I hung my head.....

Alene introduced this Johnny Cash song to me recently. At first I thought it was an older song he had written, but after researching it, I found out STING had actually written it and Johnny Cash covered it on his American IV album in 2002.

Johnny Cash is amazing. He doesn't have the best singing voice, nor is he an amazing guitarist, but he is the only one that could pull off the meaning of the lyrics he sings. I've also loved how, even in his old age, he listened to newer music and covered many songs by newer artists, and even sang songs that younger artists wrote for him.

This particular song made me cry. I could imagine all the thoughts this person is if I were in his situation. I would like to think I have hope that I would have God's mercy for an accident too.

I don't know where to find those sites that will stream the music for you for free, but I found the song on Youtube.



Here are the lyrics:

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 and my hands

The sheriff he asked me
Why had I run
And then it came to me
Just what I had done
And all for no reason
Just one peace 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 you 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’d ride together
To kingdom come
I prayed for god’s mercy
For soon I’d be dead
I hung my head
I hung my head

I hung my head
I hung my head