Released: March 9, 2020

Songwriter: Alec Benjamin

Producer: Alec Benjamin

[Verse 1]
I had a friend I knew in the ninth grade
And he didn't come to class one day
'Cause they find something inside his brain so they sent him home
So I went to see him after school
I said "Is there something I can do that
Might make you feel more comfortable?"
And he told me "No"

[Pre-Chorus]
He said "I'm happy that you made it, please don't treat me like your patient
I don't need more medication," mmm

[Chorus]
The only way I know that I'm alive is 'cause it hurts
So anything that takes away my pain will make it worse
'Cause if I'm numb I might as well be underneath the dirt
The only way I know that I'm alive, that I'm alive is 'cause it hurts
Is 'cause it hurts

[Verse 2]
And I won't forget the things he said
Every time I start to feel depressed
To be grateful that I still have breath down inside my lungs
'Cause without the darkness there's no light
And without the pain there'd be no life so
Even when it hurts inside I won't try to run

[Pre-Chorus]
I'll be happy that I made it, I'll be open, I'll embrace it
I won't take no medication, mmm

[Chorus]
The only way I know that I'm alive is 'cause it hurts
So anything that takes away my pain will make it worse
'Cause if I'm numb I might as well be underneath the dirt
The only way I know that I'm alive, that I'm alive is 'cause it hurts
Is 'cause it hurts
The only way I know that I'm alive is 'cause it hurts
So anything that takes away my pain will make it worse
'Cause if I'm numb I might as well be underneath the dirt, mmm
The only way I know that I'm alive, that I'm alive is 'cause it hurts

[Outro]
Dam-da-da-dam-da-da-dam-da-da-da
Is 'cause it hurts (Mmm)
Dam-da-da-dam-da-da-dam-da-da-da
Is 'cause it hurts
Dam-da-da-dam-da-da-dam-da-da-da
Is 'cause it hurts
Dam-da-da-dam-da-da-dam-da-da-da
Is 'cause it hurts

Alec Benjamin

After getting dropped by Columbia Records at 18 years old, singer-songwriter Alec Benjamin built a following by playing in parking lots outside of Shawn Mendes and Troye Sivan concerts. The Phoenix, Arizona native caught the attention of Jon Bellion, earning a songwriting credit on Bellion’s debut album and later joined him on tour.

To build on the momentum, Benjamin began uploading new songs to his YouTube channel at a rapid clip and eventually earned on a viral hit with “I Built a Friend” and a deal with Atlantic Records.

Benjamin connects to listeners by incorporating using his life struggles to tell stories and give meaning to his songs. You can see this in “Let Me Down Slowly,” “Paper Crown,” “I Built a Friend,” “Death of a Hero,” and “If We Have Each Other.”