Two halves of one life; BEFORE June Carter and AFTER "June Carter". Johnny often said, "In my moment of greatest despair, God sent June to save me". But no matter how successful he became, or how much good he did in the "After June" half of his life, he could never forgive himself for all the harm he did, the people he hurt, and the destruction he left in his wake during the "Before June" half. Sadly, a month after this was released, June died unexpectedly from complications following surgery and 4 months later he was gone.
@@marcusblackwell2372 To replace a heart valve (not sure which one), which nowadays is pretty common. But there were unforeseen complications. His daughter Rosanne Cash said after she died, Johnny lost the will to live and died.
OMG!!! FINALLY!!! Someone who understands!! NO ONE every makes this comment. No one seems to know his life and how this song absolutely encapsulated his life. Thank you!!!
This is a cover of a song originally by Nine Inch Nails. The biggest(and best)difference is that the original NiN version was about the regrets of one mistake, while this version is a reflection on an entire lifetime's worth of mistakes and regrets. This was also the last song Johnny recorded/released before his passing in 2003. Closing the piano at the end was his way of signing off and saying goodbye to his fans.
@@pegatheetoo1437 That is a completely different song that you can verify by looking up the lyrics. The song sung here was originally written and performed by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails and was about his drug addiction. They have the same title but very different songs.
Please watch the ending again, and don't stop before Johnny completes his gesture closing the piano cover. The entire song is in that moment! You'll see!
Johnny Cash lived the 60's celebrity life - fame, fortune, drugs and despair. He had his own television show, held concerts with tens of thousands of fans but fell into some dark places and spent time in prison. When Trent Reznor (author of the song and front man of NIN) first heard Johnny's version, he was not impressed. When he finally saw this video, he did a 180 and declared that the song was no longer his. The video encapsulates Johnny's turbulent life from beginning to end, he passed away a few months after its release. As someone who experienced his music from beginning to end, I can say that the video does an amazing job of giving him his last act as a performer. RIP Johnny Cash and thank you Schnell for allowing us to see your honest reaction to this epic performance.
Jail is jail. City lock up was like the waiting room at my dentist's office, county was 20 hours where I didn't want to close my eyes for a second.@@rickwelch8464
Johnny Cash's cover of this NIN song is just ONE example of why he is a legend. Back in his heyday, it is said that of every five records sold in this country, ONE of them was by Johnny Cash. I'm an old woman and I have been a fan of Johnny Cash's for as long as I can remember which was when he came out with his first song, Cry, Cry, Cry back in the mid-50's. Hurt will flat rip your heart out but if you want to hear one of his song's that will make you smile, listen to Boy Named Sue, One on the Left is on the Right, or One Piece at a Time. His passing left a huge hole in the world of country music.
I loved your reaction ! As @dagmar.6954 mentioned, this was a cover of a Nine Inch Nails song - but Mr. Cash has put an indelible stamp of his own on it. He changed the focus of the lyrics by his phrasing and how he presented the message. The video producer (can't remember the name at this time) used the film clips to very effectively communicate and reinforce that focus. Enough so that the original composer said that is was Johnny's song now. Incredible performance. Strong, even forceful. Impactful. If this doesn't get you 'in your feels', you need to check that you still have a pulse.
Thank you for your kind reaction. Something that most people do not know is that Johnny Cash is in the Country Music, Gospel Music, Rock and Roll Music and Songwriter's Halls of Fame. The only other person who is in all four music Halls of Fame is Elvis Presley.
This song was originally written & performed by "Nine Inch Nails". It was written about drugs & depression. But Johnny Cash's version is considered the best. His version is more about regret for past mistakes in life & realizing material things & fame mean nothing in the end. When the video was filmed in February 2003, Cash was 71 years old & had serious health problems. His frailty is clearly evident in the video. He died seven months later, on September 12 & his wife, June Carter Cash, who is shown gazing at her husband in two sequences of the video, had died on May 15 of the same year.
I loved this song when I was young, and it was a nine-inch nails song. Now I am over 50, and Johnny's version hits in a whole different way. Much more power. Much more intense. Trent is a great songwriter, To be relevant and arguably better 30 years later? Damn.
You left out the best part... When the original songwriter, Trent Reznor heard Johnny Cash's cover, he was asked something along the lines of: "What did you think of Johnny Cash's cover of your song?" He replied: "That's Johnny Cash's song, now."
@@douggauthier6878... From what I understand... When he first heard the cover, he wasn't that blow. Away. When he saw the video however, he changed his mind and said that.
Interesting fact about the scenes with June. Supposedly, they were spontaneous. She was upstairs while they were recording. They had been at it for hours. Knowing how unhealthy Johnny was and how emotional this song was to him, she came downstairs to check on him. The director instructed the cameraman to zoom out and get her in the shot, then get some close ups. The look on her face is genuine concern for Johnny.
Trent Reznor wrote a good song with Hurt, and Johnny Cash turned it into a legendary anthem. Trent was quoted as saying he did not want a cover done, but after seeing the video, Trent agreed it was now Johnny Cash's song with so much feeling. "HURT" was nominated for six VMAs at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, and won for Best Cinematography, Justin Timberlake who won for Cry Me a River in his speech said "This is a travesty! I demand a recount, John Cash deserves this more than anyone here tonight." As to other songs by John Cash, there are no bad choices. But start with The Man In Black.
This was the last time Johnny played his piano. You see June (his wife) standing on the stairs. She had come down to make sure Johnny wasn't working too hard and the director captured it.
Hurt himself, his friends and fans, with wife, and his Savior...losing himself more than once...he did not write the song, but his version was/is so powerful...at 67 watching friends die, watching my career come to an end, looking at my own failures as a follower of Christ it left me in tears...as it was meant to do so powreful...from a great artist. I Walk the Line Johnny Cash with His Hot and Blue Guitar! · 1957 Folsom Prison Blues Johnny Cash with His Hot and Blue Guitar! · 1957 Ring of Fire Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash · 1963 God`s Gonna Cut You Down American V: A Hundred Highways
when Johnny was still alive someone told him it sounds like your saying goodbye, he replied, I am.😭😭 When the video was filmed in February 2003, Cash was 71 years old and had serious health problems. His frailty is clearly evident in the video. He died seven months later, on September 12;[27] his wife, June Carter Cash, who is shown gazing at her husband in two sequences of the video, had died on May 15 of the same year.
Johnny saying goodbye. The video and song were released on Feb 2003 his wife died shortly after this was released on may 15th of may 2003 and Johnny shortly after that on Sep 12th 2003. The picture on the wall was his mother in law whom he was very close and the lady on the stairs was his wife June Carter Cash also a famous country and western singer in the day.
Can you imagine being NIN, making a song, and having Johnny F---ing Cash decide that this song will convey the final message that he wanted to give the world during his limited time he had on this planet? As a songwriter who was entirely capable of making a song all his own. Johnny Cash could have been a completely unknown local singer in a rural town no one knew about, and that would be the greatest honor of anyone's career. Way more important then a thousand Grammies. Instead, it was Johnny Cash. What an honor.
Johnny really liked the video and when he showed it to his daughter, she told him she didnt like it because the video made it seem like he was dying. Johnny was perplexed by her reaction. He didnt see what she saw. He just thought it was cool video.
Of all of his great hits he has had in his lifetime I think this song was a masterpiece in the way he sung it and with the videos and pictures in the assembly of this video. He realized in his older years that all he had accomplished would soon mean nothing! I think his best work! Low bass Kenneth!
Don't care how many times I hear this, it still gets me tearing up. As soon as it shows June, his wife, I lose it. Believe she passed away right after this.
Saw him and June many moons ago. My late wife was luke warm to his music at best. She went with me begrudgingly. She came away a fan. Johnny was one of a kind.
It's not the lyrics of the song that will make you cry, because he didn't write them, it's the lyrics applied to the person and his history. I've known the original since it came out and it never gave me chills or made me tear up like Johnny's cover does.
Sadly I'm reaching his age and slowly but surely starting to see others in my age range pass away. Have already lost both brothers as well. Wonderful song and thank you for the reaction video.
Heart wrenching is a good descriptor. That's the point. He's warning us. All the things we seem to think are so important.... Our empire of dirt.... Will be the last things on our minds when our time comes. Keep yourself. Find a way.
The needle reference is fitting considering his years of battling heroin addiction as well as other substances and alcohol. He regretted the pain he put his longtime wife June Carter (in the video), his family and friends through.
Schnell, it’s so wonderful to have you back! Johnny Cash is always a great choice. 3 songs to try next… A Boy Named Sue (humorous story), Man in Black (kind of Cash’s creed), and Folsom Prison Blues (one of many live performances for prisoners).
The 2019 release was a remastering and re-release of the 2003 video. His wife June passed not too long after the video was released. He passed about 6 months after she did . He never opened that piano again after that video.
Trent Reznor of Nine inch Nails wrote this song and the NIN version is much more loud and aggressive. Producer Rick Rubin convinced Johnny to cover this song despite his reservations and it turned out to be one of Cash's top 5 songs of all time.
It's quite the message, isn't it? Johnny Cash had pretty much seen everything and done everything. He either already had or could have anything material in this world he wanted. But as he felt the end approaching, he counted it all as an empire of dirt. At the end of his life, he had the same pain and regrets as the rest of us.
The whole song and video hits you like a train. Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails) wrote this as a young man raging at the world. Johnny turned it around as a lament really, as an old man looking back over his years, trying to put triumph, torment, and loss into some sort of perspective. He knew his time here was now short. The very end where he closes the piano lid tells me that he knew and his mission on Earth was complete, all the good and the bad. From the fast cuts at the end that include Jesus and the cross he knew where he was going and could now be at peace finally. I'm 75 and frequently go through those reflective periods, and I can see the end of my runway from here. And like Johnny I know where I am going too. Thank you my God, Lord and King Jesus, Amen
Most of these people doing these reaction videos to this song stop the video before it is completely over. The closing of the piano and then his brushing the top of it with his hands then having his hands settle on the lid is such a powerful ending image. I hope she went back and watch it in its entirety.
As you are a performer, I would recommend watching Elizabeth Zharoff's The Charismatic Voice where she breaks this song down. Elizabeth understands vocal performance better than almost anyone--and this just about destroyed her, but can bring a deeper understanding of what you just experienced.
The original song is about addiction and the regret and pain it causes. Johnny Cash had addiction problems that nearly destroyed him and his career. He was able to cover this song and make it his own because you can feel the pain and regret he feels for the life he lived. There are many kinds of addiction but that "prison" addicts create for themselves destroys them and everyone around them that loves them. A very emotional song to say the least.
Be kind generous honest humble, to feel light of soul. Guilt compunds and cause trouble for the pshyce eventually. Basicly karma. Great lesson, this video, especially in this cold age where we are taught to be selfish.
Almost lol, he died in 2003, 21 years ago. I am 2 years older than he was when he died. His wife died months before him. This was how he said goodbye to his children.😊
Hey Schnell. Sweet to have you back! Mr. Cash is unequivocally a master, as was Merle Haggard and George Jones. If I may can I suggest reacting to another master: David Phelps. Notably his treatment of ' Ave Maria/The Lord's Prayer' medley. I assure you you will be just as moved. Can't wait!...
This was recorded shortly b4 he died, shortly after June died. I still get emotional hearing it. So much that if it comes in at work out of the blue, I sometimes have to collect myself b4 continuing
Johnny Cash died in 2003 and this was his last song. This song was originally a nine inch nails song and Trent Reznor said it was Johnny’s song after this
This was not his last song. People want to think it is because of the message but his last song was "like 309" which ironically is a full circle song and ending to his first song "hey porter"
I don't know which Cash songs you may have already reacted to. Such a vast library of great songs. Here are some suggestions. From his late life time period, Further On Up The Road is great as is Ain't No Grave Going To Hold My Body Down. From his mainstream library, Sunday Morning Coming Down is amazing. Lighter hearted stuff, A Boy Named Sue, the version he sang live at, I believe it was, San Quentin. Folsom Prison Blues, I've Been Everywhere and Ghost Riders in the Sky should get you off to a good start. These are my People and I've been everywhere are great too.
Saddest part was after recording this, when his daughter heard it for the first time she said it sounded like a goodbye letter and he said yes. Passed shortly after this
I am sure others have already commented it but I will make one just in case. The song is a cover of a nine inch nails song. But his and the original are completely different. One is clearly a young man at a very low point in his life where as this one is clearly an old man looking back on life and past mistakes as he says goodbye at the end of his life. Both are emotional in there own very different ways. This was also from much longer ago then just 4 years. That is just when that video was uploaded to RU-vid.
For me (to paraphrase Joni Mitchell) music is touching souls. When you listen to this rendition from purely a technical point of view, this is not a hard melody, the reach is easy etc. But oh! how he hits my emotions every single time with this song: a sad reflection on his life.
Schnell Johnny recorded this video in February of 2003. You probably noticed that Johnny was in frail health in the video. Johnny had health problems. Woman in the video standing on the stairs was his wife, June Carter Cash looking at him with concerned look. Sadly, in May of 2003, June died. Months later in Sept. 2003, Johnny died of a broken heart and health problems. One of his children asked their dad, is he saying goodbye? Johnny replied, yes.
It always amazes me how this song can be exactly the same but mean 2 completely different things whether performed by NIN (the original) or Cash here. It's literally the same song but it's so different. And it works perfectly both ways. Although I think this one is better imo.
Schnell, thanks for reacting to the man in black, Johnny Cash. Sadly I missed the premiere due to a doctor's appointment. Hope you are doing well and enjoying your new home. I encourage everyone to check your library of reactions and try listening to a couple new artists. Might just find a new favorite.
![[EMOTIONAL REACTION] Johnny Cash Reaction Video - Hurt](/img/logo.svg){kind=logo}
