In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Ten years ago on a cold dark night,
A man killed 'neath the town hall light.
There were few at the scene and they all did agree
That the man who ran looked a lot like me.
Well, 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 had been 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.
Well, the scaffold is high and eternity's near
She stood in the crowd and shed not a tear.
But sometimes at night when the cold winds moan
In a long black veil, Lord, she cries all o'er my bones.
She walks these hills in a long black veil.
And visits my grave when the night winds wail.
Nobody knows, nobody sees,
Nobody knows but me.
Nobody knows, nobody sees,
Nobody knows but me.
A man killed 'neath the town hall light.
There were few at the scene and they all did agree
That the man who ran looked a lot like me.
Well, 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 had been 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.
Well, the scaffold is high and eternity's near
She stood in the crowd and shed not a tear.
But sometimes at night when the cold winds moan
In a long black veil, Lord, she cries all o'er my bones.
She walks these hills in a long black veil.
And visits my grave when the night winds wail.
Nobody knows, nobody sees,
Nobody knows but me.
Nobody knows, nobody sees,
Nobody knows but me.
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Long Black Veil Lyrics as written by Marijohn Wilkin Danny Dill
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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