Long Black Veil
David Grisman/Jerry Garcia/Tony Rice Lyrics
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Someone was killed, 'neath the town hall light
There were few at the scene, but they all agreed
That the slayer who ran, looked a lot like me
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, thou it meant my life
Chorus
She walks these hills in a long black veil
She visits my grave when the night winds wail
Nobody knows, nobody sees
Nobody knows but me
Oh, the scaffold is high and eternity's near
She stood in the crowd and shed not a tear
But late at night, when the north wind blows
In a long black veil, she cries ov're my bones
Repeat Chorus
The song Long Black Veil, by David Grisman, describes a tragic event that took place ten years ago, where someone was killed under the town hall light on a cold dark night. However, the singer's alibi is not strong enough, and the slayer looked a lot like him, leading everyone to believe it was him. The judge asked for his alibi, but the singer didn't speak a word to protect himself, for he had been in the arms of his best friend's wife.
The chorus of the song describes a woman who walks the hills in a long black veil, visiting the singer's grave at night when the winds howl. Nobody knows but the singer that his best friend's wife was the one who killed the man, and he was protecting her by remaining silent on his whereabouts. The song ends with the singer's bones being cried over in a long black veil by the woman who killed the man.
The song Long Black Veil has been covered by many other artists, including Johnny Cash, The Band, and Joan Baez. However, it was written by Marijohn Wilkin and Danny Dill and first recorded by Lefty Frizzell in 1959. The song has been referred to as a "deathless classic," and its popularity has only grown over the years.
Line by Line Meaning
Ten years ago, on a cold dark night
The events of this story occurred a decade ago, on a chilly and dark evening.
Someone was killed, 'neath the town hall light
A person was murdered under the light in the center of the town.
There were few at the scene, but they all agreed
Though there were not many witnesses, they all reached the same conclusion.
That the slayer who ran, looked a lot like me
The person who fled the scene looked remarkably similar to me.
The judge said son, what is your alibi
The judge inquired about my alibi.
If you were somewhere else, then you won't have to die
If I had been somewhere else, the judge might have spared my life.
I spoke not a word, thou it meant my life
Even though my silence could have cost me my life, I refused to speak.
For I'd been in the arms of my best friend's wife
The reason for my silence was because I was having an affair with my friend's spouse.
She walks these hills in a long black veil
My lover now roams through these hills, hidden by a long black veil.
She visits my grave when the night winds wail
Even when the wind howls at night, my lover visits my tomb.
Nobody knows, nobody sees
Nobody else knows about her visits or even her existence.
Nobody knows but me
It is solely I who is privy to this information.
Oh, the scaffold is high and eternity's near
The scaffold is tall, and my execution's approaching.
She stood in the crowd and shed not a tear
Though she was present in the crowd, she did not shed a tear.
But late at night, when the north wind blows
However, in the middle of the night, when the wind from the north picks up,
In a long black veil, she cries o'er my bones
she mourns while wearing her lengthy, somber veil above my bones.
Repeat Chorus
Repeat the refrain of the song.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DP, DAVID JAY GRISMAN, JEROME J. GARCIA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cody Boyd
The melody bears a strong reseblance to Gram Parson's "In My Hour of Darkness," I know that this song itself predates his song. At any rate, I am not complaining; I think it is natural that good songs by good players should find their way into each other over the years, morphing and evolving, they take on a life of their own. I am not enough of a student of bluegrass as yet as to be able to discern the prevalence of these melodies, notes, modes, etc. This song made me cry. :)
El Kabong
Man, I miss Jerry!
Dindon de la farce
so hight , so deep . jerry' is simply in the heart of this song . cyril
Steve Bronstein
thank you. just when I needed a little more. blessings
Rice Flatpicking
She walks these hills...