The Long Black Veil
The Chieftains Feat. Mick Jagger Lyrics
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Someone was killed 'neath the town hall light
Just a few at the scene, and they all did agree
That the man who ran looked a lot like me
The judge said "Son, what's your alibi?
If you were somewheres else, then you won't have to die"
But I spoke not a word, tho' it meant my life
Chorus:
She walks these hills in a long black veil
Visits my grave when the night winds wail
Nobody knows, nobody sees
Nobody knows, but me
The scaffold is high, eternity near
She stands in the crowd, she sheds not a tear
But sometimes at night when the cold winds moan
In a long black veil, she cries o'er my bones
Chorus
The Chieftains Feat. Mick Jagger's The Long Black Veil tells a story of a man who was falsely accused and sentenced to death for a murder that he did not commit. The singer, who is in fact the real culprit, remains silent when asked for his alibi because he was with his best friend's wife. This affair gives him a motive to kill, but instead, he chooses to watch an innocent man take the fall for his actions.
The chorus is sung from the point of view of the woman who is wearing a long black veil, visiting the man's grave and grieving for him. It becomes apparent that the woman is the wife of the singer's best friend, the woman he had an affair with. She is the only one who knows the truth about the murder, and her guilt is expressed through her mourning in the long black veil. The symbolism of the long black veil represents the secrecy of their actions, as the woman hides her face and identity from the public eye.
Line by Line Meaning
Ten years ago on a cold dark night
A decade in the past, on a chilly and gloomy night
Someone was killed 'neath the town hall light
An individual lost their life in the vicinity of the town hall lamplight
Just a few at the scene, and they all did agree
Only a handful of people were present and they collectively 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's your alibi?
The judge inquired, "What is your defense?"
If you were somewheres else, then you won't have to die"
If you can prove that you were elsewhere, you will avoid punishment"
But I spoke not a word, tho' it meant my life
I remained silent, even though my life depended on it
For I'd been in the arms of my best friend's wife
Because I had been intimate with my closest friend's spouse
She walks these hills in a long black veil
She roams around these hills adorned in a lengthy, dark veil
Visits my grave when the night winds wail
When the winds of the night howl, she comes to my grave
Nobody knows, nobody sees
No one else is aware or witnesses her visits
Nobody knows, but me
Only I am privy to this information
The scaffold is high, eternity near
The ominous gallows loom high, while eternity is imminent
She stands in the crowd, she sheds not a tear
She is present amongst the onlookers, but she does not shed any tears
But sometimes at night when the cold winds moan
However, there are times during the night when the frigid winds howl
In a long black veil, she cries o'er my bones
Donning a lengthy, black veil, she weeps over my remains
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DANNY DILL, MARIJOHN WILKIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind