Long Black Veil
The Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ten years ago, on a cold dark night
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
For I'd been in the arms of my best friend's wife

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

Overall Meaning

The Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash's song "Long Black Veil" is a story of a man who is accused of a murder he didn't commit but refuses to share his alibi because it would reveal his affair with his best friend's wife. The guilt of the affair and the weight of the accusation weigh heavy on him and ultimately lead to his execution. However, the woman continues to visit his grave shrouded in a long black veil, a symbol of mourning and secrecy. She is the only one who knows the truth about the murder and the affair.


The song presents the themes of betrayal, guilt, secrets, and consequences through the metaphorical use of the long black veil. The veil itself represents the burden of the secrets that the characters in the song carry with them. The lyrics suggest that the secrets they keep lead to the ultimate demise of one of the characters. The song also touches on the idea of how societal expectations and perceptions of morality can force people to keep secrets and betray others, rather than act in a way that is true to their feelings.


Line by Line Meaning

Ten years ago, on a cold dark night
This story happened a decade ago at a time when everything was bleak.


Someone was killed, 'neath the town hall light
Someone was murdered under a light near the town hall. A brutal crime was committed in a place that should have been safe.


There were few at the scene, but they all agreed
There were not many people who were present at the crime scene, but those few who were there reached a consensus about the killer's identity.


That the slayer who ran, looked a lot like me
The murderer, who escaped, bore a striking resemblance to me.


The judge said son, what is your alibi
The judge inquired about my alibi as a part of the investigation.


If you were somewhere else, then you won't have to die
The judge advised that I would be spared if I had a solid alibi.


I spoke not a word, thou it meant my life
I didn't say a word even though my life was on the line. I didn't testify to protect myself at the cost of betraying her.


For I'd been in the arms of my best friend's wife
I was in a compromising position, for I was sleeping with my best friend's spouse.


She walks these hills in a long black veil
The woman visited the hills in a long black veil, perhaps as a symbol of mourning, guilt or regret.


She visits my grave when the night winds wail
She comes to my grave and mourns for me, especially during windy and sad evenings.


Nobody knows, nobody sees
The relationship between us is a secret that nobody knows or can see. We were the only ones privy to the affair.


Nobody knows but me
This is a secret that I'm carrying alone, and I'll have to face its consequences.


Oh, the scaffold is high and eternity's near
The gallows is looming, and the prospect of death is close at hand. The punishment for committing murder is severe and irreversible.


She stood in the crowd and shed not a tear
She was in the group of people watching the execution, but she didn't cry.


But late at night, when the north wind blows
During late-night hours, when the wind from the north started to blow, which can indicate the advent of something ominous.


In a long black veil, she cries ov're my bones
She repeatedly mourns my death over my remains while weeping in her veil of mourning attire.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DANNY DILL, MARIJOHN WILKIN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions