About The Song
“Hurt” was originally written by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails and released on their 1994 album The Downward Spiral. Johnny Cash recorded his cover in 2002 at House of Cash Studios in Hendersonville, Tennessee, and Rick Rubin’s studio in Los Angeles, produced by Rubin for American Recordings. The track was released as a single in February 2003, with “Personal Jesus” as the B-side, and included on Cash’s album American IV: The Man Comes Around, released in November 2002. The song, running 3:38, is a country-folk ballad featuring Cash’s weathered vocals, minimal acoustic guitar, and piano, transforming the industrial original into a haunting reflection on mortality.
The single did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100 but reached number 56 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 2003, charting for 10 weeks. It also peaked at number 33 on the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart, reflecting its crossover appeal. Internationally, it reached number 39 in the UK and number 15 in Ireland. The song gained significant attention through its music video, which won a Grammy for Best Short Form Music Video in 2004 and an MTV Video Music Award for Best Cinematography. Cash Box praised it as a “raw, introspective masterpiece” with “unparalleled emotional weight.” The track’s sales contributed to the album’s gold certification, selling over 500,000 copies.
Background details include Rubin suggesting the song to Cash, who initially hesitated but connected deeply with its themes of pain and regret, especially given his declining health. Recorded during Cash’s final sessions, it featured Mike Campbell on guitar and Benmont Tench on piano, with June Carter Cash present for emotional support. The iconic video, directed by Mark Romanek, incorporated footage from Cash’s life and the closed House of Cash museum. Covers include the original by Nine Inch Nails (1994) and a later version by Sevendust (2004). Cash performed it live sparingly, including at a 2002 concert in London. No controversies surrounded the song, though its stark portrayal of aging sparked debate about Cash’s vulnerability.
Expert commentary includes AllMusic’s Thom Jurek, who called it a “career-defining performance” that “eclipsed the original.” Songfacts noted Reznor’s initial skepticism turning to admiration, quoting him saying, “It’s his song now.” Rolling Stone ranked it number 15 on its 100 Greatest Country Songs in 2014, praising its “gut-wrenching honesty.” The song’s inclusion in films like Colombiana (2011) and the 2010 Logan trailer, plus its use in a 2019 episode of Black Mirror, underscores its cultural impact. Its performance at Cash’s final public appearance in 2003, months before his death, cemented its legacy as a poignant farewell.
Video
Lyric
I hurt myself today
To see if I still feel
I focus on the pain
The only thing that’s realThe needle tears a hole
The old familiar sting
Try to kill it all away
But I remember everythingWhat have I become
My sweetest friend
Everyone I know
Goes away in the endAnd you could have it all