Hurt Video - Johnny Cash

The post of the Muse video got me thinking. In my opinion the video for "Hurt" by Johnny Cash has to be one of the best music videos of all time. The imagery, the emotion and the contrast between Cash's state and his career has had me in tears in the past. What do you think of it?

I just watched it, I hadnt heard of the song before, but I have deep respect for the Man in black, Johnny Cash. It built up as the song progressed, and genuinely made you think, and notice the serious, yet sad tone. That tostig, is an excellent song and video.

That is one the very best music videos of all time, it is very poignant, and quite sad.

Brilliant, brilliant music video. One of a very few that has actually brought me close to tears. I've never been an avid listener of Cash, but this sond certainly changed my outlook on his work. So distant, so poigant....

'Tis powerful stuff indeed. This is also a song which was great in its original NIN form. It now coexists as two equally cool things, through the miracle of binary fission. Usually when somebody covers a song, you prefer one or the other, but not so here (at least as far as I'm concerned).

I am a huge fan of the man. I think the hurt video is about the most poignant look into mans life I have seen in a music video. You can almost feel him coming to terms with his mortality while reflecting on the things he seemingly perceived in his life as important, but in the end understanding that in the bigger scheme of things it all meant nothing and finally asking the questions "what was it all for?" and "who am I?" to himself.

BTW: A new CD called American V was released a couple weeks ago. It is choice as it was recorded shortly after his wife died and you can literally hear the magnitude of abysmal grief and tortuous sorrow in his voice on so many levels. It damn near makes a person want to cry while listening to it. It is truly powerful stuff.

Just to add, my grandfather met and spent the night with Johnny Cash and his wife when he was selling boots way back in the early 80's I think. We have an autographed picture of him with the both of them too. ^^

EDIT: I finally got around to watching that video. I did tear up, I'm still tearing up right now. I never seen something so damn sad, that man was anguished. In everything he said he was. I wish to god I couldve met him when my grandfather did.

This man gave as much to music itself as he did to his own thing, country. For example read this:

"Cash, to his amusement (and, you suspect, delight) had been declared "The Godfather of Gangsta Rap." Bob Johnston, Johnny's old friend and legendary producer who also came by to visit, recalls "one of the rap guys telling me, 'You're talking about us being bad? I grew up on Johnny Cash singing 'I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die!'"

Wow, I'm still tearing up. That video is so tragic. You can just see that man didnt want to live anymore..

EDIT: I just watched this video again, I'm in tears. It practically makes you feel the mans pain yourself..

It's a powerful song I must have listened to a hundred times or more since he died.

Try this Gladiator version comparing these feelings to those of Commodus:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciDcRxumpXM

The Commodus video does not even come close to the total and pure raw pain in JC's video.

Cash is a ledgend, great song, very good video. Original NIN version great to. The whole American IV album is great.

that entire album is fantastic. American IV: When the Man Comes Around

'Hurt' of course is a Trent Reznor/Nine Inch Nails song. on the album Johnny also does the Depeche Mode song 'Personal Jesus', which IMO is even better than the 'Hurt' cover.

his new and very last album, American V, is also quite good.

There will likely be at least two more CDs released from what I have read.

according to PitchforkMedia.com it's his last. read this review, beginning of second paragraph

I'm sure there will be many, MANY new albums to come, with lots of lost tracks and uncovered recordings (they are still doing it with The Beatles), but I take it to mean that this was his last album where all the songs were new and made together for one specific LP

oh, and it's a damn good review and I highly recommend the site for finding good music. their 'Best New Music' section is a goldmine.

I saw the video a few years ago when it first came out and it was around that time that I started to listen to Johnny Cash's music. Looking back on the video now, I have to say that I don't think I have ever seen a music video quite like that. It's truly a work of art. Very few musicians can compare to Johnny Cash.

That was the video that I used to get my friends into Johnny Cash. I have always loved his work but they refused to listen to country music. I told them about this cover and they being NIN fans said no, he probably ruined the song. I told them he added to the song and made them watch it. I then told my friends Cash's wife had just died and he was very sick and probably was on his deathbed as well. My friends were close to tears and loved him ever since.

Johnny Cash is one of my musical heros.

It is an amazing video and even better song. Damnit, I'm listening to it now!

I like NIN's version, but I love Cash's cover

I just started a Cash Bash for the radio station with some very rare recordings going all the way to JC very beginnings. If you are interested click here.

That was a pretty powerful video, I do admit that it brought me close to tears as well. There is something about that man who can do that to me. Good find, I can't beleive I hadn't seen it yet. Now excuse me as I go watch it about 4 more times haha.

I moved to California from Minnesota 2 years ago now. I left a long time girlfriend back there and I always think of her still. Sometimes I would like to go back just to see how she's doing, but I know I cant. Anyways, when I think of her, I like to play this song of by Bob Dylan played here with Cash. Girl from the North Country