Molly Deck

Dr. Cassel

ENG 1101-219

31 October 2019

Rhetorical Analysis of “Hurt”

“I hurt myself today, To see if I still feel.” These are the first two lines of lyrics in Nine

Inch Nails song “Hurt” which has also been remixed by Johnny Cash. Johnny Cash and Nine Inch

Nails share almost the same lyrics in the song “Hurt,” but differ in music style and significance,

grabbing the audience in separate ways.

Nine Inch Nails “Hurt” was written in 1994 by Trent Reznor about a man who is

struggling with an addiction to drugs. However, in their music video, it shows more about the

effect of war. During 1994, Aldrich Ames, a high ranking C.I.A. agent, was charged with spying

for the Soviets; Four people were convicted in World Trade Center bombing; O.J. Simpson was

arrested for killing his wife and his friend. There was an increase in the use of heroin during the

1990s. When Johnny Cash made the remix of “Hurt,” it was 2002. In 2002, the U.S. withdraws

from International Court Treaty; U.S. abandons Antiballistic Missile Treaty; Snipers attack DC

suburbs. Obviously the artists were living in different world which would affect their

interpretations.

One effect is their musical styles. Even though they used the same song, Johnny Cash

and Nine Inch Nails were at opposite end of the spectrum in terms of music styles. Nine Inch

Nails was a popular rock band who seems to focus more on the darker side of life. Johnny Cash

was a country star, reaching the top of the charts several times for his authentic country songs.
Despite singing the same song, both groups are at different end of the spectrum in terms of

music. Where NIN reaches a younger, more dark people, Johnny Cash in 2002 reaches an older

audience with a more Christian base since there are references to Jesus in the song. Their

different music styles also make them interpret the meaning of songs differently.

Johnny Cash interprets Nine Inch Nails “Hurt” in a different way than NIN originally

interpreted it. Nine Inch Nail’s music video has different pictures that appeal to people’s

emotions. Throughout their music video, NIN reveals different pictures relating to war. In some

instances, the pictures are straightforward, such as explosions, damages houses, and injured

soldiers. However, vaguer pictures such as a bird flying down to grab a fish and a decaying fox.

The war images are a metaphor to the war on drugs. Thousands of people die from overdoses

every day. More and more people are becoming addicted.

Johnny Cash takes a whole new spin on NIN’s song “Hurt.” The decaying fox that appears first

thing in NIN’s music video is a metaphor for how drugs take a toll on the body. Not only to they

affect your physical health, but they also harm your mental health. Drugs are being used more

and more as time goes on. The decaying fox is a reminder to people how drugs affect you and

how if you don’t receive help, you will die from it.

Johnny Cash’s music video is not as affective since he uses reenactments instead of

pictures. With the use of pictures there is more emotional appeal because it shows actual

evidence of what happened or is happening. Johnny Cash take this song and makes it about

missed opportunities. It shows how he went back to the house he shared with his wife, only to

discover that no one is home. Another image is of his wife standing behind him with a look of

longing as he plays his guitar. He became a different person once he became famous. He
started to distance himself from his family, not even realizing the repercussions of it. He

changed when he became a country star and missed out on thing with his wife and

family before they finally left him. When Johnny looks back on his life, he is filled with regret

about the way he treated his family and wishes for a do over.

Johnny Cash recreated Nine Inch Nails “Hurt” in a way that broadened the audience, but

it also held less emotional appeal than NIN’s version. For one, the music style is more

contemporary to younger audiences. Also, the subject is more relatable. Drugs are running

rampant through the streets more than they ever have before. With this war on drugs

increasing, people are taking more and more measures to end it.
 Works Cited

Johnny Cash. “Hurt.” American Recording Company,

LLC. YouTube, youtube.com/watch?v=8AHCfZTRGiI

Nine Inch Nails. “Hurt.” Self Destruct Tour,

1995. YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhh21crSohs