Johnny Cash - The Long Black Veil 1987

[Coyoteboy12]

Beautiful beyond compare

[JO1045]

Johnny was a little bit confused and sung the third verse before the second

[xXxlindamariexXx]

I love Johnny! Love this song!! =]

[grannydyess]

lefty frizzell was the original artist. i remember hearing him when i was a child. country music was what i grew up.

[Carters01]

You are right. Originally recorded in Nashville in 1959 by Lefty Frizzell and produced by Don Law, it reached #6 on the U.S. Country chart. The song was written by composer and singer Danny Dill with Marijohn Wilkin in a folk music style in 1959. Wilkin also played piano on the original recording by Frizzell.

[wilmaohman]

Lefty Frizell recorded this b4 Cash.I believe Frizell was the original artist in the late 50's long b4 Cash.

[qwijjibow]

wow hard core song!

[estelle715]

too bad they didn't have DNA or any forensics experts when this song was written,they may have found the "real killer" and the lovers would have been united in life.Of course,the song wouldn't have been as good.

[Smidt5702]

That's thing about life m8 - music before science....

[sartainja]

I read that it was motivated by the unsolved killing of a priest next to city hall in a small town. This song has all the classic stuff for a great song - an affair, a unsolved murder, graveyards on cold windy night, and black clothing. They could make a movie based on the song.

[estelle715]

That is interesting, I never heard that! The song has such a haunting sound. Yes, it would make a great movie!

[EarlJohn61]

Hollywood would never touch this. It has no happy ending.

[thisiwas]

@estelle715 but he would rather die than have his best friend know he was in the arms of his wife. True friendship.

[rochedouglas17]

Sorry, estelle715, I cannot disagree more, with you. Best friends don't steal (or borrow) each other's wives. There being good enough reason, take her openly and permanently.

rochedouglas.

[classof80extant]

Thanks for the post.

[CashPresley32]

I really enjoy this song it's one of my favorites but I liked Johnny Cash's 60s version a whole lot better. Thanks for posting.

[ADACaseyNovak876]

Same

[horrorfan13666]

Folsom Prison, 1968. Amazing. Can't find it here on Youtube though... :(

[srvhendrixfan1]

check out the Dave Matthews/Emmylou Harris version. you don't even have to like DMB of Emmylou. it's just great. one of my bands is recording that version for our new CD.

Johnny Cash really can't be topped here, but that version came close

[JimmyVolume]

the nick cave and the bad seeds version of this song is amazing

[isle132002]

good ole johnny cash from dyse, arkansas. we miss ya

[arjumand]

I love this version: because the focus is so close on Johnny, it seems so much more intimate, somehow. I think the audio is fine, too.

[Mommak56]

I agree!

[phoenix1916]

Brilliant singer, and song, but the audio on this is terrible

[DementedCaver]

I always enjoy a song about the dark side of love.

[abececil]

amazing

[wtf8855]

I love this song. So beautiful and sad. The Dave Matthews and Emmylou Harris version is Great!

[kevmehl]

right on!! its soooo good

[skankspankr]

I've heard alot of different versions of this song, but Johny's voice is just perfect for it, especially when it's just his guitar and voice.

[girlybratpretty]

YOUR RIGHT I MISS THE MAN IN BLACK

[zaaritha]

Who wrote this song?

[Carters01]

Written by Marijohn Wilkin and Danny Dill, 1959.

[zaaritha]

Thanks

[pericraig]

I really hate to admit this (since I've always maintained that I dislike Cash's music), but this is really really, good. I do like it better than Emmylou and Matthews version ... and that is NOT easy to admit ... so don't tell anyone.

[Sqid101]

I won't let on. Personally, I think I like the Matthews and Emmylow version. This is good too, but Mathews seems to get onto the sense of guilt and futility a bit more... this is just personal taste though. I wouldn't say this version is worse. Joan Baez does a version that's good in places.

[waynespoohbear]

whats wrong with you, johnny cash is the best one.

[spagNsc]

A "TEXT BOOK" version....

[bugandflea]

Excellent!

[OSLAINTE123]

always makes me cry. and I'm a grown man.

[jomigirock]

True, but if there was no Johnny Cash version. Then that would certainly mean there would be no Dave Matthews version. And in this case you can't get better than the one that made the song what it is.

[mandylion83]

i like this song. very much

[ilovefights]

I'm a huge fan of both Cash and Dave Matthews; I think they both deliver two different yet equally compelling versions of this song. Cash sings it in a way that makes you feel as if your listening to a great storyteller tell a sad tale while maintaining a musical approach. Continued...

[ilovefights]

Dave's appeal is that it makes one feel like you were actually there; not listening to a song, but more of a background to the events unfolding before you. I think Dave really conveys the sadness, love and guilt-ridden sacrifice told in that song.

[dumbassrfucker]

dude you are one well spoken son gun,i'd like to hear your thoughts on NIN "hurt vs. Johnny Cash version

[Sqid101]

ilovefights,

A first rate analysis. First rate.

[braton1]

Nobody can do it better than the Man in Black. Nobody.

[arno7777777]

check out the Dave Matthews version posted by ev42!!

[OSLAINTE123]

its good,, except emmy lou looks like someone's mom who has had too much coke

[arno7777777]

Dave Matthews does sing it better, actually.

[zsearle]

no one can sing this song like jonny cash only because he doesn't really sing but talks

[1tinkerbell10]

No1 can sing this song like the legend himself MR J CASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Baerchen00]

Beautiful cover!!! I can only imagine the atmosphere of the Falsom Prison version ... Got to know this song through the Chieftain album of this title. With no other than Mick Jagger doing the vocals. Very ghostly and haunting and equally as beautiful.

[b00nd0cksaint007]

my fav is dave matthews, by far

[Tweekurs]

lol, thats cuz your brain is small

[HADCAY]

johnny cash's version is alot better than any other one i think

[OSLAINTE123]

lefty version  great, but I still favour the Folsom version of this, beautiful song

[moose4654]

We all love Johnny Cash. :-)

[guns663]

Year he dose great songs

[moose4654]

How about Lefty(Frizzell if you don't know)? The original, original singer of this song.

[JohnnybobTexas]

Lefty does a great job on this song. Johnny never sang a bad song.

[joedell71]

the version done by The Band is the definitive version of this song in my opinion check it out

[guns663]

this is so cool

[ecracker44]

Ive listened to like 9 million different versions of this song, some by johnny and some by others, but to this day none of them even comes close to touching the version he did on his live at folsom prison album.. that version gives me the chills every time and captures the songs mood better than all the others imo.

[zaaritha]

He´s one of the storytellers!

[mattstone107]

Thanks Johnny Cash!!! and Thanks Carters01 for this!!!

[brightenmyheart]

This is the way the song has to be done. No one can do it like Jonny so everyone should stop. Thank you so much for sharing :)

[stabber5]

Mr Cash is the man R.I.P.

[oleblkjck]

This is the right way this song is supposed to be done,and bythe right singer. Thank you

[PaulaMcEwan]

thanks for posting!