Song in my head July 15

July 15,2005-- Johnny Cash-Hurt. Cover versions are always a dangerous proposition for an artist. As things turn out the re-makes never really do justice to the original, though there are some rare occasions where a re-make takes on a life of its own. This is the case with Hurt, the Nine Inch Nail song from Trent Reznor, which Cash captured perfectly on his AmericanIV Recording "The Man Comes Around".

From the haunting piano which resonates with urgency as the song progresses, to Cash's perfect delivery of lines, this is a song that Cash took and made his own. Aided by a remarkable video which captures the tone perfectly, you can sense this ownership in his line "my empire of dirt, I will let you down, I will make you hurt", feeling the weight of a life lived and tragically soon to come to an end.

Johnny Cash recorded many songs over his lengthy career, many of which defined country music for decades. With country radio seeming to push him aside in the later years, it's a tad ironic that as his days dwindled down, he found perhaps one final burst of recognition with a cover of a rock song. But one listen to Hurt will leave you searching for more of Cash, one listen to Hurt and you realize that no one else can do this one again and do it justice. Cash nailed it as perfect as one can get!