About this episode

The episode explores Johnny Cash's iconic cover of 'Hurt' and its transformation from a young man's nihilism to an old man's reflection on mortality.

Trent Reznor wrote "Hurt" for Nine Inch Nails' The Downward Spiral (1994)—industrial rock about young man's self-destruction, addiction, nihilism. Sparse, desperate, building to chaos. 2002: Johnny Cash, 70 years old, dying, recorded it for American IV. Producer Rick Rubin stripped it to piano, acoustic guitar, strings. Johnny's voice old, weathered, shaking—not trying for perfection, just truth. February 2003: Mark Romanek's video at House of Cash museum, crumbling around him. Shows Johnny's shaking hands, June watching with love and grief, young Johnny vs. old. June died May 2003, Johnny died September 2003. Video became his epitaph. Trent Reznor: "that song isn't mine anymore." Young man's nihilism transformed into old man's mortality. Garrett Fisher explores the greatest cover of all time. Unlock an ad-free podcast experience with Caloroga Shark Media! Get all our shows on any player you love, hassle free! For Apple users, hit the banner on your Apple podcasts app. For Spotify or other players, visit caloroga.com/plus . No plug-ins needed! Subscribe now for exclusive shows like 'Palace Intrigue,' and get bonus content from Deep Crown (our exclusive Palace Insider!) Or get…

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