Johnny Cash - I Hung My Head

Johnny Cash - I Hung My Head

"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 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

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Classical
• Oldies
• Johnny
• Cash
• Country
• 50s
• 60s
• 70s
• 80s
• 90s

[GratefulVince]

Has anyone heard the original by Sting? It's almost comical how superior in every single way Johnny's cover version is than the original. If u heard this without knowing its a cover you'd bet your life savings it was either written by or for Johnny.

[bluefukingreene]

i know johnny only wrote maybe a third of his tunes that doesnt matter one fukin bit...this man breathes life and death into a song like no other...its as if each word could be his last...and hearing his dying breath and vocals on his final recordings brings tears to my eyes.....this man lost a part of his soul when his loving wife died..may they rest in the cosmic sea of dreams forever.on a lighter note check johnnys song cup of coffee and boa constricter....john henry hammer...peace.

[beavis188]

thumbs up if listening to this song you hung your head

[iheartbillywilder]

@GratefulVince totally agree, but trying watching Sting Live in Berlin-- the accompaniments really give it some "umph." But still, Johnny does still own Sting.

[CountryBoy8877]

Whoever disliked this went through i ring of fire after getting shot...

[viennawaitsforyou18]

@GratefulVince so true!! though i prefer Sting's use of Stream rather than Sheen, but apparently it was a misprint in the lyrics Johnny was using :p

[bobqueerful]

What a beautiful man. What a talent. God bless you, man in black.

[oroizwvm]

the dislike bar is like lady gagas penis its small but shouldnt be there :/

[davbob]

@GratefulVince I think because Sting is English and went to a nice Grammar School and had a job as a bus conductor it makes it hard to believe that he shot a man dead riding across the plains, Mr Cash may well have just done that.

[texansfan4eva]

WHY IS THERE A DISLIKE BUTTON???

[JackassInfidel]

the SHIELD!

[boypaslot]

he should have framed jeb for that incident