Gilliam Banmon Grayson (November 11, 1887–August 16, 1930) was an American … Read Full Bio ↴Gilliam Banmon Grayson (November 11, 1887–August 16, 1930) was an American Old-time fiddle player and singer. Mostly blind from infancy, Grayson is chiefly remembered for a series of sides recorded with guitarist Henry Whitter between 1927 and 1930 that would later influence numerous country, bluegrass, and rock musicians. Grayson wrote much of his own material, but was also instrumental in adapting several traditional Appalachian ballads to fiddle and guitar formats. His music has been recorded or performed by musicians such as Bob Dylan, Doc Watson, Mick Jagger, the Kingston Trio, and dozens of bluegrass artists, including the Stanley Brothers and Mac Wiseman

Tom Dooley
G. B. Grayson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Throughout history there have been many songs
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

Hang down your head, Tom Dooley
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

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of G. B. Grayson's song Tom Dooley tell the story of a tragic love triangle that ends in murder and the eventual hanging of one of the men involved. The singer sings of meeting a beautiful woman on the mountain and ultimately stabbing her with his knife. He then says that he must hang tomorrow, but if it hadn't been for Grayson, he would have been in Tennessee. The song ends with the repeated chorus of "Hang down your head, Tom Dooley," emphasizing the inevitability of his death.

The lyrics of Tom Dooley are an example of a broadside ballad, a type of song that was popular in the United States and England from the seventeenth to the nineteenth centuries. Broadside ballads often featured sensational stories, and Tom Dooley was no exception. The song is based on a real-life murder case that took place in North Carolina in 1866. Tom Dula, a Confederate veteran, was accused of murdering his lover, Laura Foster. He was found guilty and hanged in 1868.

Line by Line Meaning

Hang down your head, Tom Dooley
Tom Dooley, you should lower your head in shame

Hang down your head and cry
You should also cry for what you've done

Poor boy, you're bound to die
You're going to die soon

I met her on the mountain, there I took her life
I killed a woman I met on the mountain

Met her on the mountain, stabbed her with my knife
I stabbed her to death

This time tomorrow reckon where I'll be
By this time tomorrow, I'll be in a different place

Hadn't-a been for Grayson, I'd-a been in Tennessee (well now, boy)
If it weren't for Grayson, I would have fled to Tennessee

Down in some lonesome valley hangin' from a white oak tree
By this time tomorrow, I'll be hanging from a white oak tree in a lonesome valley

Poor boy, you're bound to die
You're going to die soon

Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Henry Whitter, G.b. Grayson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

@throatgorge2

2y↑10

wow these lyrics are way way way better than the popular ones recorded in the 50's and 60's!

@eternallife9786

47w↑2

I don't hate the Kingston trio but they make this song sound too happy😂

@PM12951

1y↑8

The original and still the best!

@eternallife9786

47w

This was probably saying and performed countless times before ever being recorded a little weird calling the first person to record an old time song the original

@Dulcimerist

44w↑1

Grayson's uncle was the guy who caught the real Tom Dooley, whose real name was Tom Dula, about 60 years before this recording.
A local poet named Thomas C. Land wrote the lyrics to this song about 60 years before this first recording.