David Frizzell & Gene Watson – Long Black Veil

Introduction:

Long Black Veil, a hauntingly beautiful ballad sung as a duet by established country singers David Frizzell and Gene Watson, was released in 2017. The song itself, however, predates this recording by several decades. Originally written by Danny Dill and Marijohn Wilkin, Long Black Veil first gained recognition in the 1950s, when it was performed by Lefty Frizzell, David Frizzell’s uncle.

The song explores the tragic story of a man wrongly convicted of murder and sentenced to death. Long Black Veil is sung from the condemned man’s perspective, lamenting his fate while simultaneously protecting the identity of his lover, with whom he was spending the night of the murder. This secrecy stems from the fact that the woman is married to the victim, further deepening the emotional complexity of the narrative. The man chooses to go to his death protecting his lover’s reputation, rather than reveal the truth and potentially implicate her.

Long Black Veil’s powerful storytelling and tragic undertones have resonated with audiences for over half a century. The song achieved critical acclaim upon its release, though it wasn’t until Frizzell and Watson’s rendition in 2017 that it became a country chart topper. This version hit number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, solidifying Long Black Veil’s place as a country music classic.

The enduring legacy of Long Black Veil is further evidenced by the numerous cover versions recorded by other country music greats. Artists such as Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins, and Kitty Wells have all brought their own interpretations to the song, a testament to its universal themes of love, sacrifice, and the injustice of a wrongful conviction.

Video:

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, you won’t have to die”
I spoke not a word, though it meant my life
I’d been in the arms of my best friend’s wife

Now the scaffold seemed high, and eternity was near
She stood in the crowd, but she shed not a tear
But some times at night when the cold wind calls
She comes to my grave and she moans o’er my bones

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

Nobody knows, nobody sees
Nobody knows but me