It wasn't nirvana The closest thing to heaven that you can't recreate Losing your father in second grade Not many of us relate the same Dippin' your head Hold your breath underwater as you hope for the best 'Cause where do you go when you reach the end And don't have your daddy to hold your hand? Oh, I've known hurt before, hurt before And I know hurt people hurt people And you were a roller Guided by the wind 'cause you've never felt safe Hiding the bruises you couldn't share Under the makeup, it's somewhere there The sidewalk is gritty You come from a city that don't miss a beat Swallowed in all of your loneliness If only someone'd lend a helping hand You wouldn't have hurt before, hurt before 'Cause you know hurt people hurt people Oh, I've known hurt before, hurt before And I know hurt people hurt people See, no one wants the poison inside their veins We all know that the ocean can't stop its waves And like a wilted flower that loses life I crawl into my shadow and then I hide 'Cause I've known hurt before, hurt before (Oh) And I know hurt people hurt people Oh, I've known hurt before, hurt before And I know hurt people hurt people Hurt people (Hurt people) Hurt people (Hurt people) Oh yeah (Hurt people) Ooh yeah (Hurt people hurt people)