She is best known for her feature on the 2007 hit single "Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)," with Wyclef, Akon, and Lil' Wayne, which was certified Platinum by theRIAA and peaked at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Niia has performed on the Letterman Show, Craig Ferguson, and BET Honors among others and has been lucky enough to perform for some of her biggest influences, including Bjork and Patti Smith.
She is currently working on her debut album.
Hurt You First
Niia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fill me up when my glass looks empty
You always try to see
A better version of me
I'm never waiting
'Cause I know that you'll always make it
And I can't take it
You're just too calculated
It's you or me who breaks it all
I can barely face it
It's you or me who takes the fall
And I can barely take it
So I'm gonna hurt, I'm gonna hurt you first
I'm gonna hurt, I'm gonna hurt you first
I'll be the one who makes you cry
I'll be the one who gets to decide
Oh, I'm gonna hurt you first
Are you guilty?
Is there a secret that you're hiding?
My prince charming
I guess it's all a case of timing
Can you blame me?
For protecting myself, baby
You're too perfect
Too perfectly orchestrated
It's you or me who breaks it all
Always someone breaks it
It's you or me who takes the fall
And I can barely face it
So I'm gonna hurt, I'm gonna hurt you first
I'm gonna hurt, I'm gonna hurt you first
I'll be the one who makes you cry
I'll be the one who gets to decide
Oh, I'm gonna hurt you first
Gonna make you cry
Gonna say goodbye
I'm gonna say good
Gonna make you cry, ooh ever be
Try to say goodbye
Gonna hurt you first
I'm gonna hurt you first
I'm gonna make you cry (I'll be the one who makes you cry)
I'll be the one who gets to decide
Oh, I'm gonna hurt you first
Ooh, I'm gonna hurt, I'm gonna hurt
I'm gonna hurt you first
Oh, I'm gonna hurt you first
Oh, you'll be the one, you'll be the one
Yeah, you'll be the only one that is crying
So I'm gonna hurt you first
I'm gonna hurt you first
So I'm gonna hurt you first
The song "Hurt You First" by Niia talks about the fear of getting hurt in a relationship and the desire to protect oneself from that pain. The first few lyrics paint a picture of someone who is always supportive and fills the emptiness in Niia's life. However, Niia is aware that this person is too perfect and calculated, and she fears that their intentions might not be genuine. She's not willing to wait and find out if this person will hurt her or not, and so she decides to take matters into her own hands and hurt them first.
Niia questions if this person has any secrets they are hiding and if she should blame herself for protecting herself from them. The chorus repeats again, emphasizing her decision to hurt them first and be the one who cries over the pain she has caused. It's a defensive move from Niia to protect herself from being hurt by someone she perceives as too good to be true.
Overall, the song is about the fear of vulnerability in a relationship and the urge to defend oneself from potential heartbreak. It's a relatable theme for anyone who has experienced emotional pain in relationships, and Niia's soulful vocals add depth and emotion to the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
You're too good to me
You treat me so well, it's almost unbelievable.
Fill me up when my glass looks empty
You make me feel whole when I feel like something is missing.
You always try to see
A better version of me
You encourage me to be the best version of myself.
I'm never waiting
'Cause I know that you'll always make it
I don't need to worry about you failing because you always come through.
And I can't take it
You're just too calculated
However, your perfection is starting to feel like it's not genuine.
It's you or me who breaks it all
I can barely face it
We are both accountable for any problems in our relationship, which makes it hard for me to handle.
It's you or me who takes the fall
And I can barely take it
When one of us messes up, it hurts both of us and is difficult for me to handle.
So I'm gonna hurt, I'm gonna hurt you first
I'm gonna hurt, I'm gonna hurt you first
I'll be the one who makes you cry
I'll be the one who gets to decide
Oh, I'm gonna hurt you first
To protect myself from getting hurt, I'm going to hurt you before you have a chance to hurt me. I want to be the one in control and cause you pain before you can do the same to me.
Are you guilty?
Is there a secret that you're hiding?
I'm starting to doubt your intentions and wonder if you're hiding something from me.
My prince charming
I guess it's all a case of timing
Despite everything, I still see you as my perfect match. But maybe it's just not the right time for us.
Can you blame me?
For protecting myself, baby
I have to look out for myself, even if it means hurting you in the process.
You're too perfect
Too perfectly orchestrated
Your perfection feels orchestrated and fake, which is causing me to question our relationship.
Always someone breaks it
It seems like there is always something going wrong in our relationship.
Gonna make you cry
Gonna say goodbye
I'm gonna say good
Gonna make you cry, ooh ever be
Try to say goodbye
Gonna hurt you first
I'm gonna hurt you first
I'm gonna make you cry (I'll be the one who makes you cry)
I'll be the one who gets to decide
Oh, I'm gonna hurt you first
I am determined to be the one who ends this relationship, even if it means causing you pain. I want to be the one in control and make you suffer before you have a chance to hurt me.
Oh, you'll be the one, you'll be the one
Yeah, you'll be the only one that is crying
I am certain that ending things will cause you more pain than it will cause me, and I'm prepared for that outcome.
So I'm gonna hurt you first
I'm gonna hurt you first
Regardless of the consequences, I am committed to hurting you first and ending this relationship on my terms.
Oh, I'm gonna hurt, I'm gonna hurt
I'm gonna hurt you first
Oh, I'm gonna hurt you first
I am repeating this mantra to remind myself that I am the one in control, and that I am capable of causing you pain before you have a chance to hurt me.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Niia Bertino
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@niia
I'll be the one who makes you cry
@kelacarnevale5096
Your voice makes me cry. It’s so beautiful Niia. 💕
@queenv4340
I loveeee youuuuuu, u are so damn talented
@stephennewell330
you have a cool look, but can i dress better?
@Gabriel-ud5hu
I love how elegant she is. And the way she uses her voice, feels like touching velvet when i listen to her songs.
@frankartanis5707
You're absolutely right she's just flat amazing
@goingtogetthatcroissant862
She sounds like yuna
@catman1304
She has a unique style which is very versatile and classy.
@tman6599
Elegant? Lol. From the other videos I’ve seen of her she looks super skanky. To each their own.
@joemacpherson1664
Why, why do I still return to this song? Honestly, the very first time I heard it on the radio when it made its debut, it affected me so much I really did cry. I soon discovered, this song held so much power over my emotions, whenever I heard it, that reaction came over me. And here I am, back again for more. This song is heartbreaking yet I can't get over it. Love does that to some of us. I guess I'm not strong enough to walk away, forget the song and just go on. Heartbreak isn't supposed to make you want to hear those words of goodbye, again. That's what makes this track so extraordinary. OK, now my emotions are all messed up, just like before, so I'm going. But I'll be back, because genius beckons to fools in love, like me.