 " Why Does It Hurt So Bad " is an R & B ballad . The song was written and produced by Kenneth Brian Edmonds , popularly known as " Babyface " . According to the sheet music book for The Greatest Hits at <unk> , the song is written in the key of B ♭ major , and moves at a tempo of 69 beats per minute . It is set in time signature of common time and features a basic chord progression of B / E – Em – C ♯ m – G ♯ 7 . Houston 's vocals span from the note of <unk> to the note of D5 . According to Stephen Holden of New York Times , the song is a " <unk> lament with a realistic twist " . He noted that , through the verses , the singer <unk> herself for breaking up with an abusive boyfriend and admits that she is still in love . 
