The Greatest Cover Song of All Time? 

Your comment is tragically under-liked!

That is a great way of putting it

@@corntrollio854doesn’t matter, he made it a masterpiece

​@@corntrollio854What are you talking about lol

i agree to a certain extent i never liked Trent until the Johnny Cash cover. Trent was very kind to recognize Johnny's talent. Thank you Trent.

This is a painfully underrated comment. Your phrasing is perfect.

Very deep and insightful. Well done, my friend.

Very well put friend .

As these two song versions perfectly and harmoniously complement each other, I would like to complement this comment with a similar way. The emotion of each shows the experience and power each of them have. Frail and inexperienced youth of Reznor being cautious, soft... tender. While the seasoned power and unquestionable experience of Cash lays down as heavy as it gets. This is a song from the first tick of the midnight clock... given closure by its last tick.

@@priitmolder6475 My god, that was beautiful as well! You responded to a Beautiful comment with even more heart-wrenching beauty. The 2 of you should get together and write poetry, or song lyrics, or Something!

Well said... I loved them both myself.. The 1st in also my depression and fear once my Father passed and I fell into a dark place and reading the Occult didnt help. Then after with Cash version.. realizing what it all meant as I myself was getting older.. I fought back and found myself. finally.

Very well said.

Works better since Cssh also suffered from addiction

jonny didnt want to do it because he knew his time was coming to an end

And Cash's version hits even deeper knowing he died not too long after the song released

E uma das musicas extremamente sensiveis, que transmitem a dor de se perder parte da vida com cada perda do que foi intensamente vivido e tambem a perda de entes queridos ao longo dos dias, anos e decadas.

It took me a long time to stop the tears after hearing this song. I knew because of my daughter the NIN did this first, Johnny has been a staple in my life! My father loved him and Buddy Holly. My momma loved Elvis. So who do you think I love?

I was never really a fan of Cash, nor Country in general. But uh... yeah. You're right.

It's hard to just listen to it without that fight. Johnny's voice was amazing. I'm not a fan of country but damn, Cash was great.

I know exactly what you mean

I know very little about NIN and Reznor. But he has mad respect from me for saying that. We all know Reznor wrote it, but Cash made it EPIC. And honestly, it isn't a bad thing to be known for writing a song that Cash made into a legend.

I’ve told the story of Trent giving the song away for years to all of my friends. Now I have proof!

When he first heard it, he described it as feeling like your girlfriend just got stolen in front of you. Reznor was both deeply honored and deeply jealous of what Cash brought to the song. (I've yet to watch the video. Just started reading the comments first because I LOVE the story of Hurt and have watched and read few thing on it.)

Take me hat off to the man

Agreed. Weirdly, both of these songs came out during some independently turbulent times in my life. Both versions will be forever part of the sound track of those times in my life. I love music in general so so much. IMHO, Music is truly the greatest performance art ever created by man for man. Nothing else reigns Supreme. Movies, books, tik tok.... Throw them all in the back seat. Music drives the world. Think about it. What else can make you wanna..... dance, laugh, cry and scream, wanna go out and catch and catch a dream? Love is the only other thing that can do all those things that music can make us do.

Perfectly stated

Rick Rubin found Cash the perfect song and guided him to recording it. A brilliant producer is invaluable. Without Rubin, we wouldn't have this gift.

Couldn't of said it better , the regret in his voice just made this song that much heavier...

You said it best. The cover overshadowed the original I would give this video a million likes if I could

I thought the same thing

Powerful stuff dude

In other words it depends on your point or view, both songs are for different people and are meant for different view points

What's interesting Is that Trent Is no longer a young lad, he's not as old as Cash was but he Will get there one day. Will he ever revisit It? Who knows

It’s like it’s the same vocalist in both versions, one early in life and the other at the end. Just 2 different perspectives.

I'm a 70s kid too, (well, 60s and 70s) but I never actually "listened" to a Nine Inch Nails song and the only Johnny Cash songs I know are country. I would have to say neither of them fit into my musical tastes all that much.

As much as I love that statement, I hate how misinterpreted it is. So many people hear it and think “oh, well that must mean it’s Cash’s song now” when realistically, it meant that Cash’s version is it’s own independent song. They’re the same melody, but have such unique meanings that they’re both different songs belonging to different people.

WOW. I love this analogy.

To me it always came across as saying goodbye to an old friend and thanking them for being there.

@@Dracossaint I feel the same way, almost as if he was communicating something to the music he loved all his life: "looks like it's the end of the road for us."

Closing the lid on his life, he gave us his story in all the years he had. Ended it off with a bang and showed us that he’s ready

lol ok

Hadn't come across that quote while looking up the history of the connections on this song. Thanks for sharing it ❤️

that's beautiful, man...

Trent's quote encapsulates everything brilliantly.

Sincerely appreciate knowing that quote in the entirety. The world is in such a hurry we are given little pieces. Was a blessing to take the time to slow down to read this

that's an incredibly beautiful and heartfelt quote

One day at a time, Brother.

I hear ya... January 1st, 1979 for me. 45 years without a single drop.

@@Bigfoot-px9gj That's a long motherf*cking time Sir.

Couldn’t have said it better

I had the same as a kid in music class. Crazy how breathtaking one song can be

Seriously. I feel like someone needs to prepare you for it. I've watched so many countless hours of entertainment and this song (with video) is the most cutting and raw I've seen.

I cried when I first heard Johhny's version thinking of my father. Now I cry thinking of myself.

Johnny lived it. Have you ever listened to Pink's Just Beam Me Up? My son knew he was going to die early, and asked me to play that at his wake.

Thank you for sharing this.

Glad you're still with us :) ❤️

I am 41 I have been clean for almost 15 years now. Man, where has the time gone?

I'm a friend of Bill W.

Trent’s music saved me as a kid. Pulled me away from the self destruction i sought. Love johnny’s version but Trent’s saved me.

Concur 100%

Absolutely agree

Yes, exactly.

@Hunter Vonnegut no no no, Trent's of version is a different song, Cash's is a new interpretation of a dark, brooding, NIN song. Neither are better, was a classic in it's day, now it's got a new meaning...can't be a miserable teenager for ever....

@Hunter Vonnegut Impact on the listener is extremely subjective and personal to the nTH degree.

Exactly.

A lot of songs tell a story. This one works because you feel that story is true.

@@renerpho A lot of stories tell a song. Like Johnny Cash's.

Beautifully put.

Yes, Johnny felt the song, and it showed. One of my faves. My Dad, who would not have liked the original, liked this! And Johnny NEVER faded as an icon. Only argument I had with the video.

They have different appointments and both have emotional tones

Did you just call a grudge/90s singer emo…? Ugh gen Z. Grudge and goth is not emo… emo is late millennial and gen Z tardation.

@@zerotodona1495 ur annoying

@@zerotodona1495 Mate to normal people its the same. Depressed or affectly depressed teens in black rags.

@@zerotodona1495you know goth more modern than emo right?

@@cormey8772 That's completely wrong. I won't get into the argument about what NIN/Reznor can sound like, but Goth is absolutely an older subculture than Emo. Goth dates all the way back to the early 80s, while Emo was only born in the mid-90s and achieved popularity even later than that.

Kudos to Rubin for recognizing what the song could be.

Johnny's cover of U2s "ONE" is a beautiful piece.

it's actually not incredible at all. I think the reason Reznor wrote it in the first place is because it's something that alot of people feel... with Johnny not being very unique in feeling that way.

Music IS an universal language

Well said!

At the end of the day he may have been a Country star, but aye, him and the attitude behind is music was edgy and rock and roll! Something the modern "Country" scene could really learn something off of, sonically, lyrically and attitude... 👀

@@gargudon8720 something I learned so long ago and I hope you don't mind my sharing, every genre of music has its rules that it must fallow, and this I believe is definitely more evident than ever today, because music today is a mess, that being said the music needs to be true to its rules in order for it to be correct to is genre, but rock in roll is the black leather jacket, it's the rebel, the black sheep, the rule breaker, rock and roll can take what it wants from what ever genre it wants, this is why rock and roll will never die, it can't because everyone has a little rebel inside.

He surrendered to the King of Kings so yes he is in glory

@@andersonsprairieviewfarm2552 - Isn't "being true to the genre" much more a concern of fans and record labels attempting to mass market familiarity than it is actual musicians? Most great musicians of any genre aren't trying to fit in the "rules" - they just make music and other people try to fit their style into a neat little box (which is why there are now probably 50+ subgenres of rock). Black Sabbath for example was more blues than anything, but they changed their sound and someone started calling it "heavy metal." On the flip side had early rock musicians stuck to a genre, rock music wouldn't exist to begin with. If anything, it's more important that musicians don't stick to the "rules of their genre."

@@kingetzel2755 I think there is a lot of truth in your statement and value, let's switch over to art as in painting sculpture and even quilts, there is a ton of talented individuals I see that live around me and our state, but there style, witch is culturally based is very good but not popular, so it doesn't sell well and has unfortunately low value, even though it's excellent work, problem they can't pay the bills, so think what was also being impressed upon me long ago, is that if you can pay the bills then that allows you more freedom, it's kinda like in a interview with John Fogerty , his struggle was with his manager the label and the fans, because it was his music, but he said he finally realized that the music wasn't his, that it actually belongs to the fans, there the ones that pay for it, not him, and inturn that allows him to pay the bills and have the freedom to create, so I guess first you have to be true to your fans or your market, and then some day maybe you can be more adventurous with your craft, like Rodger Waters going on tour with a full orchestra, he said that was the most fun he had ever had, but he lost his ass doing it. But being loyal to their fans afforded him that freedom.

Similar to me -- but in 86 and 15. Jethro Tull, Pink Floyd, Zep, Bowie, (and I am publicly admitting my 15 year old self loved Wham!) and I was dragged! DRAGGED, I say, to a concert against my will. Opened with Nitty Gritty Dirt band and then came Johnny and June Cash. It was right then I realized that though I didn't really listen to country music in my day to day life, Johnny Cash was amazing and I loved live music. Fast forward oh, so many years to the release of the album with Hurt and I was freaking blown away. That song has made me go back and listen to his entire collection. Life fan for sure.

One of my biggest regrets in life is buying my mom a ticket to see Johnny Cash and not going with her. I grew up on a steady diet of country and I hated it. My music was rock and roll. Guess I can blame it on my immaturity because as I grew older I gained a whole new appreciation for country, both the new stuff and the old. Boy was I an idiot for not only not seeing Cash but also not seeing my mom enjoy the experience. Mom died when I was 29 and I never got the opportunity to correct that mistake. It haunts me.

That is the thing about music - it tends to transcend language, borders, cultures and unites everyone. In the end it doesn't matter what the genre is, all that matters is does it have a decent beat and can we sing a long with it?

@@m.l.tankesly2665 Listening is enough. Can you sing along not feeling emberassed CHILD IN TIME by DEEP PURPLE? A decent beat, whats that? That you can move to it like sheep?

Amazing story thanks for sharing

Agreed

The NIN version is tortured, the cash version heart wrenching. Both are awesome.

With the ascendant and Mercury in Pisces, he is a philosopher who stands above the mental injuries. Others convey helplessness when they sing this song.

Great comment...it really stops time n makes you think

Absolutely!

Johnny lost the will to live after June died suddenly. He had been battling poor health for some time, but when he lost his life mate, a part of himself was lost too.

Hurt isn’t just about a hero die slowly, it’s about a man whose lived a full life and built up the world around him and watching it as the fun and joy leaves it and watching, knowing that his own time is near.

@@sharonjensen3016 I agree 😔 💔

Sim... ele traduziu sentimentos dificeis de explicar, o fato de ver a vida passando inevitavelmente e levando definitivamente consigo fatos e pessoas que construiram e sustentavam sua trajetoria de vida em que constavam emocoes e sentimentos intensos.

So because I didn't cry because of the music video then my pride has consumed me? Maybe I'm not old enough for the music video to hit me.

That may very well be true. Not all, but I imagine most people, when they are in their rapidly declining years, see the limitation to life. They may see all they have missed/done wrong, and can't go back & get a "do over". It's also the heartbreak over loved ones now gone - a piece of one's life that can not be replaced. They may also see that nothing in this temporal world can truly bring full, complete satisfaction, without that eternal longing for more, or perfection. That's what points us to hope in Jesus, who will one day restore a perfect world/eternity. Many young people, I dare say, simply can't see this yet, as they have their lives ahead of them, with no time perspective. @@mrdabrow

Haha whoa there bud, calm down.

I as well have a ton of emotion well up when I listen to Cash's version.

me too at 63

For real. Trent's contribution to this epic is getting a bit forgotten. It was a collaboration between two musical greats, sharing their pain, decades apart.

Like Bob Dylan said Hendrix owns All Along the Watchtower, the other greatest cover ever made.

That was the best little movie . From one end to another .

@@endthisnonsense7202 Blinded By the Light is my pick for the other greatest cover of all time.

@@mid2170 I forgot about that cover. Wasn’t it Son House?

71 is still young! Don’t plan on checking out anytime soon! God Bless.

Man you got me choked up, this was beautiful

Hey brother, 71 is not old! Don't look back on your life yet all of us here who live music and use it as a tool to help ourselves I think can collectively say, we hope you aren't ready to go yoy have much more living left and we love you neighbor! There are still billions of good loving people in the world!

Listen to the last few albums he did, with that producer. The song hurt itself, and the rendition, was indeed tragic and moving. But towards the end of his life, Johnny found hope and redemption in Jesus Christ, which is evident in more than a few of the songs among those albums. He knew where he would be spending eternity, and he is actually in a better place now... not in the trite sense people might say about anyone at a funeral or after someone dies, even when it doesn't really apply... but literally and truly. You too have that opportunity. Cash's later works themselves contain something akin to a testimony of this, and his own unique musical sharing of the gospel. We all have some regrets if we're honest or perceptive of the effects of our choices, that doesn't go away, as I'm sure it didn't for Johnny, until the end. It's not about the elimination of regret, but rather the addition of something else. That regret, or whatever it is we personally face, or question, or fear, as regret is not necessarily a primary experience for us all, can become overshadowed to the point of relative insignificance with the infusion of a far more powerful hope, and a new spirit.

Do yourself a favor and write something, if you haven't already. You're good at it.

he was butthurt he covered it but Johnny Cash gave it some meaning.

@@MrHarco77 No he wasn't.

@@MrHarco77 No, he gave his song to Johnny.

@@MrHarco77 why are you making things up?🤣🤣 so weird

@@MrHarco77 Absolutely untrue, and you really shouldn't just make crap up.

Disturbed cover sucks

I wish I liked disturbs version but I can’t get over my feelings about them

Loved Sounds of Silence since S & G first recorded it. The Disturbed version is perfect for the current era 😊

I understand from where you’re coming. It’s one of the songs I love but can’t listen to much. When I listen to it my mind goes to seeing it being played at my memorial service.

I listened to it one time but never could again. I lost my daughter when she was 33 and doing my life over has been my greatest wish.

I knew the original well, and was still floored and in bits when I heard Johnny's version. It still gets me to this day.

I Also didn't know it was a cover song. As it came out of the blue I was perplexed. So many years without new songs from Johnny... and now this one? Not much sense, but possible. Now I know, and it doesn't matter. It's also a JC song.

Actually me too. I had a phase where i listened to it on loop night and day.

I remember seeing the video for the first time and being completely overwhelmed, I don't cry easily - and I'd even accept the criticism that I don't cry easily enough as fair - but I was in floods of tears by the end of the video. Trent gets so much respect from me for both writing the song and for recognising how much was added to it by Johnny Cash and that video

Nonsense

Really well put mate 👏 👍

Beatuifully written. Thank you for your candor. The thing about the future is that it is still to be had, an opportunity to change versus the past which cannot be undone. This version brings a new level of despair to an already emotionally wrenching song.

Praise the Lord and Congratulations on your sobriety. I myself gave up drinking close to 5 years now and havent looked back. God bless my brother.

Get in mate. Proud of you 👏👏

I’ve got eight years in April, same thing happened to me. I’m proud of you, keep walking the line.

I feel like it’s a man taking his dignity back before he left this world. Proving how amazing he always was even if none of us saw it, including himself.

We couldn't be friend's if it didn't.

Same. Evert time.

The music video brought me to tears the first time is saw it. It intrigued me to learn about his life and listen to all his music… I was 14.

Hits me like a bus every time I hear it, even if I go years between each listen. It's like that box of childhood mementos in the back of your closet. You only go to it when the time is appropriate. But just knowing it's there brings you comfort.

Same the more you live life the worse it gets

Well, do something about it. You do have control of yourself. Don't give up

@@vc1396 Sadly, you don't always have control of everything.

@@xenogear88 but you do always have control of your own autonomy of action. All it takes is a little change in attitude

@@sharonpaterson1281 Well sure, life gets more stressful and its harder to manage the many responibilities that stack as we age, but to say that it gets "worse" is just a matter of perspective. Life sucks but there are always ways in which you can make it better.

Thank you so much for sharing, absolutely LOVE your story.

That's a cool story man! It also shows that not everybody that makes it to the big time and fame with fortune has to sell their soul to the Devil. I believe their together now singing a song. I just hope I'm able to get tickets to one of their shows one day Thanks again for the story mate and Happy New Year!

You telling that story is akin to adding a longer wick to the candle of his memory, thank you.

Wow what an amazing story!🙏

Great story.

the production Genius of Rick Rubin.

Same here...😭

I'm not sure what you're getting at here. Do you like the song or not?

@@mikedennehy2454 I FUCKIN LOVE IT, but it makes me sad all the time... i am very ill, and it reminds me of our limited time here...

first time i heard it all i could do was lean against a wall and try not to cry. i liked the nin original but johnny took my breath away

Wuss.

@@CB-xr1eg Such an inarticulate one word response and yet it says a great deal... about you.

@@jeffreyratliff4685 Simp.

My dads funeral song, he requested Cash's version

Lol

@@brizzle711 ??

Same, every time

Me too, my wife asked why I tear up. It’s a beautiful interpretation

While I love Johnny that’s not totally true. Dolly Pardon is also in Rock, country and Nashville Song writers hall of fame. However, Dolly is also in the National Songwriters Hall of fame. Johnny is a couple other hall of fames too

He is also in the gospel hall of fame

Chet Atkins, cash, Ray Charles, Floyd Cramer, Brenda Lee, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bill Monroe, dolly Parton, elvis, Jimmy Rodgers, hank Williams. Are all individual artists in both the r&r hof and cm hof

@@brienwilliams4315 Linda Ronstadt

Duke Ellington summed it up, "There are only two kinds of musicm good music and the other kind!"

/

Spot on sir, spot on.

I respect your opinion and all but how did you come to that interpretation of NINs version? Maybe it's because I relate to Trents addiction struggles so I can only see it one way (actually two, addiction or depression and isolation), but I would never consider it could represent teenage anxiousness

Well said well said

RR is one of the greatest producers of his era. He is a production genius.

Could not agree more, Trent and Johnny are magicians but Rick is the Wizard!

@@elreyabeja4539 his era? Any

I gotta say Rick Rubin looks like a homeless person. No shoes and all but he has an ear for music.

@@ratm524 Or do homeless people look like Rick Rubin?

Sorry for your loss. This is a powerful & emotional song to begin with, then add a personal relation, even moreso. I feel that way with Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd - my mom loved that song, and no word of a lie, it played in the chapel just after her cremation - can't keep a dry eye whenever I hear it. Peace be to our mom & dad!

Sorry for your loss, man....

Thank you for honoring your Dad's wishes.

That is the song I want as well.. I am an old man now. Saw military and all over the world and tons of adventures... But this will be as your Dad.. The one of the songs..

Cykyn I am sorry for your loss

He along with Elvis are the only two with that distinction.

Like he said, it's not rational, it's a feeling that plagues him.

Not only this, but now he's making soundtracks for mainstream movies (Disney's Soul, I watched with my GF, and about 5 minutes in, I had to pull up IMDB to see who did the soundtrack, because it just had that NiN feel to it, and the fact that such an uplifting soundtrack to an uplifting movie about how life is worth living when you pursue your passion could come from an artist that was so troubled throughout the 1990s made it that much more uplifting to me.

@@ajplays-gamesandmusic4568 now?! LOL. Reznor has been doing movies, in no small way, for a WHILE!

You understand that Trent and NIN were extremely famous well before this cover right?

All I knew is it was a cover I had no clue it was a nine inch nails cover. Got to give them respect for giving the go ahead for the cover. Also mad respect to Rubin. He brought back a legend and made sure he didn't go out with a whimper.

It was covered in metal by Hundredth and it was just as amazing. Look that version up it will strike you in the heart

@@vin_fm2354 I LOVE that version!

@@vin_fm2354 I'm an old guy. trust me, Johnny's will get you, eventually, when it starts being you.

Idiotic. Any song can be made jnto any genre.

We can't know where we're going without knowing where we came from bruv

Same here and I can't watch it again.

Me too ❤️

Ah. Same.

Both are incredible pieces of music with a lot of emotion in them.

I don't think he wrote most of his songs. Back in the day, there were singers and song writers, and they stayed in their lanes. Elvis didn't write any of his songs either. Artists didn't start wrighting everything until Bob Dylan and the Beatles made it cool.

Nine inch nails wrote this song.

@@theantknowsbest367 yep

Sisters of mercy covering Emma is the greatest cover.

@@theantknowsbest367 yes, Trent reznor originally wrote it. Johnny liked it and wanted to cover it... But both versions are different

Nothing wrong with some Black Flag either! The best musicians love all kinds of music. Disturbed’s version of Sound of Silence is another example.

Now I'm in tears. Music can be so powerful, and those that allow us to follow our dreams are true gifts.

More emotional than My heart Will go on?

Everybody Hurts by R.E.M. Makes me cry . I was in a darkness and about to end it and that song stopped me.

What about Nutshell by AIC

beach house- space song

Nutshell for me

What is name of your father?

Cash didn’t need Reznor’s permission. Anybody can record anyone else’s song without permission.

i never would of cared about it had he not. So yeah thankfully he passed it on to someone who brought it the real meaning it deserved.

@@unprofound Record yes, release no. Some bands and companies that own the songs are very protective of them. If you do it without their permission you can end up loosing a fortune. Try releasing an album with a Beatles or Rolling Stones song on it. Financially, you'd be better off taking every dollar you spent making it and burning it in a pile. Even if you wrote and originally recorded songs, if you don't own the rights, you will be fined for playing them live. This happened to John Fogerty. He wrote, produced, and sang almost every Credence Clearwater Revival song. But when they broke up he was hit with a fine (I believe $5,000) for every one of their songs he did live because his old record company owned the rights to them.

Trent seems like a pretty cool guy

@@unprofound not quite

Well said! I am in Nashville as I watch this video and it's all really real when you take in the sights and sounds of a city that inspires and shapes ones thoughts here and Mr. Cash certainly inspired nearly every genre of music. I feel honored to have lived in the same point in time as such a great person.

Johnny Cash lit the torch🔥 It's the job of fans to carry the torch; either through appreciation OR creation🙏

He faded in the eyes of marketing jackasses and business administration retards (aka people too stupid to get a real college degree) but he never faded to people with good taste in music.

Pretty sure the Highway Men had success in 80's and 90's, Johnny never faded.

Ask many a punk rocker to show their album collection. Johnny Cash will be found there. Especially if they are into roots rock as well.

Well said

Yes! Exactly what I felt too!! Love ❤️ your comment!

I could do it better

well he did know he didn't have long when he did the song so perhaps it was.

Armatrong's version of What a Wonderful World was published when he was 66 - quite a good late stage song. ;) Innuendo by Queen is not bad either. Springsteen and Dylan have published - and might continue to publish - very beauriful songs in their 50s and 60s. And then there is Bowie, who wrote, performed and published Black Star while he was basically dying. That said, I get you; there is a sense of deliberatedness, acceptance, hopelessnessa and inexorability in Cash's voice that is hard to match

@@gaetanomartire7605 all good late stage songs but dont affect me as much as hurt.

This narrator completely ignores Johnny's time with the C&W supergroup The Highwaymen.