Long Black Veil
Tim O'Brien Lyrics
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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
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
Repeat Chorus
The song Long Black Veil by Tim O'Brien tells the story of a man who is executed for a crime he did not commit. The singer, presumably the man who was executed, recounts the events that led to his false accusation and eventual execution. Ten years ago, someone was killed in the town hall light, and although there were few witnesses, they all believed that the killer looked quite similar to the singer. When brought before the judge, the singer remains silent, though he had an alibi, which was having an affair with his best friend's wife. He would rather die than reveal the truth about the affair, which would end up shaming his best friend's family.
Throughout the song, the woman who was having an affair with the singer visits his grave in a long black veil. This is the titular reference to the veil, representing the secrecy that surrounded their relationship. The singer states that nobody else knows about their affair, and so the woman is the only one who mourns his death. The song's chorus repeats these lyrics, focusing on the woman's elusive actions, and the mystery that surrounds their relationship.
Overall, the song is a dark tale of love and guilt, with the long black veil representing the silence and secrets that the singer kept hidden until his death. The song's haunting melody and poetic lyrics make it a timeless classic, loved by many.
Line by Line Meaning
Ten years ago, on a cold dark night
Looking back ten years to a chilling event that took place on a dark, cold night.
Someone was killed, 'neath the town hall light
A person lost their life under the harsh light of the town hall.
There were few at the scene, but they all agreed
Despite the limited number of witnesses, everyone seemed to have a shared agreement about the details.
That the slayer who ran, looked a lot like me
The supposed killer who fled the scene was described as looking remarkably similar to myself.
The judge said son, what is your alibi
During the trial, the judge asked me to provide an alibi for my whereabouts at the time of the crime.
If you were somewhere else, then you won't have to die
The judge declared that if I provided evidence of being at a different location, I wouldn't face punishment.
I spoke not a word, thou it meant my life
Despite the weight of the situation, I remained silent about my whereabouts, putting my life in danger.
For I'd been in the arms of my best friend's wife
I refused to speak because I had been in a secret affair with the wife of my closest friend.
She walks these hills in a long black veil
The wife of my friend, who played a role in my silence, now wanders the landscape wearing a veil of mourning.
She visits my grave when the night winds wail
The wife of my friend visits my resting place when the winds are howling in sadness.
Nobody knows, nobody sees
Nobody is aware of the true nature of the relationship between myself and the friend's wife.
Nobody knows but me
The affair is kept strictly between myself and the friend's wife.
Oh, the scaffold is high and eternity's near
As I await my execution on the scaffold, I know that my life will be over soon.
She stood in the crowd and shed not a tear
Even as the woman who played a role in my sentencing watches me die, she shows no signs of remorse or sadness.
But late at night, when the north wind blows
In the lonely hours of the night, when the winds grow colder and harsher, the woman is haunted by the thoughts of what she's done.
In a long black veil, she cries ov're my bones
Dressed in her mourning veil, she sheds tears over my grave, crying over the secrets she helped to keep hidden.
Repeat Chorus
The chorus repeats, emphasizing the woman's continual mourning and hidden secrets about our affair.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Danny Dill, Marijohn Wilkin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind