Hurt (Nine Inch Nails song)

"Hurt" is a song written by Trent Reznor, originally released on the 1994 Nine Inch Nails album The Downward Spiral. It is the album's final track and is considered one of the band's signature songs, noted for its raw emotional vulnerability and exploration of themes like addiction, self-harm, regret, and loss.

The song's lyrics depict a person struggling with inner turmoil and the realization of their own destructive tendencies. The narrator reflects on past actions and the emptiness they feel, ultimately finding a small flicker of hope amidst the darkness.

While initially a relatively obscure album track, "Hurt" gained widespread recognition and new layers of meaning after Johnny Cash covered it in 2002 for his album American IV: The Man Comes Around. Cash's rendition, produced by Rick Rubin, recontextualized the song, transforming it into a poignant reflection on aging, mortality, and a life lived with both triumph and regret. The accompanying music video, featuring footage from Cash's career and personal life, further cemented the song's impact and resonated deeply with a broad audience.

The success of Cash's cover elevated "Hurt" to iconic status, often overshadowing the original Nine Inch Nails version in popular consciousness. Despite this, Trent Reznor has consistently expressed admiration and gratitude for Cash's interpretation, acknowledging that it gave the song a new life and meaning that he could never have envisioned. He has stated that Cash "stole" the song from him, but in the best possible way, giving it a sincerity and emotional weight that transcended its original context.

"Hurt" continues to be recognized as a powerful and enduring song, exploring complex themes of human suffering and the search for redemption. Its impact spans genres and generations, solidifying its place in popular music history.