Johnny Cash and Redemption

I watched Walk the Line, the movie about singer Johnny Cash last night. Overall I was very impressed.

If there’s any complaint I have, it’s that the movie was very much like Ray. Singer has an incredible amount of talent. Singer has emotional and psychological damage from childhood. Singer turns to drugs and adulterous affairs, destroying his life and nearly killing himself. Singer finds redemption in painful recovery process. In this respect, the two movies are identical. Still, both are great movies with great performances by their lead actors (Joaquin Phoenix in Walk the Line and Jamie Foxx in Ray).

Watching the movie, I was reminded of song Cash sung not long before his death. The song is titled Hurt, and it’s a Nine Inch Nails cover. For what it’s worth, I’m no fan of Nine Inch Nails. But this song, combined with the video, is one of the most poignant pieces of art I’ve ever seen reflecting on the mistakes of a lifetime.

I’ve included the video, and if you haven’t seen it, give it a watch. The words, the corresponding imagery, and the tiredness of Cash’s voice give me chills.

I hurt myself today
to see if I still feel
I focus on the pain
the only thing that’s real
the needle tears a hole
the old familiar sting
try to kill it all away
but I remember everything

what have I become?
my sweetest friend
everyone I know
goes away in the end
and you could have it all
my empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt

I wear this crown of thorns
upon my liar’s chair
full of broken thoughts
I cannot repair
beneath the stains of time
the feelings disappear
you are someone else
I am still right here

what have I become?
my sweetest friend
everyone I know
goes away in the end
and you could have it all
my empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt

if I could start again
a million miles away
I would keep myself
I would find a way