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Natalee Wallace

Professor Hughes

English Composition

20 February, 2022

Hurt

The song “Hurt” written by Nine Inch Nails and covered by Johnny Cash, is a song about

different kinds of pain. The original audience would be someone who self harms or has an

addiction. Johnny Cash's cover is more for those who reflect on their lives before passing away.

The lyrics, ¨What have I become? My sweetest friend¨ can be translated to what am I´m doing to

myself or what have I turned into. These lyrics can be translated in many different ways. Even

though they have the same lyrics, they have different meanings.

The original by Nine Inch Nails is more of an eerie feel to it. From the tempo to the lyrics

gives a feeling of uncertainty. In the song, it states ¨I hurt myself today to see if I still feel¨. He

needs to know if he still relates to at least the most basic human thing: pain. The singer goes on

to say, "What have I become?" He looks back at his life and realizes that he became someone he

didn't recognize. He realizes how pointless his actions were. Toward the end of the song, you

start to question if the singer is still alive? The static in the background gives the feeling of

uncertainty. This version would be for someone who is self-harming or someone who is addicted

to drugs. The audience may relate to the feeling of becoming someone they don't like or

recognize.

Cashs version symbolizes another pain. Cashs health was failing, and he wanted to

perform a song to look back on life. The singer is looking back on life before passing and may

have regrets. In the video, are videos of Cash as his younger self. The video shows pictures of his
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wife who sadly passed away. The line, ¨What have I become?¨ has a different meaning from the

first. Cash is looking back and thinking this is not who I should be. I'm different, I've changed, or

what happened to me? This demonstrates the regretful feeling when looking back on life. The

audience maybe someone who is also looking back on their life. There is a feeling of regret and

disappointment. The lyrics “Beneath the stains of time, The feelings disappear, You are someone

else, I’m still right here...” This shows that Cash was realizing that he did not have much longer

to live. Looking back on your life and realizing you´ve done nothing worthwhile.

In conclusion, “Hurt" by Nine Inch Nails and "Hurt" by Johnny Cash shared the same

lyrics, but not the same meaning. They appeal to different audiences with different themes and

values. "Hurt" by Nine Inch Nails focuses on the damage of doing something self-harmful.

While Johnny Cash’s version focuses on an older man who knew his life was coming to an end

and wanted to look back on his life. Even though these songs have the same lyrics, they have

different meanings, tones, and messages.

Johnny Cash - hurt (official music video) - youtube. Johnny Cash- Hurt . (2019, September
13). Retrieved February 20, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=8AHCfZTRGiI

(2019, January 9). Retrieved February 20, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=Ty-bLdf8Bsw.