Johnny Cash’s Epitah
Some of you have already seen this video. (Sensitive souls may want to skip this … it’s painful to watch and not easily interpreted.) Blissfully ignorant, I came across it just this afternoon. This was one of the last songs recorded by Johnny Cash, in the grip of his final illness, before his death in 2003. It has to be the most powerful music video I have ever seen. Much could be said, but my words would be cheap. One thing stands out clearly, however: Johnny Cash was a penitent. May he repose eternally in the love of God.
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Yes this was an awesome cover of the Nine Inch Nails song Hurt. The video is hard to watch and it is quite an emotional experience, but truth has that effect.
“One thing stands out clearly, however: Johnny Cash was a penitent. May he repose eternally in the love of God.”
Ditto.
Penance meeting Divine Mercy is a wonderous thing.
I used to listen to J.C.’s version of that song (never heard the original and don’t really have a desire to do so) alot when I first heard it a few years ago. Its a great song. I’ve never seen the video until now though. Wow! That was pretty powerful. Thanks for sharing that Jeff, and I think you summed it up pretty well.
One of those cases where someone covers a song and makes it so completely their own that the original pales in comparison. I think even Trent Reznor would agree.
I agree. I’ve always thought this was a powerful work of art. I bet the songwriter, Trent Reznor, would have to admit this as well.
Agreed – that’s one of my favorite music videos ever. One of the saddest things is that the house where they filmed it burned down recently. Makes it all the more poignant for me, watching this video again.
“One of the saddest things is that the house where they filmed it burned down recently. Makes it all the more poignant for me, watching this video again.”
I’ve been thinking about that too. One message I think J.C. wanted to convey is the nothingness of his “empire of dirt” – the success, fame, wealth, possessions, etc. When confronted with God and eternity all earthly achievements seem as nothing, and possibly worse than nothing, tainted as they are by sin and the pride of life. He literally “pours it out” in the video. Perhaps the 2007 fire that destroyed the Cash estate is proof that J.C. meant business …
Thank you, Jeff. I, too, have never seen this video before. The pain and mental anguish that come through so clearly and hauntingly in the video from a presumed less-than-virtuous life should serve as a stark reminder to all of us.
Let us pray that we’re all so fortunate to see the error of our ways that we might repent & make peace with our Lord before He calls us home.