Long Black Veil

Words & Music:

Marijohn Wilkon & Danny Dill (1959)

 

D

Ten years ago on a cold dark night,

A7                            G         D

Someone was killed 'neath the town hall light.

    D

There were few at the scene but they all agree,

         A7                      G        D

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 though it meant my life,

For I'd been in the arms of my best friend's wife.

 

CHORUS:

    G           D          G          D

She walks these hills in a long black veil,

G         D              G           D

Visits my grave when the night winds wail.

D             G      D     G      A7         D

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: