This song was a done as a cover by Johnny Cash in 2003 just before he died in the following December. The song was originally done by Nine Inch Nails in 1994 but could be argued to have deeper, more personal meaning to Johnny Cash. The song uses a lot of biblical imagery as well as other metaphors that suggest a theme of reminiscence and reflection in dark times.
The music video for the song adds in the biblical symbolism of which the lyrics suggests but also adds in archive footage to create the idea of nostalgia on the life he used to have. This video could be seen as an abstract narrative because it is partly a narrative of his music career. There is also some performance which shows Cash as the old man he is after coming out from all the troubling time in his past.
Deconstructing The Video:
The first image we see is a statue of Jesus Christ on the cross wearing a crown of thorns. The biblical imagery cuts with the beat of the music, showing that each symbol is just as important as the last. It also forebodes a future theme and idea for later on in the song.
The colour scheme shows that the song is being sung in the sunrise. The connotations of the sunrise is that something is at an end. As we can see Cash looking into the sunlight, we can infer that his life is ending. The sunlight is also shining on his guitar; the centre of his career, which could also suggest that his career is at an end as well.
The way he looks into the sunlight doesn't just connote the end of his life but also gives the impression that this is a moment of reflection and reminiscence for him as he is not looking directly into the camera which means he is not directly addressing the audience.
The mise-en-scene is important in this video as, not only does it have hints of religion, we can see Cash in his usual attire. During his career, Cash was known as the Man in Black because he wore all black suits. In the video, he is wearing a black suit in a traditional southern style to show his identity as the musician he once was.
It then cuts to an American flag waving in the breeze. This could symbolise patriotism and how Cash was once an American icon in his prime. The fact that the flag seems to be located in an isolated area shows that those times when he was a national hero have gone but he is still who he has always been.
We are then shown an abandoned museum which was once dedicated to Johnny Cash. The sign says that it is closed which shows that the majority of the public have lost interest in him. It could also show how everything he did have and all of his success is now worthless to him because he has lost everything he loved.
When Cash sings the lyrics "I remember everything", the scene cuts to a montage of archive footage showing his life when he was majorly successful. This is an example of anchorage where words and images combine to create meaning. The combination of these lyrics and the images of Cash when he was younger adds to the theme of reminiscence and reflection as he looks back on his life and how things have changed.
Another example of anchorage is when Cash sings the lyrics "Goes away in the end". At this point in the video, the camera shows a picture of an elderly woman on a wall, most likely Cash's mother. This suggests that his mother may have died and he is still grieving her.
The video then cuts to his golden record shattered on the floor. This is symbolic of his feelings towards his successes as he is now not interested in his achievements. The record is no longer important to him because he has lost the things and people most dear to him. It may also link to the next few shots where all the memorabilia is placed into what seems to be a bedroom; it could be in Cash's house. He doesn't want anyone to see him as a successful celebrity any more. It is as if he is ashamed of all his publicity and wants to go back to the average life he had before becoming famous, so he hides or destroys any evidence of his fame.
It then cuts to more archive footage of Cash visiting an old house that looks abandoned. This is linked to the theme of reminiscence and shows that this house has significance to Cash. It makes the audience wonder who's house this was and whether it was the house he grew up in or the house where he raised his family. We can then infer that, if Cash is thinking of this specific place, he wants to go back to that time as they could of been happier days.
Between these shots, we can see Cash at a banquet table. This links in with the religious connotations as it mirrors the last supper. Cash is in the role of Jesus Christ and his fans would be his disciples. However, there are no other people around the table suggesting that all of his fans are no longer supporting him or that he has pushed them away. There is masses amount of food on the table but they are rotting away. This represents how his wealth and fame are also rotting away to him because he doesn't want anything to do with it any more. It makes it seem that Cash has thrown away all that he built up during the peak of his career. This could be because he is alone and he feels that non of his fame and fortune means anything if he is alone.
Another symbolic feature at the banquet table is when Cash pours away the wine over the table. To me, this represents his blood and how he put his heart and soul into his career but now, nothing matters any more.
At the end of the song, there is a shot of Cash closing his piano lid. This is incredibly symbolic as it shows the end of his career and, possibly, his life. It shows that he has put his past behind him and that he is now ready to give up everything. Shortly after recording the video, Cash's wife died and so did Cash a few months later. This song could be seen as Cash's send off to all those who still appreciate him and his music, even if he had given up himself.
Deconstructing The Video:
The first image we see is a statue of Jesus Christ on the cross wearing a crown of thorns. The biblical imagery cuts with the beat of the music, showing that each symbol is just as important as the last. It also forebodes a future theme and idea for later on in the song.
The colour scheme shows that the song is being sung in the sunrise. The connotations of the sunrise is that something is at an end. As we can see Cash looking into the sunlight, we can infer that his life is ending. The sunlight is also shining on his guitar; the centre of his career, which could also suggest that his career is at an end as well.
The way he looks into the sunlight doesn't just connote the end of his life but also gives the impression that this is a moment of reflection and reminiscence for him as he is not looking directly into the camera which means he is not directly addressing the audience.
The mise-en-scene is important in this video as, not only does it have hints of religion, we can see Cash in his usual attire. During his career, Cash was known as the Man in Black because he wore all black suits. In the video, he is wearing a black suit in a traditional southern style to show his identity as the musician he once was.
It then cuts to an American flag waving in the breeze. This could symbolise patriotism and how Cash was once an American icon in his prime. The fact that the flag seems to be located in an isolated area shows that those times when he was a national hero have gone but he is still who he has always been.
We are then shown an abandoned museum which was once dedicated to Johnny Cash. The sign says that it is closed which shows that the majority of the public have lost interest in him. It could also show how everything he did have and all of his success is now worthless to him because he has lost everything he loved.
When Cash sings the lyrics "I remember everything", the scene cuts to a montage of archive footage showing his life when he was majorly successful. This is an example of anchorage where words and images combine to create meaning. The combination of these lyrics and the images of Cash when he was younger adds to the theme of reminiscence and reflection as he looks back on his life and how things have changed.
Another example of anchorage is when Cash sings the lyrics "Goes away in the end". At this point in the video, the camera shows a picture of an elderly woman on a wall, most likely Cash's mother. This suggests that his mother may have died and he is still grieving her.
The video then cuts to his golden record shattered on the floor. This is symbolic of his feelings towards his successes as he is now not interested in his achievements. The record is no longer important to him because he has lost the things and people most dear to him. It may also link to the next few shots where all the memorabilia is placed into what seems to be a bedroom; it could be in Cash's house. He doesn't want anyone to see him as a successful celebrity any more. It is as if he is ashamed of all his publicity and wants to go back to the average life he had before becoming famous, so he hides or destroys any evidence of his fame.
It then cuts to more archive footage of Cash visiting an old house that looks abandoned. This is linked to the theme of reminiscence and shows that this house has significance to Cash. It makes the audience wonder who's house this was and whether it was the house he grew up in or the house where he raised his family. We can then infer that, if Cash is thinking of this specific place, he wants to go back to that time as they could of been happier days.
Between these shots, we can see Cash at a banquet table. This links in with the religious connotations as it mirrors the last supper. Cash is in the role of Jesus Christ and his fans would be his disciples. However, there are no other people around the table suggesting that all of his fans are no longer supporting him or that he has pushed them away. There is masses amount of food on the table but they are rotting away. This represents how his wealth and fame are also rotting away to him because he doesn't want anything to do with it any more. It makes it seem that Cash has thrown away all that he built up during the peak of his career. This could be because he is alone and he feels that non of his fame and fortune means anything if he is alone.
Another symbolic feature at the banquet table is when Cash pours away the wine over the table. To me, this represents his blood and how he put his heart and soul into his career but now, nothing matters any more.At the end of the song, there is a shot of Cash closing his piano lid. This is incredibly symbolic as it shows the end of his career and, possibly, his life. It shows that he has put his past behind him and that he is now ready to give up everything. Shortly after recording the video, Cash's wife died and so did Cash a few months later. This song could be seen as Cash's send off to all those who still appreciate him and his music, even if he had given up himself.
No comments:
Post a Comment