“Hurt” is a song written by Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor and originally released on the band’s 1994 album, The Downward Spiral. It was later covered by Johnny Cash in 2002 for his album American IV: The Man Comes Around, and Cash’s version became a massive hit, reaching number one on the Billboard country charts and even winning a Grammy Award for Best Country Male Vocal Performance.
Cash’s cover of “Hurt” is a stark and haunting ballad that perfectly captures the pain and loneliness of addiction and depression. The song’s lyrics are raw and emotional, and Cash’s deep, gravelly voice delivers them with a sense of conviction that is both heartbreaking and mesmerizing.
The song begins with Cash singing about the physical and emotional pain he is experiencing. He is “hurt” both inside and out, and he is struggling to cope with the pain. He sings about how he has “lost” himself and how he is “not the same” person he used to be.
The chorus of the song is a powerful refrain that expresses Cash’s sense of despair. He sings, “I hurt myself today / To see if I still feel / I focus on the pain / The only thing that’s real.” He is so numb to pain that he has to hurt himself in order to feel anything at all.
The bridge of the song is a moment of self-reflection. Cash sings about how he has made mistakes in his life and how he is now paying the price for those mistakes. He sings about how he is “wasting away” and how he is “afraid to be alone.”
The song ends with Cash singing about how he is “not afraid to die” but how he is “afraid to live.” He is at a point in his life where he is ready to give up, but he knows that he has to keep going.
Cash’s cover of “Hurt” is a powerful and moving song that has resonated with millions of people around the world. It is a song about pain, loss, and redemption, and it is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope.
Here are some additional details about the song and its impact:
- Cash’s cover of “Hurt” was released as a single in 2002 and quickly became a hit. It reached number one on the Billboard country charts and number 34 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
- The song won a Grammy Award for Best Country Male Vocal Performance in 2003.
- Cash’s cover of “Hurt” has been used in several films and television shows, including Logan, The Walking Dead, and American Horror Story.
- The song has been covered by many other artists, including Nine Inch Nails, A Perfect Circle, and Leona Lewis.
In conclusion, “Hurt” is a powerful and moving song that has had a profound impact on popular culture. It is a song that will continue to be covered and performed for many years to come.
Tam Le