According to Ben, “Hurt Me Once” is about when “You can feel that it’s not working and neither of you really wants to admit it and so you’re overly kind to each other and slowly remove yourself just to get some distance, sort of forcing the other person to bring it up, rather than a painful, confron...
[Verse 1]
I'm sure it was nothing
But you never used to bring somebody else along
Used to be our thing
Going to a movie, then we wander home
All these little landmines
All these little things that one can read two ways
Like when you take every call outside
Seems that I’ve forgotten how to read your face
But I know you too well to get it wrong
[Chorus]
If you have to hurt me, hurt me once
If you have to end it, get it done
You have all these choices, I have none
You're all that I have to lose
Couldn't hurt you if I wanted to
I’ve decided on you
[Verse 2]
If you keep it going
Then one by one, the memories will start to blur
You'll ruin the good ones
But I guess my photo album's none of your concern
Don't humor me with kindness
There's nothing kind about a hundred small betrayals
If you love me at all, you'll kill it now
[Chorus]
If you have to hurt me, hurt me once
If you have to end it, get it done
You have all these choices, I have none
You're all that I have to lose
Couldn't hurt you if I wanted to
I’ve decided on you, I’ve decided on you
[Outro]
And if I'm disappointed
It’s 'cause you're not the person I knew
If I had it my way, I'd be kinder than you
I’m sure I'll forgive you, and soon
I'm ashamed, but I'm proud of it, too
I decided on you