When the day is long and the night, the night is yours alone,
when you're sure you've had enough of this life, well hang on.
Don't let yourself go, everybody cries and everybody hurts sometimes.

Sometimes everything is wrong. Now it's time to sing along.
When your day is night alone, (hold on, hold on)
if you feel like letting go, (hold on)
when you think you've had too much of this life, well hang on.

Everybody hurts. Take comfort in your friends.
Everybody hurts. Don't throw your hand. Oh, no. Don't throw your hand.
If you feel like you're alone, no, no, no, you are not alone

If you're on your own in this life, the days and nights are long,
when you think you've had too much of this life to hang on.

Well, everybody hurts sometimes,
everybody cries. And everybody hurts sometimes.
And everybody hurts sometimes. So, hold on, hold on.
Hold on, hold on. Hold on, hold on. Hold on, hold on. (repeat & fade)
(Everybody hurts. You are not alone.)

It has a theme which carries on through the record: whatever is wrong in your life, you are not alone. It's very uplifting.
Mike Mills 1993

I guess sometimes people think when Michael's being obscure it's because he can't express himself. In fact, he's trying to find another way to say things in a way that's real to him, that isn't a cliché. He wanted that particular song to reach teenagers and not be misunderstood. You don't want something that needs a Maths degree to go through when you're trying to reach a 17-year-old and say, 'It's OK, things are tough but they get better.' There's not a line out of place in there.
Peter Buck 1994

(Michael) came up with the lyrics in the time it took us to go through the song three or four times. None of us really thought it would see the light of day. It was kink of a joke song at first. But Michael, in my opinion, is the best lyricist alive, and that song's a great example of how he polished a turd.
Mike Mills 1994

If you ask Michael, he'll say that not one of the songs is about himself. I know that's bullshit. On 'Everybody Hurts' there was a line that went: 'When everything is wrong, everybody hurts, even the singer of the song'. But in the end he said, 'I'm not going to sing that'.
Peter Buck

'Everybody Hurts' is like a soul ballad. If Otis Redding were alive, I bet he'd have covered it.
Peter Buck 1994

A young woman walked up to me in a club in New Orleans and said that that song kept her from killing herself. Now, the song alone did not do that, but at whatever point she heard it, it had a great impact on her life. I thought that was the greatest compliment that anyone could ever pay me about a song like that. That's exactly what it was intended for.
Michael Stipe 1994

Quotes collected from 'R.E.M. - In Their Own Words' by Peter Hogan

Lyrics are based on fans interpretations and are not official.

All R.E.M. originals written by Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe.

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By nich Everybody Hurts is a great song. It's helped me to understand that no matter how hard things get for me or my friends, we're not alone. I really love the song. Thumbs up to Michael for such a wonderful song!

By Mandy I THINK THIS IS A HEALING SONG AND I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE HEARD NOW DURING THIS TIME OF OUR NATION'S CRISIS.
GOD BLESS FROM RACHAEL IN MINNESOTA

By rachael Everybody Hurts helped me stay strong through my daughter's cancer treatment. She was only two years old. After she died it helped me to keep going. I played not only this song but the whole album over and over. It's now been seven years and I still play it and have such a feel of comfort. R.E.M.'s emotional insight has also helped me to allow me to know that it is okay to feel when I spent so much time trying not to.

By Michele its amazing how music affects people differently. My son had this cd and I heard him playing it one day, and I liked it so much that I taped it and listened to it over and over. I never really paid that much attention to the lyrics, I just liked the music. I wish he did pay attention to the lyrics, he commited suicide on Jan 26 2003.We had the song played at his funeral, and now it has a special place in my heart. If anyone knows how I can contact micheal to thank him I would appreciate it, I would also like to hear from the woman who said it stopped her from killing herself in 1994.
Thank You

By Terry Listen to this song whenever you're feeling down.
Life isn't easy sometimes but this one makes you
feel so much better because you know You are
not alone...
This song brings the light back into your life
Michael, you are really the best lyricist alive

By Carolin REM are simply the best. There is no other way to put it. I love them and I always will. My one true love.

By sue Rem are just so good and i love everybody hurts

By sarah soy latina ,tengo 18 años ,y me gusta esa cancion,de hecho me la se tocar en gutarra acustica y eso que yo no se tocarla mucho pero fue una la primera cancionque me aprendi.son un grupo bueno y spero que sigan asi.everybody hurts y losing my religion son sus mejores canciones ,al menos las que mas me gustan.

By jennifer Thank you Michael for saving me

By River my dear cat trough ten years died yesterday..
i can get over it... im crying all the time!
this song is so perfect for my cat,
it was NOT "just a cat", it was my cat!

i miss her so much allready
thank u for this amazing song..

peace

By Louise, Norway The worlds finest every cheer up lullaby in my book, the universal, yet intimate lyrics, with a tune that acts like a medicine

By Neeve strumming my pain." Rem s remedy for sadness, Musically and lyrically as powerful and effective as a song gets

By Neeve Simply timeless.

By Neeve Simply timeless.

By Neeve It's a great and beautiful song. Everytime I hear that song, I feel a little better, that sure is a great thing to experience.

By marge sucks

By fred Some day you might need that song Fred,think about it.

By neil This is what I call a warm song for the heart I love it

By Eugene Sapp Sr Life is hard. He got that right. I think of my brother who died Oct 15, 99 (RIP) When I hear this, But I know he is rght beside me. I will one day be with him. We are all humans with a soul.

By gerardo We are not alone. If we can see that sometimes even when we are down. We can help each other even if we are Strangers. GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU.

By gerardo It is truly an amazing song it means so much, and many people think that it is a sad song- but it isn't it is a song about trying to pick yourself up because everyone feels bad at some point, but don't worry because everything will turn out ok. It is so meaningful! I love Michael- he really knows how the world feels

By Kara i love this song so any things have gone wrong in my life lately that i feel strongly about the lyrics-i have always felt sympathy for those who need-who ache-who suffer but now i am one of those hurting needing and aching DEAR GOD THIS SONG IS UPLIFTING TO ME

By maureen I found an amazing cover by a new Opera Singer discovered by none-other then the infamouse Simon Cowl.

His name is Paul Potts and the cover is in the classic italian opera...very moving -- even when sung in Intalian.

Happy New Year!!

By Byron Pearce