The Hurting Game

Programme Notes

I wrote The Hurting Game after I discovered an old notebook containing angst-filled poetry that my now wife, Lisa, had written as a teenager. The words immediately jumped out at me as something that would work well in a musical context. This is one of many poems that I used when writing my two band albums, I Can See You and Strange Machine.

I initially wanted the song to be much longer. What’s heard on the I Can See You album is sort of what would be the first verse, but that’s all we ended up including. It seemed to work musically in its small structure. I like the idea of working outside the structures formulaically used in modern pop songs.

– Frank Horvat

Lyrics

Daring games go on and on
Subtle looks
Sideways glances
Tale telling suggestive stares

A game between you and me
A race against the clock
Time,
Time together
Eons apart
Too soon to be forever