Long Black Veil

Ten years ago, on a cold dark night

Someone was killed ‘neath the town hall light

There were few at the scene, but they all agreed

That the man who ran looked a lot like me

She walks these hills

in a long black veil

She visits my grave

while the night winds wail

Nobody knows, nobody sees,

nobody knows but me

The judge said, “Son, what is your alibi?

If you were somewhere else,

then you don’t have to die.”

I spoke not a word though it meant my life

For I’d been in the arms of my best friends wife

The scaffold was high and eternity was near

She stood in the crowd and shed not a tear

But sometimes at night when the cold winds calls

In a long black veil she moans over my bones

She walks these hills

in a long black veil

She visits my grave

while the night winds wail

Nobody knows, nobody sees,

nobody knows but me