Long Black Veil
The Proclaimers Lyrics

Ten years ago, on a cold dark night
On a specific and eerie night a decade ago

Someone was killed, 'neath the town hall light
Someone was murdered under a public light

There were few at the scene, but they all agreed
The few present at the murder site all confirmed the same thing

That the slayer who ran, looked a lot like me
The killer who fled the scene resembled me greatly

The judge said son, what is your alibi
The judge asked for my explanation of my whereabouts

If you were somewhere else, then you won't have to die
If I could prove being elsewhere, I would avoid the death penalty

I spoke not a word, thou it meant my life
I stayed silent, even though it was a matter of life and death

For I'd been in the arms of my best friend's wife
I didn't speak because I was having an affair with my best friend's spouse

She walks these hills in a long black veil
The woman I cheated with wears a long, black veil when she wanders through the hills

She visits my grave when the night winds wail
She grieves for me at my grave during the wailing of the nighttime winds

Nobody knows, nobody sees
No one is aware or observes her mourning

Nobody knows but me
I am the only one who knows about her mourning

Oh, the scaffold is high and eternity's near
The gallows are tall and my death is imminent

She stood in the crowd and shed not a tear
She was there in the audience, but didn't cry

But late at night, when the north wind blows
However, during the late hours with the north wind blowing

In a long black veil, she cries ov're my bones
She weeps over my remains, shrouded in her long black veil