Lauryn Hill

Released: August 25, 1998

Songwriter: Lauryn Hill

Producer: Lauryn Hill

[Refrain]
When it hurts so bad (when it hurts so bad)
When it hurts so bad (when it hurts so bad)
Why's it feel so good? (when it hurts so bad)
(When it hurts so bad)
(When it hurts so bad)

[Verse 1]
I loved real, real hard once
But the love wasn't returned
Found out the man I'd die for
He wasn't even concerned
I tried, and I tried, and I tried
To keep him in my life (to keep him in my life)
I cried, and I cried, and I cried
But I couldn't make it right

[Pre-Chorus]
But I, I loved the young man
And if you ever been in love
Then you'd understand

[Chorus]
That what you want might make you cry
What you need might pass you by
If you don't catch it
If you don't catch it, if you don't catch it
And what you need ironically
Will turn out what you want to be
If you just let it (if you just let it)
If you just let it (if you just let it)

[Verse 2]
See, I thought this feeling, it was all that I had
But how could this be love
And make me feel so bad? (gave up my power)
Gave up my power, I existed for you
But whoever knew, the voo-doo you'd do

[Pre-Chorus]
But I, I loved the young man
And if you ever been in love
Then you'd understand

[Chorus]
That what you want might make you cry
What you need might pass you by
If you don't catch it (if you don't catch it)
(if you don't catch it)
And what you need ironically
Will turn out what you want to be
If you just let it (if you just let it)
If you just let it (if you just let it)
See what you want might make you cry
What you need might pass you by
If you don't catch it (if you don't catch it)
(if you don't catch it)
And what you need ironically
Will turn out what you want to be
If you just let it (if you just let it)
If you just let it (if you just let it)

[Refrain]
When it hurts so bad (when it hurts so bad)
When it hurts so bad (when it hurts so bad)
Why's it feel so good? (when it hurts so bad)
(When it hurts so bad)
(When it hurts so bad)
When it hurts so bad (when it hurts so bad)
When it hurts so bad (when it hurts so bad)
Why's it feel so good? (when it hurts so bad)
(When it hurts so bad)
(When it hurts so bad)
When it hurts so bad (when it hurts so bad)
So bad (when it hurts so bad)
(When it hurts so bad)
(When it hurts so bad)

[Skit: Teacher]
You ain't said nothin'
Why you ain't say somethin' to me?
(Boy 1)
I feel like love right now is like confusion
It's like people think they love somebody
When they don't really love somebody
Like I thought I was in love with this girl but I really wasn't
It's like now, I don't feel about her
(Laughter)
[Teacher]
Ok. Alright
You think that TV and music have somethin' to do with
Why people are always confused about love?
(Girl 1)
(Yes!)
Why?
(Cause today we listen to a lot of TV a lot of music
And it sounds nice but it may not always be right for you)
We need to put you on a bullhorn
Let you ride around Newark

As one of the founding members of Fugees, Lauryn Hill has spit her truthful lyrics unlike any female rap artist in history. Being as informative as she is inspiring, Lauryn has received monumental success with her solo albums going multi-platinum.

Her classic, critically acclaimed debut album Miseducation of Lauryn Hill went outside of the box for female rappers of her kind, making listeners think about greater causes in their community and how to be a powerful female without selling yourself short. The album also proved to be a huge landmark in rap, as it combined rap, r&b and neo-soul into a unique and beautiful mixture, full of different religious stories and concepts.

Although she retired after the success of her debut, mostly due to her child, Lauryn continued to make appearances at different shows (including at a concert with Drake in 2014). Shortly after announcing her official retirement, Lauryn returned to the scene to release MTV Unplugged 2.0, a live album where she explored with folk, departing from her rap/neo-soul style. Hill is also set to perform tracks from Miseducation in 2018 on its 20th Anniversary.

more tracks from the album

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

From the album

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998)

Lauryn Hill popular songs

When It Hurts so BadLauryn Hill

Lauryn Hill

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill