relationship.
When you think that I hold all of the cards, I know you're wrong
Rejecting the belief that the narrator has control in the relationship.
And girl just like me, you ain't got a clue
Comparing the listener to the narrator, emphasizing a lack of understanding.
I'm just hurtin' me when I'm hurtin' you
Repeating the theme of causing self-harm when hurting the other person.
I'm hurtin' me when I'm hurtin' you
Final affirmation of the reciprocal nature of pain in the relationship.
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