Comiso: that is correct.
His house burned down, talk about passing away and dust.
"Hurt" is a song from the album "The Downward Spiral" released in the mid 90s (a great album and one of my favorites). The album title itself, as it is known today, pretty much reflected Reznor´s mood by the time of the releasing, a very dark and destructive era in his life.
Do you by chance know if a wooden white house that appears on the video (showing a younger Cash walking around it) was something like his childhood home?
I agree with every word Reznor said about post-Cash "Hurt".
I´ve read lengthy discussions regarding Cash´s video of "Hurt"...all kinds of explanations trying to interpret the meaning of all those images including old Johnny turning his wine cup over emptying its contents and Jesus nailed to the cross...too much effort invested.
I do not try to decipher what an artist means when singing, writing or painting...most times you will never know, or, even worse, your interpretations on what he had in mind could be far from correct.
Take it as it comes and feel it, live it your way.
May Johnny rest in peace. I am thankful artists like him have existed.