Ten years ago, on a cold dark night
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
William Orville “Lefty” Frizzell was born March 31, 1928 (and died on July 19, 1975). He is one of the greatest vocalists in country music and one of his best songs is “Long Black Veil” a 1959 country ballad, written by Danny Dill and Marijohn Wilkin.
Many great artists have covered this wonderful song, I’ve collected some of them here.
Lefty Frizzell
Original recording from 1959
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
For I’d been in the arms of my best friend’s wife
Bob Dylan
Capitol Music Hall
Wheeling, West Virginia
28 April 1997
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
Jones Beach Theater
Jones Beach State Park
Wantagh, New York
26 July 2000
Johnny Cash
From the album “Orange Blossom Special”
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
Live in Austin, Texas
The Band
From the album “Music from Big Pink”
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
Vancouver 1983
The Chieftains featuring Mick Jagger
From the 1995 album The Long Black Veil.
Bruce Springsteen
Live in Stockholm, Sweden – 2006.
Check out:
- Bob Dylan posts @ borntolisten.com
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- MusicThisDay.com
- Music lists @ MusicThisDay.com
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- Karl Erik’s expectingrain.com
- Olof’s “Still On The Road“