First Time Hearing Johnny Cash

Trent Reznor said that hearing this song by Johnny was like seeing an old girlfriend with someone else and realizing that he was better for her than you would ever be.

I don’t believe Johnny was depressed. He knew where he was in life. This was goodbye my friends.

Eventually, Trent Reznor said that this was no longer his song after this performance, in an interview he said that when he received the audio cover, he didn't payed much attention, it was until the video came out that he realized the power of what Johnny Cash did.

"I wear this crown of thorns upon my liar's chair..." is a lyric that Johnny changed from the original Reznor lyrics, but it perfectly portrayed the struggle between his devout faith and his personal sins and addictions - like saying he was trying to identify with Christ, but was at the same time saddled to a throne of lies. Brutal honesty.

As others have mentioned, this was written by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails. It's the final track of their concept album "The Downward Spiral" and is largely inspired (if that's the right word to use) by Reznor's own depression and drug addiction. So while the original paints a picture of someone contemplating suicide, in Cash's version we see an aged person coming to terms with their own mortality, and evaluating their life's worth. Same song, same lyrics (with a notable exception; "Crown of Shit" becomes "Crown of Thorns") and yet two very different pieces. Sublime. Edit I'm aware of the fact that Cash had struggled with drug addiction and alcoholism, among other things, so it's not necessary to point out that fact.

Fun Fact: The shot with his wife standing on the staircase wasn’t planned. She came down to check on him while they were filming and the director loved the way it looked and included it in the video.

This was a man taking stock of his life, as we all will someday. The humility, the vulnerability, the sadness, and the humanity is something that we all can connect with. It cuts deep, I think, because we know that someday we will ALL be in that same place.

"This song effected me in a way I can't define" A lot of us feel that way. I first heard this right after it came out and was immediately blown away. Less than a year later he died. I remember I was 19 and working at a coffee shop, the news was on, they announced he had died and started playing this music video. I dropped to my knees in shock in the middle of my shift. An elderly trucker came over and asked what was wrong; I pointed at the TV and said Johnny cash died. The man frowned as tears welled up in his eyes, he took a knee beside me, and quietly prayed.

When Johnny recorded the video for this and showed his wife and daughter before if was premiered. His daughter looked at him and said "dad it sounds like you're saying goodbye" he looked her dead in the eye and said "I am"

Johnny didn’t write this song, it’s a nine inch nails song but he did a cover. I literally can’t listen to Johnnys version without crying, it’s so emotional, it’s like the lyrics were meant for him.

NIN sang this as a young man in the middle of addiction and did very well. Jhonny took it and told the same story but as an old man looking back on his life of addiction. The same story at different points of life is what hits so hard.

I can't even hear Johnny's version without getting chills, and the video makes it exponentially more powerful. Weaving in the images of his past and then present, then closing the piano down and rubbing it with his hands as if to say goodbye. In my opinion, it is by far the greatest video and performance ever recorded.

Amazing reaction. This was Johnny's final recording. His wife, June (on the stairs in the video), passed away 3 months after the video was shot, and Johnny passed 3-4 months after she did. Rumour has it that when he showed the video to his daughter she said "it's as if you are saying goodbye" and he said " I am". The first time I heard his version I was not in a great mental state and the key progression was hitting me in the feels, but it is masterful and haunting to me.

"Everyone goes away" is also a literal situation for the elderly. They literally outlive all friends and family. A dark thought

As a person experiencing deterioration of my body and cognitive function, this song hit me deeply, I've never heard this piece before. Thank-you.

I remember openly weeping the first time I saw this. He was saying goodbye and it’s extremely intimate.

His last recorded song. And of course it was a hit! He lost his beloved June not long after this. And he followed soon after. Thank you both for the many years of fantastic music. May you RIP!

While Trent Reznor wrote and preformed this song for years, I feel that Johnny Cash’s version is the defining version of this song. Made more potent knowing that he recorded it after his wife had passed away, and he was not long for this world. In fact, recording this song and video was one of the last things that he did in his life. EPIC SONG!

Johnny Cash had a way reaching one deep down in the core when he sang. He made one "feel" the music. I love his songs. But this one is my favorite cause it's so raw.

Tried to make it through this without crying for once. Didn't even make it past the first chords. Goodbyes always hurt, and this was Johnny Cash's goodbye to the world.