I Hung My Head
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"I Hung My Head" is a song written by English musician Sting and first released on his 1996 solo album Mercury Falling. The lyrics tell the story of a young man who accidentally kills a stranger, exploring themes of justice, guilt and redemption. The song has been covered several times, including most famously by Johnny Cash in 2002. The Longest Johns released a YouTube cover on 7 Aug 2024.
Factoids
The original song was written in 9/8; Sting said the uneven time signature made him think of a galloping horse dragging its dead rider, which inspired the story of the song.[1] The Johns' cover follows Cash's version in simplifying the time signature to 4/4.
Lyrics
As performed in the studio video
Early one morning with time to kill
I borrowed Jeb's rifle and sat on the hill
I saw a lone rider crossing the plain
I drew a bead on him to practice my aim
And 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
And my brother's rifle went into the stream
And I kept on running into the salt lands
And that's where they found me, my head in my hands
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 piece of lead
I hung my head, I hung my head
I hung my head, I hung my head
I hung my head, I hung my head
Here in the courthouse, the whole town is there
And I see the judge high up in his chair
"Explain to the courtroom what went through your mind
And we'll ask the jury what verdict they find"
I said, "I felt the power of death over life
I orphaned his children, I widowed his wife
I beg 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 the hill
And out in the distance, a trick of the brain
I see a lone rider crossing the plain
Now, he'd come to fetch me, to see what they've done
And we'll ride together 'til kingdom come
I pray for God's mercy, for soon I'll be dead
I hung my head, I hung my head
I hung my head, I hung my head
I hung my head, I hung my head