Tom Dooley
Donegan Lonnie Lyrics
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Written about the Eternal Triangle.
This next one tells the story of a Mr. Grayson,
A beautiful woman, and a condemned man named Tom Dooley.
When the sun rises tomorrow, Tom Dooley must hang.
Hang down your head, Tom Dooley
Hang down your head and cry
Poor boy, you're bound to die
I met her on the mountain, there I took her life
Met her on the mountain, stabbed her with my knife
Hang down your head, Tom Dooley
Hang down your head and cry (ah-uh-eye)
Hang down your head, Tom Dooley
Poor boy, you're bound to die
This time tomorrow reckon where I'll be
Hadn't-a been for Grayson, I'd-a been in Tennessee (well now, boy)
Hang down (your head) your head (Dooley) and cry
Hang down your head and cry (ah poor boy, ah well-ah)
Hang down (your head) your head (Dooley) and cry
Poor boy, you're bound to die (ah well now boy)
Hang down (your head) your head (Dooley) and cry
Hang down your head and cry (ah poor boy, ah well-ah)
Hang down (your head) your head (Dooley) and cry
Poor boy, you're bound to die
This time tomorrow reckon where I'll be
Down in some lonesome valley hangin' from a white oak tree
Hang down your head, Tom Dooley
Hang down your head and cry (ah-uh-eye)
Hang down your head, Tom Dooley
Poor boy, you're bound to die (ah well now boy)
Hang down your head, Tom Dooley
Hang down your head and cry (poor boy ah well uh)
Hang down your head, Tom Dooley
Poor boy, you're bound to die
Poor boy, you're bound to die
Poor boy, you're bound to die
Poor boy, you're bound to die
The song "Tom Dooley" by Donegan Lonnie tells the story of a condemned man named Tom Dooley, who must hang at the break of dawn the following day. The song is about the eternal triangle, which is the story of a man, a woman, and another man who come together in a love triangle. In this case, the other man is a Mr. Grayson, and the woman's beauty has captivated both men. The lyrics reveal that Dooley has taken the life of a woman and stabbed her with a knife that he used to carry with him. The song lyrics suggest that Grayson is at fault because if he had not come between the woman and Dooley, then Dooley would be in Tennessee and not waiting to die the next day. As a result, Dooley is to be hanged the next day for his crime, which he does not deny. The song's final verses describe Dooley's impending fate - he will be found hanging from a white oak tree in a lonesome valley the next day.
Line by Line Meaning
Hang down your head, Tom Dooley
Tom Dooley, the condemned man, is being told to bow his head in shame
Hang down your head and cry
Tom Dooley is being encouraged to cry for his wrongdoings
Poor boy, you're bound to die
Tom Dooley's fate is sealed, he will be put to death soon
I met her on the mountain, there I took her life
Tom Dooley confesses to murdering the woman he met on the mountain with a knife
This time tomorrow reckon where I'll be
Tom Dooley wonders where he will be when the same time comes the next day, knowing he will be dead
Hadn't-a been for Grayson, I'd-a been in Tennessee (well now, boy)
Tom Dooley believes if it weren't for the beautiful woman involved, he would have been safe in Tennessee
Down in some lonesome valley hangin' from a white oak tree
Tom Dooley predicts that he will be hung from a white oak tree in a lonesome valley
Poor boy, you're bound to die
The repetition of this line reinforces Tom Dooley's inevitable death
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Dave Guard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mark Walker
Wow, how amazing would it have been to see him play live!
A. Duncan
To say Lonnie's a great entertainer is stating the obvious. There will never be another like him. And his backup trio, the best.
zorba nongreco
Fabulous document !!
Lead guitarist is great ! 👍🏼Great old murder song.
🐂💨 💨 💨 💨
Bryt25
Yes,turned a lot of us on to starting rock bands. Funny tho that the Beeb was banning other songs that mentioned death yet here we had the graphic "stabbed her with my knife"! Lonnie opened a lot of doors for musicians.
Bryt25
Ex-banjo player from Chris Barber's jazz band if I recall. Amazing.
Firebrand55
Hear the record........a very unusual drumbeat; rapid, staccato ..but totally infectious!
Steven Schaffer
One of the greatest
lintym
Loved this.
Derek Kess
I sure do miss the 70s, 80s and 90s. The music today is not even the same. Sometimes I wish I could find a time machine and go back in time. Life was much easier and everyone enjoyed life! Is this your favorite song?
lintym
If you live in England we have Boom Radio which plays music for the Boomer generation, 50s 60s 70s