Song title: Long black veil
(Wilkin/Dill) by Johnny Cash
Long black veil - Bruce version
Well ten years ago, on a cold dark night
There was someone killed 'neath the townhall light
There were few at the scene, yeah but they all agreed
That the man who ran looked a lot like me
Well she walks these hills in a long black veil
Visits my grave where the night winds wail -- Say it!
Nobody knows, darling, nobody sees
Nobody knows but me
The judge said, "son what is your alibi
If you were somewhere else, then you never have to die"
I said not a word, though it crushed my life
For I was 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
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
Well the gallows were close and eternity near
She stood in the crown and she shed not a tear
Sometimes at night when the cold winds blow
In a long black veil she cries over 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
Nobody knows, nobody sees
Nobody knows but me
Nobody knows, nobody sees
Nobody knows but me
Nobody knows, nobody sees
Nobody knows but me Notes:
These are the lyrics of one the various renderings by Bruce and the Seeger band
Long black veil - Original
Ten years ago on a cold dark night
Someone was killed 'neath the town hall lights
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 though it meant my life
I'd been in the arms of my best friend's wife
Now 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
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 Notes:
These are the lyrics to the original version, Bruce's one may differ in some points
This song has never been published on any official release.
Very few performances of this songs are known (to me, at least!):
- 21/03/2006 Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park,NJ ,USA during the Seeger sessions tour rehersals
- 26/04/2006 Convention Hall, Asbury Park,NJ ,USA during the Seeger sessions tour rehersals
- 08/05/2006 Hammersmith Apollo Theatre, London ,GB during the Seeger sessions tour
- 16/05/2006 Heineken Music Hall, Amsterdam ,Netherlands during the Seeger sessions tour
- 17/05/2006 Festhalle, Frankfurt ,Germany during the Seeger sessions tour
- 21/05/2006 Hovet, Stockholm ,Sweden during the Seeger sessions tour
- 11/06/2006 Xcel Arena, Saint Paul,MN ,USA during the Seeger sessions tour
- 13/06/2006 First MidWest Bank Amphitheater, Tinley Park,IL ,USA during the Seeger sessions tour
- 20/06/2006 Camden Tweeter Waterfront Amphitheater, Philadelphia,PA ,USA during the Seeger sessions tour
- 26/06/2006 PNC Amphitheatre, Homdel,NJ ,USA during the Seeger sessions tour
- 10/10/2006 Palalottomatica, Rome ,Italy during the Seeger sessions tour
Data from the www.brucespringsteen.it database
First known live performance: 21/03/2006 Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park,NJ ,USA
Last known live performance: 10/10/2006 Palalottomatica, Rome ,Italy
Song 'history':
Played during the rehearsals for the We shall overcome / The Seeger session tour, in Mar/Apr 2006.
Just less than a dozen shots during the The Seeger Session tour
Data from the www.brucespringsteen.it database