Hurt — Johnny Cash

Yeah, I know, this is really a Nine Inch Nails song.

When this song first came out, I remember watching it on MTV, and feeling all the feels of what it is like to be lonely and to regret.

At first, I didn’t even realize that this was originally a Nine Inch Nails song, since it wasn’t one of their most popular songs. The Johnny Cash version is still my favorite. His gravelly voice is perfect for portraying the sense of what it feels like to be hurt.

This remake is off of his last album, circa 2000, The Man Comes Around. Seeing this on TV, I was glued to the screen.

I hurt myself today To see if I still feel I focus on the pain The only thing that’s real

I went through a lot of suffering when I was young, so I felt all too well that sometimes the pain is the only thing that is real. Sometimes, hearing someone else echo back your own pain makes you feel validated. Less alone.

Here was someone old enough to be my grandfather, singing about how pain is all that is left. Alone with regrets. I felt like I would grow old that way too.

The needle tears a hole The old familiar sting Try to kill it all away But I remember everything

Here, I know he is talking about his drug use, and trying to use it to numb the pain. I think when you hurt that much though, nothing really makes it go away.

And you could have it all My empire of dirt I will let you down I will make you hurt

There is a huge sense of regret even with all of his accomplishments. Regret that he has hurt other people close to him. He seems to accept that no matter who is in his life, he is going to hurt them.

What have I become? My sweetest friend Everyone I know goes away In the end

We all lose the ones we love sometimes. When this song had come out, I was living in another state, far away from the people who I had known my whole life. I felt alone. Abandoned. Even though I was the one who had left.

People promise that they are always going to be there for you, no matter what. But when it comes down to it, usually the hardest times in life happen and we are alone. Most people break those promises.

The sense of loss, longing, and disillusionment of these lyrics cut into my soul.

If I could start again A million miles away I would keep myself I would find a way

I heard this and wished that I could find a way to keep myself too. I felt lost, empty and hollow. Like I had lost myself along the way. I realized though, that no matter how far away you go from where you started, the change of location doesn’t change who you are.

When I was young, I didn’t know how to change myself. I felt like I had lost so much, and I couldn’t get it back. This really resonated with me.

Check out the song below. It really is so austere and touching. I love the empty background of the video, and the simplicity. It allows you to just focus on the man singing, and his incredible, sad voice.

Do you like music as much as I do? Check out more of my writing about music in this list.

❤ Nicole

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