LONG BLACK VEIL

Original version

Ten years ago, on a cold dark night
There was someone killed 'neath the townhall light
There were few at the scene, but the all agreed
That the stranger who fled looked a lot like me

Nobody knows, nobody sees, nobody knows but 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

She walks these hills in a long black veil
She visits my grave where the night winds wail

Nobody knows, nobody sees, nobody knows but me

The scaffold was high, and eternity near
She stood in the crown and shed not a tear
But sometimes at night, when the cold wind moans
In a long black veil, she cries on my bones

She walks these hills in a long black veil
She visits my grave where the night winds wail

Nobody knows, nobody sees, nobody knows but me

Written by Marijohn Wilkin and Danny Dill, 1959 [read song history below], this was originally recorded by Lefty Frizzell. Covered by several artists, including Johnny Cash on his 1965 album Orange Blossom Special.

The above lyrics refer to the original version of the song. Check out Bruce's live 26 Apr 2006 version and live 11 Jun 2006 version.

Song history, partially taken from Wikipedia:

"Long Black Veil" was written by composer and singer Danny Dill with Marijohn Wilkin in a folk music style in 1959. It was originally recorded in Nashville in 1959 by country music singer Lefty Frizzell, and produced by Don Law, it reached #6 on the U.S. Country chart. Wilkin also played piano on the original recording by Frizzell.

The writers later stated that they drew on three sources for their inspiration: Red Foley's recording of God Walks These Hills With Me; a contemporary newspaper report about the unsolved murder of a priest; and the legend of a mysterious veiled woman who regularly visited Rudolph Valentino's grave.

The song was a departure from Frizzell's previous Honky Tonk style and was a deliberate move toward the current popularity of folk-styled material and the burgeoning Nashville Sound.

This has been covered by a variety of artists in country, folk, and rock styles, including:

• 1959 - Lefty Frizzell - (US Country single #6)
• 1960 - The Country Gentlemen - Country Songs, Old And New
• 1962 - The Kingston Trio - New Frontier
• 1963 - Joan Baez - Joan Baez in Concert, Part 2
• 1965 - Johnny Cash - Orange Blossom Special
• 1968 - Johnny Cash - Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison
• 1968 - The Band - Music From Big Pink (US Pop album #30)
• 1970 - Bill Monroe - Kentucky Bluegrass
• 1972 - New Riders of the Purple Sage - Gypsy Cowboy
• 1986 - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Kicking Against The Pricks
• 1995 - The Chieftains with Mick Jagger (vocal) and Bono (backing vocal) - The Long Black Veil
• 1995 - Don Williams - Borrowed Tales
• 1999 - Mike Ness - Under The Influence
• 1999 - Dave Matthews Band - Listener Supported (US Pop album #15)
• 2000 - Jerry Garcia, David Grisman, Tony Rice - The Pizza Tapes (originally recorded in 1993)
• 2000 - John Duffey - Always In Style: A Collection
• 2002 - Jason & The Scorchers - Wildfires + Misfires
• The Stanley Brothers
• Burl Ives
• John Anderson
• Bobby Bare
• Chris Ledoux