A singer/songwriter, producer, and occasional actor, Cole's music is generally laden with warm pop hooks, acoustic guitar, and smart, insightful lyrics.
From his earlier pop outings, Cole's work matured into what could best be termed "heartland pop" -- aimed squarely at observations on love, loss, success, failure, pain, and joy, all from a decidedly blue-collar, middle-American perspective.
The Hurt
Jude Cole Lyrics
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He was a real straight shooter, but he got the fever
Now he's cruisin' the downtown queen of the city
With a feel for the street and he's dressing pretty
'Cause when she left him behind, something inside said no more
There's a price to pay when you play with the little town flirt
And ooh, baby that's the hurt
What happened to Sally, she's so nervous
All the boys just leave her poor heart achin'
But she can't look back now, Joey's taken
So the time rolls by, 'til something inside says no more
There's a price to pay when you can't keep away from the dirt
And ooh, baby that's the hurt
Someone's always telling lies
Someone's always got something to hide, now don't they
Someone's running and someone's reaching
Just look at what history's teaching you
So you tell your lies, 'til something says no more
There's a price to pay when you can't keep from messing with the curse
And ooh, baby that's the hurt
The song "The Hurt" by Jude Cole depicts two characters, Joey and Sally, who have fallen victim to the darker aspects of city life. Jude sings about how Joey, a once strong believer, has become consumed by the allure of the downtown queen of the city. He started dressing up in flashy attire, showing off his newfound confidence on the streets. However, Joey soon learns there is a price to pay when indulging in the "little town flirt." Similarly, Sally can't seem to catch a break. She's nervous and desperate for love, but keeps getting her heart broken by men who leave her. Finally, Joey swoops in and takes her, but no one knows where that will lead.
The song is about the destructive nature of urban living, where people often lose themselves in the glitter and glitz of city life. Joey and Sally are both struggling to find their place in a world where people are constantly telling lies and hiding their true selves. They're both searching for something real, but end up getting hurt in the process. The song is a reminder that everything has its price, and people need to be careful of what they wish for.
Line by Line Meaning
What happened to Joey the strong believer
Who knows what happened to Joey, but he used to be a faithful and honest person
He was a real straight shooter, but he got the fever
Joey used to be straightforward, but somehow he became infatuated with something that changed him
Now he's cruisin' the downtown queen of the city
Joey started hanging out with the most popular woman in the city who likes to party
With a feel for the street and he's dressing pretty
Joey now knows the streets very well and is dressing very stylishly
'Cause when she left him behind, something inside said no more
After getting abandoned by this woman, Joey realized that he didn't want to continue living this kind of lifestyle any longer
There's a price to pay when you play with the little town flirt
When you mess around with someone who is always flirting with others, there are consequences
And ooh, baby that's the hurt
It can be really painful
What happened to Sally, she's so nervous
Sally seems anxious and uneasy
Does she need a love or a mental service
Maybe Sally needs to find love or seek professional help
All the boys just leave her poor heart achin'
Sally is getting her heart broken by all the guys she falls for
But she can't look back now, Joey's taken
Sally can't go back to Joey now that he started hanging out with that woman
So the time rolls by, 'til something inside says no more
Eventually Sally will reach a breaking point where she can't take this anymore
There's a price to pay when you can't keep away from the dirt
When you can't distance yourself from bad behavior, there are consequences
And ooh, baby that's the hurt
It can be really painful
Someone's always telling lies
People are always lying
Someone's always got something to hide, now don't they
People always have something to hide
Someone's running and someone's reaching
Some people are running away from their problems, while others are trying to solve them
Just look at what history's teaching you
We can learn from past experiences
So you tell your lies, 'til something says no more
You can lie for a long time, but eventually it'll catch up to you
There's a price to pay when you can't keep from messing with the curse
When you can't stop engaging in risky or negative behavior, there are consequences
And ooh, baby that's the hurt
It can be really painful
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JUDE ANTHONY COLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind