What hurts the most – Rascal Flatts

I can take the rain on the roof of this empty house
That don’t bother me
I can take a few tears now and then and just let em out

I’m not afraid to cry every once in a while even though
Goin’ on with you gone still upsets me
There are days every now and again I pretend I’m okay
But that’s not what gets me

What hurts the most
Was being so close
And havin’ so much to say
And watchin’ you walk away

And never knowin’
What could’ve been
And not seein’ that lovin’ you
Is what I was tryin’ to do

It’s hard to deal with the pain of losin’ you everywhere I go
But I’m doin’ it
It’s hard to force that smile when I see our old friends and I’m alone
Still harder gettin’ up, gettin’ dressed, livin’ with this regret
But I know if I could do it over
I would trade, give away all the words that I saved in my heart
That I left unspoken

What hurts the most
Is being so close
And havin’ so much to say
(Much to say)
And watchin’ you walk away

And never knowin’
What could’ve been
And not seein’ that lovin’ you
Is what I was tryin’ to do,
Oh yeah

What hurts the most
Was being so close
And havin’ so much to say (Much to say)

And watchin’ you walk away

And never knowin’
What could’ve been
And not seein’ that lovin’ you
Is what I was tryin’ to do

Not seein’ that lovin’ you
That’s what I was trying to do, ooo

In losing someone you love, what is more painful?  Is it the fact that you’ll have to face tomorrow without them?  Or is it regretting not telling them how much you love and care for them?

Funeral songs can express the sentiments of the grieving, or the parting message of those who have passed on. And this very emotional song, “What hurts the most” expresses the greater pain of not being able to tell your loved one how much you love him or her before it is too late.  Written by Jeffery Steele and Steve Robson, it was originally dedicated to Steele’s late father but they decided to make it into a universal song of lost love.

Mark Wills was the first to record the song in 2003, followed by Jo O’Meara in 2005.  But it was Rascal Flatts’ version that made the song very popular, earning it a number 1 spot in the Country and Adult Contemporary charts and number 6 in in the Billboard Hot 100 in 2006.

This song is perfect for the cremation services of those who have died a sudden death, whether tragic or not.  The unexpected passing of a loved one can be a reminder to anyone that it’s never too early to express how much the people love mean to you. “What hurts the most” says this message perfectly.