Johnny Cash - Hurt
This music video provokes more emotion
than most full feature films. By challenging the norms and delicacy of death it
follows 'Johnny Cash' recall moments from his life in a time where he was very
ill. The video evokes tears in more than one place without even being familiar
with Johnny. By listening to the lyrics however a new realm of the video is explored
which just may build it to be the saddest music video of all time.
The opening notes play over a black screen
until a slideshow of images appear on the screen. Later finding out that they
are images of Johnny Cash's house. The colour scheme is oriented toward a dark,
muted but soft yellow evoking hope and happiness. The next shot is a medium
shot below the head of Johnny playing his guitar. The fact you don't see his
face in this shot could signify the idea that because he is very ill and close
to death he doesn’t feel that he has a place on the screen anymore. Even as
though he doesn’t want his fans to see him in his state.
He wears black contrasting his skin evidencing
his head and hands more. The next two shots are one of him playing guitar
medium shot and the other a close up of his eyes. His eyes however don't look
into the camera. They look down to the left. It looks like he isn’t singing to
us but yet singing to himself confirming these lyrics are from him, for him.
The lyrics evoke emotion as they are "I hurt myself, to see if I can still
feel". These lyrics suggesting has been through so much he no longer feels
emotion himself so he has to cause himself pain to feel. This is sad due to the
fact he is so familiar with what causes himself pain. This accompanies the
close up of his face nicely as his expression also evokes emotion when he sings
the lines. It evokes emotion however because it looks so real, he means it.
The next shot is of an American shot
followed by a 'Cash Museum' that is 'Closed for Business'. This can represent
his close to death thoughts. It could also signify his life as being a business
finally closing down. A business people may have causing a dehumanising his
life. Light is used throughout the video. When Johnny is singing light bounces
off his face representing a biblical reference.
Johnny then recalls moments in his life.
It cuts to him being young on a train then walking on a beach as he recalls
these moments in the lyrics he asks himself how he can be in this position. A
scene follows Johnny as he sings 'everyone I know, goes away' the camera pans
up onto a picture of an elderly woman. The next scene is an old clip of cash
and his supposed girlfriend when they were younger. This is an evident time
shift as the colour between changes goes from warm yellow to a muted blue. This
tells the viewer’s Johnny Cash is alone and he also sounds scared, knowing of
the fact he may be next.
Once again Cash refers to his life as a business
singing 'You can have it all'. He has maybe understood that most will profit of
his evidential death. This is referred to once again at the end of the text as
Cash says 'You can have it all, my empire of dirt'. This is expanded on this
time however as he sings about wishing he could start again. This is sad as
this is a man who at the end of his life has realised he hasn’t enjoyed his
life. It incredibly hard and personal to hear as its true, he’s singing it so
bluntly.
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