I hurt myself today
to see if I still feel
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 shit (crown of Thorns in Cash's version)
upon my liar's chair
full of broken thoughts
I cannot repair
beneath the stains of time
a feeling disappears
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
if I could start again
a million miles away
I would keep myself
I would find a way....

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One of the most depressing songs I've ever heard. Brilliantly written though. Reznor's finest in my opinion. Great cover by Cash as well.