But he had an ability, through his songs, to be a spokesperson for more than one generation, for farmers, for immigrants, for the human rights of prisoners, for the ordinary god-fearing working class American. And he embraced many musical styles: country, folk, rock & roll, rockabilly, blues, gospel. The Man In Black had soul, empathy, a brutal honesty, a humanity that recognised and could be recognised by anyone.
The 2 songs I have chosen are from his final year, suffering ill-health and the recent death of his wife when he was reflecting on his long hard life.
The first song, Hurt, is not a comfortable song. It is full of regret and pain, but it is such an honest and powerful meditation on his life and imminent death. Some people have said that this song and video is his perfect epitaph.
I hurt myself today to see if I still feel
I focus on the pain the only thing that's real
the needle tears a hole the old familiar sting
try to kill it all away but I remember everything
what have I become?
my sweetest friend
everyone I know goes away in the end
and you could have it all, my empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt
I wear this crown of thorns upon my liar's chair
full of broken thoughts I cannot repair
beneath the stains of time the feelings disappear
you are someone else
I am still right here
what have I become?
my sweetest friend
everyone I know goes away in the end
and you could have it all, my empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt
if I could start again a million miles away
I would keep myself
I would find a way
The second song, I Hung My Head, is also a sad story, about a young man who makes a stupid unintentional mistake and has to pay the ultimate penalty. And yet it is full of the empathy and humanity that Johnny Cash embodied, and carries his personal conviction of remorse and redemption. I think this is a perfect poetic lyric, and a greater epitaph for what JC stood for.
I hope you enjoy.
A próxima...
po
