Spinner

The 25 Most Exquisitely Sad Songs in the Whole World: No. 4

'Hurt'
Johnny Cash (2002)

The Breakdown: In failing health, the great American singer tolls a death knell for the rest of us with this brutal Nine Inch Nails song about addiction and self-destruction.

The Waterworks: "And you could have it all/My empire of dirt/I will let you down/I will make you hurt."

Casualty Count: Everyone he knows ("goes away in the end").

All Sad Songs


Listen to 'Hurt'

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aguilamorisca

This was one of Cash' truly insightful masterpieces. I agree with one of the earlier commentors inasmuch as I sensed Johnny knew he was not going to be around much longer, and there was a resonant note in Reznor's song that only an addict or alcoholic could possibly know. The entire album it was on was a masterpiece as well...not a turkey or skip-it on the whole thing. Truly a genius and legend's swan song.

November 21 2010 at 11:24 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
CarliQ

I love both versions, but I think what makes Cash's version the sadder of the 2 is when Trent sang it, he sounds like a young man (which he was) there was a chance things could change which the did for Trent. But, when an obviously old man sang it in that rough craggy voice, it was heartwrenching because someone at the end of their life wouldn't have much of a chance for things to turn around.

November 21 2010 at 8:03 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Dan

i think Nine Inch Nails deserves the credit for this song, not Cash.

July 18 2010 at 11:16 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
John Clark

This song is actually about a man who has killed himself looking back on his life. He is wondering all the things he could have done to have given himself a happy life instead one that would end in a fatal act of self destruction. It's a very fitting song, seeing as it came out around the end of his career and his death.

May 19 2010 at 5:56 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
lucyann

I don't like the way Cash gets more credit for this song than Reznor does. NIN's original is so much better! Yeah Cash's version is good and it's sad but it no way beats the original heart wrenching tones that Reznor used, where's the original NIN version in this list?

May 19 2010 at 7:42 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Travis

Everyone just SO falls over themselves about this Cash version, am I the only one left who still vastly prefers the original? Reznor has the much better voice, and sings with more desperation and sadness? I'm sorry, but yes. The original has more interesting harmonics and chords which are muted or just left out of the Cash version? Yes. Again, it was a touching cover and an interesting novelty, but the original is one of the all-time not just songs but recordings. Although I might say "And All That Could Have Been" is probably sadder. And maybe several other NIN songs, but point made.

April 13 2010 at 4:25 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Rodolfo Loya Muela




COME ON!!!!! TRENT WROTE IT, DON'T GIVE CREDIT TO JOHNNY FOR IT!!!!!!!

April 02 2010 at 1:02 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Liz

Rick, I was going to put that in my post about Junes death.
He sang this with a broken heart.

February 20 2010 at 1:58 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Drew

This song always gets to me. The way he says "I will make you HURT", so raw. I've never heard emotions and felt someones life like I have with this cover. Absolutely gorgeous.

February 19 2010 at 8:53 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ben Dover

You should see the video of it to really understand.

February 14 2010 at 6:25 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply