I was willing to bet this song would come up at some point
On one side you have the propagator of the song itself, its father. Classic Nine Inch Nails, stripped down sound, with the additional buzz like the very miasma of death hanging around it, before the final crescendo of distorted guitar at the end. There is something slightly disturbing and off putting about this song, and yet Trent draws you in, to feel his pain and despair.
Johnny Cash's version is a very different beast. His voice is old and tired and yet familiar like a worn out shoe. His is a very different pain from that of Reznors, that of a once mighty beast run nearly into the field. The big difference between the two comes in the final chorus, when the piano starts an all mighty build. The song here takes on epic proportions as we get one last glimpse at the full majesty and power of the song. Its not a youthful arrogant power like Metallica for instance in full flow in Fade to Black. Instead we are aware that this is the beast's last gasp, his very last look at the world. This part of the song never fails to send chills along my arms and neck.
As you can probably guess I have to give this one to Mr Cash. Nine Inch Nails is the more interesting song, and the one which I saw live a couple of months ago and was blown away with (NiN are such a good live band
) but it doesn't quite have the same biblical power which Johnny Cash's version seems to be distilled from. I think I will always "mark out" as they say here (
) for tragic hero's, that pure un-distilled masculinity that seems at sometimes frightening and yet so appealing
. (Always did love Jean Valjean and Lady Macbeth)