Johnny Cash is my all-time favorite singer and songwriter. What’s even more amazing is that I heard him for the first time just last year. Such is the magic in his baritone, that it makes any relatively unknown or mildly popular song achieve cult status.
A detailed story I will write on Cash’s work sometime later. For today, I bring to you a folksong which is a complete story in itself. Enjoy how Cash breathes life into this mini-story and moves listeners to tears of sadness, agony, pain and eventually relief. I Hung My Head is a beautiful country piece about heart-wrenching remorse and redemption. You can listen to it by clicking on Soundcloud or YouTube.
************************************* I Hung My Head
*************************************
Early one morning With time to kill I borrowed Jebb's rifle And sat on a hill I saw a lone rider Crossing the plain I drew a bead on him To practice my aim
My brother's rifle Went off in my hand A shot rang out Across the land The horse, he kept running The rider was dead I hung my head I hung my head
I set off running To wake from the dream My brother's rifle Went into the sheen I kept on running Into the south lands That's where they found me My head in my hands
The sheriff he asked me Why had I run And then it come to me Just what I had done And all for no reason Just one piece of lead I hung my head I hung my head
Here in the court house The whole town was there I see the judge High up in the chair Explain to the court room What went through your mind And we'll ask the jury What verdict they find
I felt the power Of death over life I orphaned his children I widowed his wife I begged their forgiveness I wish I was dead I hung my head I hung my head I hung my head I hung my head
Early one morning With time to kill I see the gallows Up on a hill And out in the distance A trick of the brain I see a lone rider Crossing the plain
And he'd come to fetch me To see what they'd done And we'll ride together To kingdom come I prayed for God's mercy 'Cause soon I'd be dead I hung my head I hung my head
I hung my head I hung my head
(source: LyricFind)
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