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Blake Moran

Professor Calhoun

ENG 1201

9 February 2020

Hurt

In the song “hurt” by the artists Nine Inch Nails and Johnny Cash use the same set of

lyrics to convey their understanding of how they are hurt. The lyrics, “What have I become”

correlate with both artists’ understandings of the song. Both artists made music videos to help

give a visual text to the audience which gives a better understanding of the artist’s take on the

song. In the music video by Nine Inch Nails, they show pain and depression in life while on

stage at one of Nine Inch Nail’s concerts. In the music video by Johnny Cash, he is reflecting

back on his career in life as it seemed to be his last performance. Both artists appeal to ethos and

pathos throughout their videos, just in their own special way. Even though the song "hurt" by

Nine Inch Nails and Johnny Cash share the theme of what makes people hurt, they appeal to

different audiences with very different values. Nine Inch Nails focuses on his depression and

spreading awareness, while Johnny Cash’s version is about reflecting on his life and his regrets

Nine Inch Nails and Johnny Cash share very similar themes of the song “Hurt”. They

both have to do with what makes you hurt. Pain, depression, and regret all are covered in these

videos and overarch the main idea of what makes people hurt. Both artists take the lyrics “What

have I become” to heart and express it in different ways. Another similarity between the music

videos is how they both make a reference to a crown that they wear as almost a symbolic

identification to themselves that they are hurting. The first music video of the song “Hurt” was

made in 1994 by Nine Inch Nails and then was later made in 2002 by Johnny Cash. This was
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done because the song “Hurt” was relatable in that moment in Cash’s career, because of this the

two authors obviously show similarities in their videos but most importantly show differences in

how they understood the song and what it means to them.

The music video of the song “Hurt” by Nine Inch Nails, shows the band’s lead singer

spreading awareness as he relates to this song and its lyrics on a personal level. The video took

place on stage at a concert and as he sings there are photos and video clips being played on the

screen on stage. These photos and videos show problems throughout the world and helped

convey the meaning behind why he is singing this song and what kind of audience he is

appealing to. The audience seems to be the general public and is appealing to pathos and ethos.

This appeals to pathos because the lyrics and visuals on the screen create a sad emotional

response and the lead singer of the band is able to appeal to ethos since he has dealt with his own

form of depression throughout life which gives him credibility for the theme of this song.

The music video of the song “Hurt” by Johnny has a completely different audience and

purpose behind it, he is reflecting on his life while performing this song in the video. In this

video, it is clear that Cash is singing as if this was his last performance. Another obvious

meaning of this song to Cash was to reflect on his regrets in life, which is directed to one group

or person in particular. The audience that Cash made this video for is his loved ones and more

specifically his wife. In the video, Cash uses pictures and videos as he sings at his piano in what

seemed to be a trophy type room to look back at his old self and old memories. The setting of

this video plays a huge part in reflecting on his career and past since it has all of his collections

and awards over the years. I felt that the lyrics, “Everyone I know goes away in the end” is very

powerful and meaningful words that Cash lives by now as he seems to be wrapping up his career

and looking forward to apologizing to his loved ones for any problems he may have caused
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throughout his career. This video appeals to both pathos because it makes a personal connection

with the reader that makes those who regret things in their life or miss certain people upset. It

also appeals to ethos because Cash has made his mark on the music industry so there is respect

for the meaning behind his performances.

Both artists may have had different understandings with the song “Hurt” but the lyrics,

“What have I become” show how both artists with different backgrounds and music styles were

able to relate on such a powerful level. Looking back on yourself and sharing what you have

learned so that those in the future don’t have to is what I have concluded about this song. Since

both videos appeal to different audiences in the actual videos, but in general to pathos and ethos

it shows how these music videos are great rhetoric visual texts.

Work Cited

Nine Inch Nails. “Hurt.” The Downward Spiral, A&M Studios, 1995,

www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbHz9p7Z4OU.
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Cash, Johnny. “Hurt.” American IV: The Man Comes Around, American, 2002,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AHCfZTRGiI.