In 2014, Dean successfully auditioned for the The X-Factor Australia. Out of all the contestants on the show, he had the highest number of singles on the iTunes charts including a no.1 with his performance of George Ezra's Budapest. Although ultimately coming second place to Marlisa, Dean was quickly offered a contract with Sony Music and released his debut single Coming Back on October 24, 2014.
Dean cites Airbourne, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, First Aid Kit, Joss Stone, Son House and Stevie Ray Vaughan as his musical influences.
Hurt
Dean Ray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I focus on the pain
The only thing that's real
The needle tears a hole
The old familiar sting
Try to kill it all away
But I remember everything
What have I become, my sweetest friend?
Everyone I know goes away in the end
And you could have it all my empire of dirt
I will let you down i will make you hurt
I wear this crown of thorns
Upon my liar's chair
Full of broken thoughts i cannot repair
Beneath the stains of time
The feelings disappear you are someone else
I am still right here
What have I become, my sweetest friend?
Everyone I know goes away in the end
And you could have it all my empire of dirt
I will let you down i will make you hurt
And if I could start again
A million miles away i would keep myself
I would find a way
The opening lyrics to Dean Ray's "Hurt" speak to the theme of self-harm and exploring the idea of emotional numbness. The singer is purposely inflicting pain on himself to test his ability to feel anything in a world that he sees as fake. The pain is what is real, and he is trying to grasp onto that as a way to remind himself of his own existence. The mention of the needle tearing a hole suggests he may be using drugs as a coping mechanism. He tries to kill the pain, but he can't forget everything he's been through.
The second verse shows the singer's awareness of his own isolation. He's wondering what he's become and how everyone he's ever known eventually disappears. The chorus repeats the idea that he's willing to give up everything he has, even his "empire of dirt," to prove to someone that he's aware of how he's let them down. He uses the phrase "my empire of dirt" to suggest that everything he has is essentially worthless, and he's willing to let it all go.
The bridge is particularly poignant. The singer is describing himself as a liar, full of broken thoughts that he can't repair. He's aware of the damage he's done to himself and the people around him, but he can't seem to fix the problems he's created. "Beneath the stains of time, the feelings disappear" suggests that he's been carrying his problems with him for a long time, but the emotions have started to fade, leaving him feeling disconnected from the person he used to be.
Overall, the song "Hurt" explores the themes of emotional numbness, isolation, and the damage we can do to ourselves and others. It's a powerful reminder that even when we feel like we're staring into the void, there's always a way to start again.
Line by Line Meaning
I hurt myself today to see if I still feel
I inflicted pain upon myself as a test to ensure that I have not become numb to my emotions.
I focus on the pain
My attention is solely on the physical and emotional discomfort I am enduring in the moment.
The only thing that's real
This pain is the one true, tangible thing in my life that I can rely on and understand.
The needle tears a hole
The syringe creates an opening to inject the substance I am using to escape my pain.
The old familiar sting
I am accustomed to the sensation of the needle piercing my skin and the searing feeling of the substance coursing through my veins.
Try to kill it all away
I attempt to erase my pain and problems by using drugs or other destructive methods to numb my emotions.
But I remember everything
Despite my efforts to forget, I am haunted by the vivid memories of my past pain and trauma.
What have I become, my sweetest friend?
I question what kind of person I have transformed into and lament the fact that I have been alone on this journey.
Everyone I know goes away in the end
My experiences have taught me that all relationships will eventually end, leaving me feeling isolated and hopeless.
And you could have it all my empire of dirt
I have nothing to offer but my own brokenness and inability to attain anything of true value.
I will let you down i will make you hurt
I acknowledge my shortcomings and predict that my presence in someone's life will ultimately lead to pain and disappointment.
I wear this crown of thorns
I carry the burden of my sins and mistakes, much like the symbol of the crown of thorns Christ wore during his crucifixion.
Upon my liar's chair
I am seated upon a throne of lies, perpetuating the falsehoods I tell myself and others to avoid facing my true self and problems.
Full of broken thoughts i cannot repair
My mind is a jumble of fragmented, damaged thoughts and emotions that I cannot fix or reconcile.
Beneath the stains of time
The passage of time has worn away the emotional scars that were once visible on the surface of my soul.
The feelings disappear you are someone else
As time passes, my emotions and sense of self have changed so much that I no longer recognize the person I once was.
I am still right here
Despite the physical and emotional transformation I have undergone, I am still present and conscious of my reality.
And if I could start again
If only I had the chance to begin anew with a clean slate and a better understanding of myself and the world.
A million miles away i would keep myself
Given the opportunity to start over, I would maintain a healthy distance from the destructive habits and thoughts that have plagued me in the past.
I would find a way
With a fresh perspective and renewed sense of hope, I am confident that I could discover a path towards redemption and healing.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Trent Reznor
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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