Caroline Herring Long Black Veil lyrics

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

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

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, although it meant my life
For I had been in the arms of my best friend's wife

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