I have taken the best of the previous versions and put them together the way I like to
play the song. I've also fixed the chord issue to sound more like the recording.
4/4 Time
*Notes within () are to be played very lightly
In the intro play both lines. For the verses, play only the second line and repeat the
second line four times as indicated in chord progression. For the transition, add some
light notes to the first two Am finger patterns. For example:
Am
||------0-(0)-----|
||------1-(1)-----|
||------2-(2)-----|
||----2-----------|
||--0-------------|
||----------------|
Throughout all the chords in the chorus you can keep your pinky on the high G note (e
string 3rd fret) to capture the note the piano is playing in the background if you want
a more authentic/full sound. There should be four accented down strums for each chord
with a light bass note of each chord played in between each strum.
Intro/Verse/Transition tab
Am
||------0---------|
||------1---------|
||------2---------|
||----2-----------|
||--0-------------|
||----------------|
C Dsus2 Am C D Am
||-------------0--|------0--------|------------2---|------0--------|
||-----1-------3--|------1--------|-----1------3---|------1--------|
||-----0-----2(2)|------2--------|-----0-----2-(2)|------2--------|
||---2(2)--0-----|----2----------|---2(2)--0-----|----2----------|
||-3--------------|--0------------|-3--------------|--0------------|
||----------------|---------------|----------------|---------------|
Chords Used:
Am: x02210
C: x32010
Dsus2: xx0230
D: xx0232
G: 320003
Am(G): x02213
F(G): xx3213
C(G): x32013
Verse 1:
C Dsus2 Am C D Am
I hurt myself today to see if I still feel
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/j/johnny_cash/hurt_crd_ver_2.html ]
C Dsus2 Am C D Am
I focus on the pain the only thing that's real
C Dsus2 Am C D Am
The needle tears a hole the old familiar sting
C Dsus2 Am C D *G (*start chord strums)
Try to kill it all away but I remember everything
Chorus:
Am F C G
What have I become? My sweetest friend
Am F C G
Everyone I know goes away in the end
Am F G G
And you could have it all My empire of dirt
Am F G - *Am (*return to finger style)
I will let you down I will make you hurt
Instrumental transition: (see intro)
Verse 2:
C Dsus2 Am C D Am
I wear this crown of thorns upon my liars chair
C Dsus2 Am C D Am
Full of broken thoughts I cannot repair
C Dsus2 Am C D Am
Beneath the stains of time the feeling disappears
C Dsus2 Am C D *G (*start chord strums)
You are someone else I am still right here
Chorus:
Am F C G
What have I become? My sweetest friend
Am F C G
Everyone I know goes away in the end
Am F G G
And you could have it all My empire of dirt
Am F G G
I will let you down I will make you hurt
Am F G G
If I could start again A million miles away
Am F *G (*one single strum only)
I would keep myself I would find a way
