• Johnny Cash Looks Back in Hurt

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    Johnny Cash recorded “Hurt”, the Nine Inch Nails track, on his 2002 album, American IV: The Man Comes Around, at the suggestion of producer Rick Rubin. Cash worked with Rubin’s friend, Mark Romanek to provide a music video of “Hurt”, featuring Johnny Cash singing with guitar and piano interspersed with images and footage from throughout his life.

    Johnny Cash American IV at Amazon.com

    Mark Romanek had originally intended to include shots of Trent Reznor, the writer of “Hurt”, but schedules didn’t allow for the connection. Romanek flew to Nashville in October 2002 (18th – 19th) to film Cash in his Hendersonville home before Cash left for a vacation. The shoot was followed up with two weeks of archive search.

    Johnny Cash in Music Video Hurt

    Footage from the closed House of Cash Museum includes a smashed frame for the gold album, Johnny Cash at San Quentin, photographs of Johnny and June, and a bust of Johnny.

    Archival video footage includes Cash riding a 4501 steam train in Zebulon, Georgia, 1974 (Riding the Rails), walking with staff (anyone recognise the movie?), as Abe Cross in the 1971 movie, Gunfight saying, “You stay the hell away from me, you hear?”, performing at Folsom Prison, and visiting his abandoned childhood home.

    June Carter Cash appears briefly, looking lovingly over Johnny’s shoulder. As the track reaches its climax the footage mixes the crucifixion of Jesus with short clips of Johnny’s younger days. Cash pours a glass of red wine over a table of rich food. The video finishes with Cash closing the piano lid.

    Johnny Cash closes the lid on the piano in Hurt music video

    June Carter Cash died on May 15, 2003. Johnny died on September 12, 2003, from complications linked to diabetes.

    Credits

    Johnny Cash Hurt DVD at Amazon.comHurt, the music video, was directed by Mark Romanek with producer Aris McGarry, director of photography Jean Yves Escoffier (who died in April 2003), production designer Ruby Guidara, editor Robert Duffy, and wardrobe stylist Peggy Knight.

    Colourist was Beau Leon at The Syndicate, who hosts an excerpt of Hurt in quicktime.

    Johnny Cash’s Hurt music video won the 37th Annual CMA Awards (Country Music Association) video of the year and a grammy at the 46th Grammy Awards for Best Short Form Video.

    Johnny Cash Hurt at YouTube

    Johnny Cash Hurt at Fast Focus TV (WMV)

    Johnny Cash Hurt at Lost Highway (ASX)

    Johnny Cash Hurt at Universal Studios (Real Media)

    Johnny Cash Hurt at Anonymous Content (SWF)

    Johnny Cash (audio) at iTunes

    The ‘Hurt’ music video was so popular that Lost Highway released it on DVD in November 21, 2003. Johnny Cash Hurt DVD at Amazon.com

    Lyrics for Hurt

    written by Trent Reznor, Nine Inch Nails

    Nine Inch Nails Downward Spiral at Amazon.comI hurt myself today
    To see if I still feel
    I focus on the pain
    The only thing that’s real
    The needle tears a hole
    The old familiar sting
    Try to kill it all away
    But I remember everything

    What have I become?
    My sweetest friend
    Everyone I know
    Goes away in the end
    You could have it all
    My empire of dirt
    I will let you down
    I will make you hurt

    I wear this crown of thorns (originally shit)
    Upon my liar’s chair
    Full of broken thoughts
    I cannot repair
    Beneath the stains of time
    The feelings disappear
    You are someone else
    I am still right here

    Johnny Cash American V at Amazon.comWhat have I become?
    My sweetest friend
    Everyone I know
    Goes away in the end

    You could have it all
    My empire of dirt
    I will let you down
    I will make you hurt
    If I could start again
    A million miles away
    I would keep myself
    I would find a way

    Johnny Cash MySpace

    Johnny Cash Music

    Johnny Cash American V A Hundred Highways at Amazon.com

    Nine Inch Nails Downward Spiral Album at Amazon.com

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    Posted in Inspiration, Music Videos

    3 Responses to Johnny Cash Looks Back in Hurt

    1. Stephen Souness says:

      This song also featured prominently in an episode of “Third Watch”.

    2. Ben says:

      When that man at the record shop ask J.R cash “if you could sing one song. one song to sum up your whole life. one song to tell every one how you feel”. This is EASYILY the song. I love you johnny



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