In 2000, Singletary switched to Audium Entertainment (a division of Koch Entertainment), where he released the albums Now and Again (2000) and That's Why I Sing This Way (2002), both of which were largely composed of cover songs. A third album of covers, 2007's Straight from the Heart, was issued on the independent Shanachie Records label. He returned to Koch (now renamed E1 Music) in 2010, to release Rockin' in the Country.
Daryle Singletary was born March 10, 1971 in Cairo, Georgia. His father, Roger Singletary, was a postal worker while his mother, Anita, was a hair dresser. At an early age, he sang gospel music with his cousins and brother. Later on, in high school, he began taking vocal classes as well. In 1990, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee in pursuit of a record deal.
In Nashville, he found work singing during open-mic nights at various venues, before finding work as a demo singer. One of the demos that Singletary sang was "An Old Pair of Shoes", which Randy Travis eventually recorded. Travis recommended Singletary to his management team, who helped him sign to a recording contract with Giant Records.
Singletary's self-titled debut album was released in 1995. The lead-off single, "I'm Living Up to Her Low Expectations", spent one week in the Top 40 on the Billboard country charts, peaking at No. 39. It was followed by his biggest hit, the No. 2 "I Let Her Lie". This album also produced the No. 4 "Too Much Fun" and finally "Working It Out" at No. 50. Despite the two Top Five hits it produced, the album sold poorly and reached No. 44 on Top Country Albums. The album was produced by David Malloy, James Stroud and Randy Travis.
A second album for Giant, All Because of You, was released in 1996. Although its lead-off single "Amen Kind of Love" became his second No. 2 hit that year, the album's other two tracks — "The Used to Be's" and "Even the Wind" — both fell short of Top 40, peaking at number 48 and 68 respectively.
Ain't It the Truth, his third and final album for Giant, produced a minor hit in "The Note", which peaked at No. 28 on the country charts and No. 90 on the Billboard Hot 100. Despite this song's minor crossover success, however, this album also saw its second and third singles miss the Top 40, and Singletary was dropped from Giant's roster.
In 2000, Singletary signed to Audium/Koch Entertainment to release his fourth album, 2000's Now and Again. This album's lead-off single was a cover of Savage Garden's 1999 pop single "I Knew I Loved You". Following it were "I've Thought of Everything" at No. 70, and the album's title track, which failed to chart.
His second album for Audium/Koch, That's Why I Sing This Way, was mostly a cover album save for the title track. Both "That's Why I Sing This Way" and a cover of Conway Twitty's "I'd Love to Lay You Down" were released from this album, respectively reaching No. 47 and No. 43.
After Audium/Koch closed its country division, Singletary signed to Shanachie Records. His first project for the label was a second album, 2007's Straight from the Heart, which was also largely composed of cover songs. Its singles, "I Still Sing This Way" and "Jesus & Bartenders", both failed to chart.
In 2009, Singletary returned to Koch under the label's new name of E1 Music. He released his next single, "Love You With the Lights On" in February. The single was the lead-off single to a new album, Rockin' in the Country, released in June 2009.
Singletary died from an apparent blood clot at his Nashville, Tennessee home on the morning of February 12, 2018 according to a Taste of Country report.
Long Black Veil
Daryle Singletary Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A man killed 'neath the town hall light.
There were few at the scene and they all did agree
That the man who ran looked a lot like me.
Well, the judge said, "Son what is your alibi ?
If you were somewhere else, then you won't have to die."
I spoke not a word, though it meant my life,
I had been in the arms of my best friend's wife.
She visits my grave where the night winds wail.
Nobody knows, nobody sees,
Nobody knows but me.
Well, the scaffold is high and eternity's near
She stood in the crowd and shed not a tear.
But sometimes at night when the cold winds moan
In a long black veil, Lord, she cries all o'er my bones.
She walks these hills in a long black veil.
And visits my grave when the night winds wail.
Nobody knows, nobody sees,
Nobody knows but me.
Nobody knows, nobody sees,
Nobody knows but me.
The lyrics to Daryle Singletary’s song “Long Black Veil” tell a story about a man who is accused of murder and is given a chance to save his own life by providing an alibi. However, he chooses to remain silent, as revealing the truth would mean exposing his affair with his best friend’s wife. The woman who was with him that night remains silent as well, and the man is hanged for the crime he didn’t commit. The woman continues to visit his grave wearing a long black veil, mourning his death, and keeping their secret affair hidden.
The song is about the power of secrets, lies, and their impact on people’s lives. The man chooses to die rather than expose his lover’s infidelity, and the woman is left to mourn his death knowing that she is the reason for his being wrongly accused of murder. The long black veil, which she wears when visiting the grave, symbolizes her secrecy and hidden grief.
The song has resonated with many listeners since its release in 1995, and it has been covered by several artists, including Johnny Cash and The Band. It has been called a classic country tale of love, murder, and betrayal, and it continues to captivate audiences with its poignant lyrics and haunting melody.
Line by Line Meaning
Ten years ago on a cold dark night,
It was a decade ago during a chilly and dark evening
A man killed 'neath the town hall light.
A man was murdered under the town hall light
There were few at the scene and they all did agree
There were hardly any witnesses present, but the ones there all said
That the man who ran looked a lot like me.
The person who ran away from the scene looked remarkably similar to me
Well, the judge said, "Son what is your alibi ?
The judge asked me, 'What is your alibi, son?'
If you were somewhere else, then you won't have to die."
If you can prove that you were somewhere else at the time, you won't be sentenced to death
I spoke not a word, though it meant my life,
I did not utter a single word, even though it could have saved my life
I had been in the arms of my best friend's wife.
I was involved in a romantic relationship with my best friend's wife
She walks these hills in a long black veil.
She roams these hills while wearing a long black veil
She visits my grave where the night winds wail.
She comes to my burial site where the gusts of wind howl during the night
Nobody knows, nobody sees,
No one is aware, and nothing is observed
Nobody knows but me.
The only person who knows the truth is me
Well, the scaffold is high and eternity's near
The gallows are high and death is imminent
She stood in the crowd and shed not a tear.
She stood amongst the spectators and didn't shed a tear
But sometimes at night when the cold winds moan
However, sometimes during the night when the chilling winds make noise
In a long black veil, Lord, she cries all o'er my bones.
She cries while donning a long black veil all over my bones
She walks these hills in a long black veil.
She roams these hills while wearing a long black veil
And visits my grave when the night winds wail.
And visits my burial site when the gusts of wind howl during the night
Nobody knows, nobody sees,
No one is aware, and nothing is observed
Nobody knows but me.
The only person who knows the truth is me
Nobody knows, nobody sees,
No one is aware, and nothing is observed
Nobody knows but me.
The only person who knows the truth is me
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Danny Dill, Marijohn Wilkin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind