Johnny Cash covers “Hurt”
2008-01-02So, I happen to be really late to this party. Sue me.
Just recently, while playing Dogs in the Vineyard, I discovered the music of Johnny Cash. First was “When the Man Comes Around”, which is about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, but is also frighteningly descriptive of what happens when the Dogs come to town.
And then I discovered “Hurt“. This was originally a Nine Inch Nails song that Cash covered. Yeah, I remember thinking it was weird when I heard about it. But the power of the song….
See, I expect Trent Reznor to whine about drug abuse. That’s probably not fair to him, but he hasn’t exactly established himself as a pillar of the community.
But when Cash sings it, it’s different:
what have I become?
my sweetest friend
everyone I know
goes away in the end
and you could have it all
my empire of dirtI will let you down
I will make you hurt
I know only a little of Cash’s story, but I hear in this the painful regret for the times in his life when his addiction to drugs inflicted so much pain. Reznor seems to be singing to someone; Cash is singing to his wife and to Jesus.
Powerfully moving.