When you lose the one you love
You heart goes through changes
Especially when your sweet memories
Still hold their thrill
And just when you think
The pain is all gone
Don't fool yourself
'Cause here's the deal
That's the way love works
You've got to hurt before you heal
Oh, yes you have

You gonna cry all you gonna cry
And when the tears
They may stop falling
They may stop falling all down your face
But they still fall down your heart

You never know
How long the wound will take to heal
It might take months
It could take years
But that's the way love works
You've got to hurt...oh...before you heal
I said before you heal
You're gonna cry
Oh, you're gonna cry
And when the tears
They may stop fallin'
They may stop fallin' down your face
But they still fall down your heart

Oh you never know
How long the wound'll take to heal
It might take months
It could take years
But that's the way love works
Uh huh, you got to hurt
Well before you heal
Oh yes you have

Just when you think the pain is all gone
Don't fool yourself
'Cause here's the deal
And that's the way love works
Lord you got to hurt before you heal
Oh yes you have
That's the way love works
You got to hurt...well...before you heal
Let us sing it one more time
That's the way love works
Lord you got to hurt before you heal
Oh yes you have
That's the way love works
Lord you got to hurt before you heal...fade