13.3 - Comparison: Hurt by Johnny Cash

To-Do Date: Sat Jan 16 2021 07:59:59 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

 

Musical Comparison - Hurt by Johnny Cash

This is a reinterpretation of the same song by musical icon - Johnny Cash.

Is this version about the same thing? Does it have the same message?

 

 

While musically similar and using the same lyrics, this version has a noticeably different message and tone from the original.

Once again it is important to research the musician and the performance in order to find out the real intent behind this cover. Here are a few points to consider:

    • Johnny Cash is a widely-celebrated American music legend, one of the best-selling music artists of all time, and an inductee of the Country Music, Rock and Roll, and Gospel Hall of Fame
    • At the time of the video, Cash was 71 years old, had serious health problems, and was dealing with the struggles of a late-stage music career
    • The goal of the video was to “capture both his legendary past and the stark and seemingly cruel reality of the present”

 

How does this information change how you listen to Johnny Cash’s cover of Hurt? 

Did this information challenge your interpretation or reinforce it?

 

By understanding the legacy of Johnny Cash it’s clear that his cover of “Hurt” is not just a loose collection of sad lyrics and images but a commentary on legacy, waning relevance, age, and loneliness.