Introduction
In 2002, Johnny Cash delivered one of the most haunting and emotionally resonant covers in music history with his version of “Hurt.” Originally written by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails for the 1994 album The Downward Spiral, the song grapples with themes of addiction, regret, and existential pain .
Under the guidance of producer Rick Rubin, Cash — then in the final years of his life — recorded the song for his American IV: The Man Comes Around album. Though initially taken aback, Cash trusted Rubin’s vision, even after instinctively rejecting the song’s industrial roots. His fragile, weathered voice adds gravity to lines like “What have I become, my sweetest friend?” transforming the track into a reflection on mortality rather than rebellion.
The accompanying music video, directed by Mark Romanek, amplifies the poignancy using imagery of Cash’s aging, personal artifacts, and the decaying “House of Cash” museum nearby—all shot mere months before Cash’s passing in 2003. Awarded both a Grammy and CMA for Best Short Form Video in 2004, and later named the greatest music video of all time by NME, it remains a stark visual elegy.
Trent Reznor, initially wary of the reinterpretation, was profoundly moved after seeing Cash’s rendition and the video. He later said, “That song isn’t mine anymore,” acknowledging how Cash had redefined its meaning .
Johnny Cash’s “Hurt” stands as a deeply personal and universal testament—an unforgettable farewell from a legendary artist who embraced vulnerability as his final act of musical truth.