Ives began his career as an itinerant singer and guitarist, eventually launching his own radio show, The Wayfaring Stranger, which popularized traditional folk songs. In 1942, he appeared in Irving Berlin's This Is the Army and became a major star of CBS Radio. In the 1960s, he successfully crossed over into country music, recording hits such as "A Little Bitty Tear" and "Funny Way of Laughin'". Ives was also a popular film actor through the late 1940s and '50s. His film roles included parts in So Dear to My Heart (1948) and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958), as well as the role of Rufus Hannassey in The Big Country (1958), for which he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Ives is often associated with the Christmas season. He did voice-over work as Sam the Snowman, narrator of the classic 1964 Christmas television special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Ives also worked on the special's soundtrack, including the songs "A Holly Jolly Christmas" and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", both of which continue to chart annually on the Billboard holiday charts into the 2020s.
The Same Old Hurt
Burl Ives Lyrics
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Even got a new phone number
Did it all since we broke apart
Got acquainted with new faces
Started going to new places
But I've got that same old hurt in my heart
Got a new job starting Monday
Got everybody thinking I'm half smart
Got a new vocabulary
Even got a new canary
But I've got that same old hurt in my heart
No matter what I change
Same old hurt stays the same
Always there reminding me that we're apart
Got a new wallet full of money
Got a new girl that calls me 'Honey'
But I've got that same old hurt in my heart
No matter what I change
Same old hurt, it stays the same
It's always there reminding me that we're apart
Got a new wallet full of money
Got a new girl that calls me 'Honey'
But I've got that same old hurt in my heart
Got that same old hurt in my heart
The lyrics of Burl Ives's song "The Same Old Hurt" depict the struggles of moving on after a breakup. The singer appears to have done everything possible to start anew – from building a new house and changing phone numbers to finding a new job and making new friends. Yet, despite all these changes, the pain of heartbreak remains. The repetition of the phrase "same old hurt" emphasizes the stubborn and unyielding nature of the emotional wound that has been inflicted.
The lyrics further highlight the singer's efforts to distract himself from his pain. He mentions acquiring a new suit and a new vocabulary, as well as socializing and going to new places. He even boasts about having a new girlfriend who calls him "Honey". However, none of these new experiences are enough to quell the underlying ache. The final refrain confirms that, in spite of all the changes the singer has made, he still has "that same old hurt in [his] heart".
The song's simple melody and Burl Ives's emotive voice embody the feelings of melancholy and desperation expressed in the lyrics. The repetition of the phrase "same old hurt" and the use of various physical possessions to convey the singer's attempts to move on reinforce the emotional turmoil experienced by those who have suffered a broken heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Got a new house with new lumber
Despite moving to a new house and building fresh memories, the pain caused by the break-up still lingers on.
Even got a new phone number
Trying to cut all ties with the past and move on, the singer even changed their phone number but the same hurt still persists.
Did it all since we broke apart
Every decision made since the split, including changing houses and getting a new phone number, has been motivated by the desire to heal from the pain that was caused.
Got acquainted with new faces
Trying to move on, the artist started meeting new people, but the same old heartbreak is still haunting them.
Started going to new places
In an effort to start afresh, the artist began exploring new places but the hurt from their past relationship stays the same.
But I've got that same old hurt in my heart
Despite all the changes and attempts at moving on, the singer remains unable to shake off the pain that comes with the break-up.
Got a new suit for next Sunday
Even getting a new suit for a special occasion couldn't distract the singer from the persisting heartache of the break-up.
Got a new job starting Monday
Starting a new job which should have been exciting and refreshing was tarnished with the pain of the break-up still weighing heavy on their heart.
Got everybody thinking I'm half smart
Despite everyone else thinking that the artist is doing well and moving on, the hurt from the break-up remains unchanged.
Got a new vocabulary
In an attempt to sound wiser, the artist even tried to use a new vocabulary, but the emotional pain persists nonetheless.
Even got a new canary
The singer's desperation to move on has led to them even getting a new pet bird, but it doesn't dull the same aches in their heart from before.
No matter what I change
Despite trying different things to move on, the core pain remains overwhelming.
Same old hurt stays the same
No matter how much time passes, the singer still feels the piercing pain of the break-up deep in their heart.
Always there reminding me that we're apart
The hurt keeps gnawing at the singer, acting as a constant reminder of the distance between them and their ex-partner.
Got a new wallet full of money
Despite financial success, the singer's heart still feels empty and hurt due to the break-up.
Got a new girl that calls me 'Honey'
Finding someone new to share life with gives the artist newfound happiness, but the memory of the past relationship still causes heartache.
Got that same old hurt in my heart
No matter what changes they make to their life, the recurring pain from the past relationship remains in their heart.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: COCHRAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind