What Hurts The Most lyrics by Rascal Flatts, 22 meanings. What Hurts The Most explained, official 2024 song lyrics | LyricsMode.com
Request & respond explanations
  • Don't understand the meaning of the song?
  • Highlight lyrics and request an explanation.
  • Click on highlighted lyrics to explain.
Rascal Flatts – What Hurts The Most lyrics
I can take the rain on the roof of this empty house
That don't bother me
I can take a few tears now and then
And just let 'em out
I'm not afraid to cry every once in a while
Even though going on with you gone still upsets me
There are days every now and again
I pretend I'm ok, but that's not what gets me

What hurts the most
Was being so close
And havin' so much to say
And watchin' you walk away
And never knowin'
What could've been
And not seein' that lovin' you
Is what I was trying to do


It's hard to deal with the pain of losin' you every where I go
But I'm doin' it
It's hard to force that smile when I see our old friends and I'm alone
Still harder
Gettin' up, gettin' dressed, livin' with this regret, but I know
If I could do it over
I would trade, give away, show the words that I saved in my heart that I left unspoken

What hurts the most
Is being so close
And havin' so much to say
And watchin' you walk away
And never knowin'
What could've been
And not seein' that lovin' you
Is what I was tryin' to do

Uhh hey yeaaaaaaaaah!

What hurts the most
Was being so close
And havin' so much to say
And watchin' you walk away
And never knowin'
What could've been
And not seein' that lovin' you
Is what I was tryin' to do


Not seeing that loving you
That's what I was trying to do

Ohh ohh!
×



Lyrics taken from /lyrics/r/rascal_flatts/what_hurts_the_most.html

  • Email
  • Correct
Songwriters: Jeffrey Steele, Stephen Paul Robson
What Hurts The Most lyrics © 3 RING CIRCUS MUSIC LLC, BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC

What Hurts The Most meanings Post my meaning

  • l
    + 9
    Leasie
    I think the song is about letting go, losing some one hurts yes and your alowed to break, but what hurts the most isn't that they are gone but that they never got the chance to say and do what they really wanted to, never having the chance to say I love you or to have a future together hurts more then anything. Loving him was everything and she kept it a secret because she didn't want to hurt herself and him and yet words are normally broken by words left unspoken and she found out the hard way, the meaning is when you feel strongly about some thing then don't keep it in side, if it means some thing to you then its important, don't leave it till its too late, because you don't want to get hurt because it will hurt more haveing to say it to a grave stone.
    Add your reply
  • x
    + 8
    xoxoxsweetluvrxoxo
    This song means that almost half your heart is let go. The other half walked away, and you have so much to say but they're just gone before you know it. It's when you love somebody that loved you back, but now it's time for goodbye and you're in denial and don't think its true. And having to regret the feeling everytime you wake up "Gettin up, gettin dressed, livin with this regret, but I know if I could do it over".
    And you find out that the feeling is so hurting that you feel like you want to go back in time and start over. But, it's already done. Then in the end, you find out there's more to hope for. You might be able to try to tell that person you love him/ her.
    Add your reply
  • s
    + 8
    sportie_chick28
    When I listened to the song, I thought it talked about regrets and having a relationship end when you still love the person and didn't get to do or say what you wanted. I love the video, it gave me chills when I watched it (so sad!), but I don't think it matches the song as well. I get what they're saying tho; theres lots of ways you can lose someone, lots of regrets you can have. Rascal flatts is the best band ever.
    Add your reply
  • U
    + 4
    Unregistered
    PTSD... this song is after an episode where he lost her... she didnt fell loved and left.. he loved her the whole time, but was completely emotionally shut down and could show her. And now hes trying to explain that impossible feeling to her.... IF YOU HAVE PTSD, YOU ARE NOT ALONE,, DO NOT GIVE UP
    Add your reply
  • U
    + 4
    Unregistered
    ADDITION TO THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL IN MY LIFE
    Not seeing that loving each other is what we were trying to do. We can say our unspoken words. But now a lifetime apart. We have another love. That’s what hurts the most we don’t have a do over after 45 years
    Add your reply
  • U
    + 3
    Unregistered
    I think this song means that you have to tell the people you care about that you love them. That you can't take feelings, love, time, and memories for granted. You owe it to yourself to tell them that you care before it is to late. Before all that is left is a stone with their name on it. Before you can never see them again. That tomorrow is never a guarantee. You never know when someone is going to leave so express how you feel before you can't anymore.
    Add your reply
  • U
    + 3
    Unregistered
    I dated the most beautiful girl of my life at 16 in high school for two months. Not sure why we parted. I was afraid to say how I felt and that I loved her. Contacted her surprisingly at 60 yrs. old to find out we both felt the same and thought of each other throughout the years. She’s married and happy. Knowing this now how we both felt hurts.
    Add your reply
  • j
    + 3
    Jayyanez19
    I just recently lost my best friend in a car accident. I listen to this song to encourage me to deal with his loss. I still don’t believe that he is actually gone. I think maybe it’s because I never went to the funeral. I guess it’s wrong but I couldn’t handle seeing him in a casket. I haven’t visited his grave either. Maybe that why I don’t believe he is actually gone. This song just kind of makes it real for me. It makes me kind of realize he is gone and not coming back. It makes me realize there was more I would say to him and more I could’ve done for him. I didn’t realize that until after the fact that he died that I actually had feelings for him. Now that he’s gone I wish I wouldve told him. I wish I wasn’t living with this regret. This song also helps me feel like there are more people out there feeling the way I do. R.I.P. Danial 9. 19. 1997- 10. 5. 2017.
    Add your reply
  • U
    + 3
    Unregistered
    The song is about loss, the deep pain, dealing & acknowledge of what you cannot change. That said accepting the loss; slowly dealing with it, you can find redemption, if only you let go of the, what ifs & accept & embrace the loved ones gone never forget you - they are locked in your heart, where all memories are kept. This song sums up how I feel because I am grieving the loss of several important people in my life & I know 1 day I will see them again, but at this time I must feel the loss, own it, work with it & most of all learn to live with it! A beautiful song ♡.
    Add your reply
  • U
    + 3
    Unregistered
    This song. This song. This song. I heard it a thousand times and I swear god that I cry each time I hear it. Noticing that I don't have a boyfriend. But I'm in love with someone and I can't tell him. Simply cuz he loves my friend. I'm doing my best to get rid of this emotions. What hurts the most is that I can't ignore my feelings. Pfff. Just hard. Simply this song means to watch the one you love standing each day front of you and you are unable to tell him what does he mean to you. Watching him with another and that another is a close friend. God hard to deal with that.
    Add your reply
  • U
    + 2
    Unregistered
    its about losing someone because you have ptsd,.. guarenteed.... im living it word for word right now... ive been with her for over 15 years,, i had bad ptsd episode that lasted way too long... ive loved her for the whole 15 years.. but during this episode i pulled away from her (not even knowing i was doing it).. she felt unloved and unwanted that she walked out.. This ptsd episode was so bad that i just watched her leave, to her she felt like i didnt love her anymore.. for me i never stopped, the ptsd basically made me feel like i didnt deserve her.. and it physically stopped me from showing or telling her how i really felt... i was completely emotionally detached.... she's gone...... and now my episode stopped... im stuck knowing the pain i put her through, and watching her walk away... i love her, no doubt.. but couldnt show her (actions or words, i was like a zombie)... but she doesnt understand,, she thinks its not true, all she says is if i loved her, i would have showed her,and stopped her... I honestly couldnt , i didn't even realize i was hurting her..... so now shes gone,, and im living in our house alone.. and basically helpless because she cant fathom when i try to explain. she wont believe a word from me.............this song is someone living through a total nightmare, if youve never had ptsd, you cant fully understand and the song will not make sence... Those of us who have it, this song is chilling reminder, of a horrible experience of what is like to feel utterly and completely unworthy and hopeless to your core, .......ANYONE ELSE SUFFERING FROM PTSD... YOU ARE NOT ALONE, AND DONT GIVE UP FIGHTING
    Add your reply
  • b
    + 2
    Batman13
    This song has a lot of meaning to me. To be honest, I've heard it a thousand times but, I cried every time. It's just hard to actually pay attention to the lyrics and not cry. This song just means so much. It hurts me to listen to this song. Honestly, it's just a really sad song.
    Add your reply
  • x
    + 2
    Xxblyke09xX
    Actually if you watch the music video you can tell the meaning from the start. Basically the girl had a boyfriend and they were so close to each other and the really love each other but the girl's dad made the boy to leave. Being close to someone hurts specially if you two will just break up even though you still love each other. It's hard to let go and everyone knows it. For the girl being close and having a relationship with the boy hurts. Not because they don't love each other, but because they loved each other so much but the dad won't allow their relationship. But she needs to understand that every parent wants nothing but for the good of their child, for the future, for their life. This song can really be used specially if someone is hurt or in any problematic situation like having your parents divorced, knowing that one of your parents have a different child from a different wife/husband, breaking up with someone you love. I really like this song cause it really puts out all the pain that you've receive. You will learn that if you feel like there's nothing you can do, let it go, it's the past.
    Add your reply
  • p
    + 2
    pdd640
    There are so many ways to lose someone. Sometimes its something that cannot be helped and other times you know that you have yourself to blame. However what hurts the most is knowing that you could have been the happiest you can ever be with someone but also knowing you will never get the chance to be this happy again. And at times you can't help but stop and remind yourself and you wonder with that sinking feeling that almost paralyses you. What could have been. That hurts the most.
    Add your reply
  • m
    + 2
    MusicAddicted45
    Hearing the song, and seeing what other posted about the music video I feel like they go hand and hand. To me the song is about the guy/girl loves this girl/guy but never really got the chance to say I love you. And when the chance came, it was too late. "what hurts the most is being so close and watching you walk away" saying that it hurts more watching the person you love with your whole heart walk away from you, without the chance of telling them how you feel. Or being so close to it, but you still can't say it, and the person that wants to hear the words get tired of waiting for you to say them. So they walk away.
    Add your reply
  • U
    + 1
    Unregistered
    I think this song means like they had a big fight and while he/she was leaving the house he/she died and never got to tell the other how they really felt about each other. But now they can't because he/she is dead such a depressing but wonderful song it makes me want to cry until I can't cry anymore. Anyway hes saying hell cry about sometimes and sometimes he pretends it never happened but he was so close to her and then she was gone and he never got to say I love you dx waaa hes says its hard to live with his regret and he would trade anything to turn the clock and really tell her how he felt. Um thank you for letting me post this comment lyrics mode! Rock on rascal flatts.
    Add your reply
  • U
    + 1
    Unregistered
    This song reminds me and two things. The first is the death of my father. When I was five I found my father dead. Dealing with that has been hard my entire life. My father and I were very close so this song has a very literal meaning to me. The second is a story with a guy. I liked this guy so much I honestly think I loved him. Well long story short we got super close and then he cheated on me. The song is one of the most meaningful songs I've ever heard.
    Add your reply
  • KiKaa
    + 1
    KiKaa
    I haved that chance. : '$ & then he went away not because he didn't loved me he went to realize his dream and he begged me to go with him, but I couldn't. & now we don't know what could have been. ; __;.
    But this song talks about, when you're so afraid of rejection that you don't tell him you love him and then when he moves on you think if you done that what could have been and how much you lost. : '#
    Add your reply
  • maebmeli
    + 1
    maebmeli
    I love this song it always brings me too tears. It reminds me of when I had this chance with the perfect guy, but it didn't work out cuz he thought I was playing him. We were so close and I had so much I wanted to say to him (on how I really did like him alot and I wasnt playing him) but I watched him reject me and walk away. And I, he nvr knew what couldve been :( I still like him till today but he's moved on.
    Add your reply
  • b
    + 1
    BrUnO
    When I first heard this song I almost cried. It waz one of the hardest moments of my life. This girl that I waz inlove with waz goin back to her country nd after everything that happend between her and I it waz so hard to say goodbye to her. Knowing that I would never see her again. Then when we said goodbye nd gave her a last hug then walked alway it felt like I waz shot in the heart I never felt such a pain. I had to much to say to her but all I could do waz watch her walk away. This song is amazing.
    Add your reply
  • d
    + 1
    dairian
    I feel sadened when I hear this song 'cause it makes me think of my ex and what we could of been and I've ment to tell her sooo much more that she knows but that's not even the half of it(eventhough I'm 15 1/2). I miss her sooo much more and it hurts me to see her every single freakin' day like I'm melting with the fire inside of me. Wait I'm goin too long 'bout myself: D hahahaha. So yeah I love it but it hurts me to hear it. Oh and if you like me talkin like this in any way either b my friend on here or just write here on this song to me i'll check it out every day on weekdays but not on weekends! Peace. And I hate rap, it can go eat crap and die for all I care! ; D ddd:.
    Add your reply
  • U
    0
    Unregistered
    Fits perfect with a love I had for Deb. She was my angel. I would have done anything for her, and she knew it. Inside she loved me too. I told her, I would wait for her to come back to me. 10+ years of thinking about her 10 times a day is difficult, but I will never forget my angel.
    Add your reply
    View 17 more meanings

    Write about your feelings and thoughts about What Hurts The Most

    Know what this song is about? Does it mean anything special hidden between the lines to you? Share your meaning with community, make it interesting and valuable. Make sure you've read our simple tips.
    U
    Min 50 words
    Not bad
    Good
    Awesome!

    Top meanings Post my meaning

    • l
      + 9
      Leasie
      I think the song is about letting go, losing some one hurts yes and your alowed to break, but what... Read more →
    • x
      + 8
      xoxoxsweetluvrxoxo
      This song means that almost half your heart is let go. The other half walked away, and you have so... Read more →

    official video

    Featured lyrics

    0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z