"Permanent Hurt" by John Hiatt is a song about the lasting emotional pain and heartbreak that can come from failed relationships or betrayals. The lyrics depict the various ways in which this hurt is manifested. The opening lines, "What is that fallin' out of your eyes / What is that rollin' on down your shit / Thunder and lightning from the bloodshot skies / This time it's feeling like a permanent hurt," suggest the overwhelming sadness and despair that the protagonist is experiencing. They are witnessing the tears and emotional turmoil, feeling as if this pain will be enduring. The lyrics also allude to infidelity, with the lines "What is that lipstick up on his sleeve / Where's the forgiveness that's stronger than dirt / Tearin' the words out when you ask him to leave / This time it's gonna be a permanent hurt." These lines suggest the betrayal and the difficulty of finding forgiveness in such circumstances. The protagonist acknowledges that this time, the hurt will be permanent. The chorus of the song, "A permanent hurt, yeah a permanent
