The group was initiated by Jon Langford (also of the Waco Brothers and The Mekons) as a covers group, with a constantly shifting repertory and cast of backing members. The name was first used for Langford's 1995 album of Johnny Cash cover songs. In 1998, Langford enlisted the help of a number of prominent alt-country musicians (including Neko Case, Alejandro Escovedo, and Robbie Fulks) for a full-length tribute album to Bob Wills. Their second LP, The Executioner's Last Songs, was released in 2002 and is a collection of songs about death. Following this record's success, the group recorded two more albums of songs about death as benefits for the Illinois Coalition Against the Death Penalty. These albums featured such guests as Steve Earle and Mark Eitzel. The group rarely performs live, though it occasionally does special performances in the Chicago area. In 2007 the group appeared as backing band on Chumbawamba member Danbert Nobacon's solo album The Library Book of the World, as well as playing live with Nobacon.
Tom Dooley
The Pine Valley Cosmonauts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hang your head and cry;
You killed poor Laurie Foster,
And you know you're bound to die.
You left her by the roadside
Where you begged to be excused;
You left her by the roadside,
Then you hid her clothes and shoes.
Hang your head, Tom Dooley,
Hang your head and cry;
You killed poor Laurie Foster,
And you know you're bound to die.
You took her on the hillside
For to make her your wife;
You took her on the hillside,
And ther you took her life.
You dug the grave four feet long
And you dug it three feet deep;
You rolled the cold clay over her
And tromped it with your feet.
Hang your head, Tom Dooley,
Hang your head and cry;
You killed poor Laurie Foster,
And you know you're bound to die.
"Trouble, oh it's trouble
A-rollin' through my breast;
As long as I'm a-livin', boys,
They ain't a-gonna let me rest.
I know they're gonna hang me,
Tomorrow I'll be dead,
Though I never even harmed a hair
On poor little Laurie's head."
Hang your head, Tom Dooley,
Hang your head and cry;
You killed poor Laurie Foster,
And you know you're bound to die.
"In this world and one more
Then reckon where I'll be;
If is wasn't for Sheriff Grayson,
I'd be in Tennesee.
You can take down my old violin
And play it all you please.
For at this time tomorrow, boys,
Iit'll be of no use to me."
Hang your head, Tom Dooley,
Hang your head and cry;
You killed poor Laurie Foster,
And you know you're bound to die.
"At this time tomorrow
Where do you reckon I'll be?
Away down yonder in the holler
Hangin' on a white oak tree.
Hang your head, Tom Dooley,
Hang your head and cry;
You killed poor Laurie Foster,
And you know you're bound to die.
The lyrics to "Tom Dooley" tell the story of a man who is about to be executed for the murder of Laurie Foster. The song begins with Tom Dooley being told to hang his head and cry because he knows that he is going to die. He left Laurie's body by the roadside after killing her and then hid her clothes and shoes. The lyrics suggest that Tom wanted to marry Laurie, but when she refused, he killed her. Tom has accepted his fate and is asking for forgiveness when he says "trouble, oh, it's trouble a-rolling through my breast; as long as I'm a-living, boys, they ain't gonna let me rest."
The lyrics also mention Sheriff Grayson, who is the person responsible for capturing Tom, and Tom's old violin which will be of no use to him when he is dead. The final verse sees Tom resigned to his fate, knowing that he will be hanged the next day and speculating about his place in the afterlife.
Line by Line Meaning
Hang your head, Tom Dooley,
Addressing Tom Dooley, the singer tells him to hang his head.
Hang your head and cry;
The singer wants Tom Dooley to feel sorry for what he has done and cry.
You killed poor Laurie Foster,
Tom Dooley is responsible for Laurie Foster's death.
And you know you're bound to die.
Tom Dooley knows he will be punished for his crime and face the death penalty.
You left her by the roadside
Tom Dooley left Laurie Foster's body by the road.
Where you begged to be excused;
Tom Dooley made excuses for his behavior.
You left her by the roadside,
Tom Dooley left Laurie Foster's body in an exposed location.
Then you hid her clothes and shoes.
Tom Dooley tried to conceal evidence by hiding Laurie Foster's clothing and footwear.
You took her on the hillside
Tom Dooley brought Laurie Foster to a hill to propose to her.
For to make her your wife;
Tom Dooley wanted to marry Laurie Foster.
And there you took her life.
Tom Dooley killed Laurie Foster on the hill.
You dug the grave four feet long
Tom Dooley dug a shallow grave that was four feet long.
And you dug it three feet deep;
Tom Dooley dug a shallow grave that was only three feet deep.
You rolled the cold clay over her
Tom Dooley buried Laurie Foster's body with dirt and clay.
And tromped it with your feet.
Tom Dooley pressed the earth down with his feet to cover up the grave.
"Trouble, oh it's trouble
Tom Dooley is troubled by his actions.
A-rollin' through my breast;
He feels guilt and sorrow.
As long as I'm a-livin', boys,
Tom Dooley believes he will never be able to live a peaceful life.
They ain't a-gonna let me rest.
The guilt and fear will haunt Tom Dooley for the rest of his life.
I know they're gonna hang me,
Tom Dooley is aware that he will face the death penalty.
Tomorrow I'll be dead,
Tom Dooley's execution will happen very soon.
Though I never even harmed a hair
Tom Dooley claims that he didn't hurt Laurie Foster.
On poor little Laurie's head."
Tom Dooley insists that he did not harm Laurie Foster in any way.
In this world and one more
Tom Dooley is referring to the afterlife.
Then reckon where I'll be;
He is wondering what fate awaits him after his death.
If it wasn't for Sheriff Grayson,
Tom Dooley blames Sheriff Grayson for his capture and impending execution.
I'd be in Tennessee.
Without the intervention of the sheriff, Tom Dooley would have been safe in Tennessee.
You can take down my old violin
Tom Dooley is giving away his possessions before his execution.
And play it all you please.
Tom Dooley no longer needs his violin.
For at this time tomorrow, boys,
Tom Dooley will be dead tomorrow and unable to hear the music.
It'll be of no use to me."
Tom Dooley has no use for his old violin anymore.
At this time tomorrow
Tom Dooley knows exactly when he will be executed.
Where do you reckon I'll be?
Tom Dooley wonders where he will end up after his execution.
Away down yonder in the holler
Tom Dooley believes he will go to hell after he is executed.
Hangin' on a white oak tree."
Tom Dooley expects to be hanged and left to die on a tree after his execution.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAVE GUARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind