Words and music by Felice & Boudleaux Bryant. As recorded on Gram Parsons' album Grievous Angel, 1974.

     In G, as recorded.

     Tempo: ~65 bpm (!) (JR & WA settle on 67, then 70 - Dec 2003).

Intro chords (strummed on acoustic guitar): G  Em  C  D 

          G             Em            C             D 
 1. Love hurts... love scars... love wounds... and mars...
         G            Em             C        D 
    Any heart... not tough... nor strong... enough...
                      G       B7            Em 
    To take a lot of pain... take a lot of pain...
     G7              C       Am             D   (D7)
    Love is like a cloud... holds a lot of rain.
          G        F   C           G 
    Love hurts... mmm-mmm... love hurts.


          G          Em         C    D 
 2.  I'm young... I know... but even so...
              G       Em           C            D 
    I know a thing or two... I've learned from you.
                           G      B7              Em 
    I've really learned a lot... really learned a lot...
     G7              C       Am                  D  (D7)
    Love is like a stove... burns you when it's hot.
          G        F   C           G 
    Love hurts... mmm-mmm... love hurts.


     Em                  B7  Em       B7     Em         B7   Em 
    Some fools think of happiness... blissfulness... togetherness...
     A 
    Some fools fool themselves, I guess
                     (A7)   D 
    But they're not fooling me.


                      G      B7            Em 
 3. I know it isn't true... know it isn't true
     G7             C     Am                D  (D7)
    Love is just a lie... made to make you blue
          G        F   C           G 
    Love hurts... mmm-mmm... love hurts.

          G        F   C           G 
    Love hurts... mmm-mmm... love hurts
    F     C           G 
    Oh... oh... love hurts.

Lyrics verified against the recording.

- Transcribed by JR, KC, WA, April 2003. Last edited 17 Dec 2003. Formatting last tweaked 23 April 2003.

Grievous Angel - 1974
Produced by Gram Parsons for Tickner-Dickson Productions
Recorded at Wally Heider Studio 4 and Capital Records Studios, Hollywood, California
Mixed at Capital Records Studios, Hollywood, California
Engineered & Mixed by Hugh Davies
Recorded Summer, 1973, Released January, 1974

       1 Return Of The Grievous Angel
       2 Hearts On Fire
       3 I Can't Dance
       4 Brass Buttons
       5 $1000 Wedding
       6 Medley Live From Northern Quebec
          6a Cash On The Barrelhead
          6b Hickory Wind
       7 Love Hurts
       8 Ooh Las Vegas

Gram Parsons - Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Emmylou Harris - Vocals
Glen D. Hardin - Piano
James Burton - Electric Lead Guitar
Emory Gordy - Bass
Ronnie Tutt - Drums
Herb Penderson - Acoustic Rhythm Guitar, Electric Rhythm Guitar on "I Can't Dance"
Al Perkins - Pedal Steel
Bernie Leadon - Acoustic Rhythm Guitar on "Return Of The Grievous Angel," Electric Lead Guitar on "Hearts On Fire," Dobro on "In My Hour Of Darkness"
Byron Berline - Fiddle on "Return Of The Grievous Angel" & "In My Hour Of Darkness," Fiddle & Mandolin on "Cash On The Barrelhead"/"Hickory Wind" Medley
N.D. Smart II - Drums on "Hearts On Fire" & "In My Hour Of Darkness"
Steve Snyder - Vibes on "Hearts On Fire"
Linda Ronstadt - Background Vocal on "In My Hour Of Darkness"
Background blah-blah on Northern Quebec Medley by Kim Fowley, Phil Kaufman, Ed Tickner, Jane & Jon Doe

Love Hurts has also been recorded by The Everly Brothers, Roy Orbison, Little Milton, Don McLean, Cher, Pat Boone, Nazareth, and Joan Jett.

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