(Marijohn Wilkin/Danny Dill)
original: Lefty Fr… Read Full Bio ↴LONG BLACK VEIL
(Marijohn Wilkin/Danny Dill)
original: Lefty Frizzell (1959) - Columbia
> Saga song inspired by true facts: the murder of a New Jersey priest and the confusing story of a veiled woman visiting Rudolph Valentino's grave with fresh flowers every day. In the song a man is convicted for murdering his best friend. He had an alibi but couldn't produce it in court: while the killing took place the widow shared his bed. Story told from the perspective of the executed in his own grave, visited by his loved one in mourning. This song revitalised Lefty's career. With Marijohn Wilkin on piano. This song is much younger than it looks.
covers: Country Gentlemen (1959) , Carl Mann (1960) , Joan Baez (1960) , Marijohn Wilkin (1961) own answer version as My Long Black Veil with slightly different lyrics: 'The few at the scene were wrong as can be, cause the man they accused that night was with me', Johnny Rivers (1962) , Johnny Cash (1965) , Bobby Bare (1966) , Marianne Faithfull (1967) , Band (1968) , Marsha Hunt (1969) , New Riders Of The Purple Sage (1972) , Sammi Smith (1974) , Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds (1986) , Proclaimers (1990) , Don Walser (1995) , Chieftains with Mick Jagger (1995) , Rick Danko (1997) almost 7 minute version, Dave Matthews Band (1999) , Harry Manx (2003) ,
> Frizzell was a Grand Ole' Opry star and an ex prize fighter with a fearsome left hand, hence his nickname Lefty. See also: Always Late (With Your Kisses).
Long Black Veil
The Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There was someone 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
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
She walks these hills in a long black veil
She visits my grave where the night winds wail
Nobody knows, no, and nobody sees
Nobody knows but me
The scaffold was high and eternity neared
She stood in the crowd and shed not a tear
But sometimes at night when the cold wind moans
In a long black veil, she cries over my bones
She walks these hills in a long black veil
She visits my grave where the night winds wail
Nobody knows, no, and nobody sees
Nobody knows but me
The Band's iconic song "Long Black Veil" tells the story of a man who is wrongly accused of murder, and chooses to protect his best friend's wife over revealing his alibi. As a result, he is sentenced to death and executed, but the woman who could have saved him visits his grave in a long black veil and mourns him. The song is haunting and atmospheric, capturing the eerie feeling of someone being falsely accused and sentenced to death, and the loneliness of a woman who must bear witness to it all.
The lyrics are masterfully written, with each verse building on the tension and sadness of the story. The line "She walks these hills in a long black veil" evokes a sense of mystery and tragedy, as though the woman is a ghost haunting the hills where the man was killed. The refrain of "Nobody knows, no, and nobody sees, nobody knows but me" highlights the isolation and secrecy of the two main characters and builds on the idea that they are both misunderstood and alone.
Line by Line Meaning
Ten years ago, on a cool dark night
It was a decade back, on a night that was chilly and obscure.
There was someone killed 'neath the town hall light
A person was murdered under the illumination of the town hall.
There were few at the scene and they all did agree
There were only a handful of people present at the location, and they all concurred.
That the man who ran looked a lot like me
The individual who fled the scene bore a striking resemblance to me.
The judge said, "son, what is your alibi?"
The judge inquired, "my boy, what explanation do you have?"
"If you were somewhere else, then you won't have to die"
"If you were present at some other place during that time, you will be exonerated and won't face capital punishment."
I spoke not a word, though it meant my life
I refrained from uttering a word, even though it endangered my existence.
I had been in the arms of my best friend's wife
I was in an intimate moment with my best friend's spouse.
She walks these hills in a long black veil
She wanders these hills carrying a lengthy black veil.
She visits my grave where the night winds wail
She arrives at my tombstone where the gusty winds mourn.
Nobody knows, no, and nobody sees
No one is familiar with, and no one observes her actions.
Nobody knows but me
The only person who knows about it is me.
The scaffold was high and eternity neared
The structure used for execution was tall, and the afterlife appeared imminent.
She stood in the crowd and shed not a tear
She was present among the onlookers and didn't weep.
But sometimes at night when the cold wind moans
But occasionally, at night when the frigid breeze howls,
In a long black veil, she cries over my bones
She sobs while hovering over my remains, still donning a long black veil.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Danny Dill, Marijohn Wilkin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@smokinjz
Ten years ago on a cold dark night,
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 walks these hills in a long black veil.
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.
@marksmith1375
Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Garth Hudson, & Richard Manuel. It doesn't get much better than this.
@U2SaxFan
Growing up with a father that's a huge Band fan, I've grown up hearing this song and did not find out until I was older that it's not a Band original. I've recently heard the original by Lefty Frizzell. It's great and I can see why people call it a country classic (and I agree it is), but this is still an amazing cover. I always loved how Rick Danco sang it. All in all, The Band nailed it.
@wyattetzel926
danko's voice is something else...
@kentferver3161
And that is why they are called The BAND
@gilkenson53
So many of their songs have the dust of the past on them.....
@richdys
Great Album. This is the kind of music bands make. A lost art today. Five guys combining their strengths and weaknesses to make a unique sound only they can make.
@wfc1987
richdys I like how you mentioned their weaknesses as well...so true!
@fiendclub420
and there anus.
@johncarlson7338
This is the best version of this country classic. Cash does it, but this is the best version.
@deadgoondee
Completely a matter of opinion.I prefer Lefty's then Cash then Hank Williams III then this.Although this is ten thousand times better than Dave Mathews version...and that is a fact.