I Hung My Head | The Longest Johns

Written by Sting
Lyrics:
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
My brother's rifle went into the stream
I kept on running into the south 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 was there
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 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 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'd done
And we'll ride together to 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
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Longest Johns
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[@MySerpentine]

'The power of death over life' is a Hell of a phrase

[@BastuGubbar]

When Dave left the band I was worried, but it feels like TLJ has taken on a more mature tone as a trio and I'm all here for it!

[@Denley1526]

Such a sad song but very beautifully done. Good to see JD on double bass again.

[@ProfesoraNut]

Agreed!

[@GeekofNature42]

I love Robbie's voice, he's amazing at bringing the right emotive tone to whatever he's singing.

[@about.13.confused.planes]

Oh very lovely. Love seeing the big stringy planky out and about

[@doxiegirl2522]

First time I heard this was Johnny Cash singing it. Great song. Great job!! 🙂

[@braidenr4]

Still the best version ever

[@mateorojo11]

Rule number one of gun safety: Never point a gun at something unless you intend to destroy it.

[@Sociopathe42]

In my country, it's more like : Rule number one of gun safety : never use a gun.

[@casanovafiems1508]

I thought rule number one is check if it’s loaded?

[@urkittenmew]

@@casanovafiems1508 If it's pointed it's loaded. Never point it without reason

[@Donald5557_]

@@urkittenmewExactly people who say if it’s not loaded it’s fine are idiots. It creates muscle memory for when it is loaded.

[@MrMobiusfan]

@@casanovafiems1508 A gun is always loaded unless you are actively clearing the chamber. And even then, you can never be sure.

[@thud13x]

Shivers. One of my favourite songs of Johnny Cash and you guys more than did it justice. Bravo, sirs.

[@Maugli42]

It honestly suprised me that this is written by Sting, I always knew it as Johnny's song. One of my favourites too, glad to hear this amazing cover.

[@thud13x]

@Maugli42 Same! Always think of it as a Cash song.

[@LearningCurves123]

Wow. and all because he wasn't careful with a gun. So sad. So beautifully written. Kept me captivated. Good job!

[@drivenbyHim]

There's a difference between "not being careful" and "being incredibly stupid". Don't get me wrong. This song was beautifully done...I just hate guns being used stupidly.

[@Acid0999]

This is amazing! I love the Johnny Cash version, but your harmonies bring this sad song to a new level! But I can only die in peace when you do a cover of Star of the County down! Please do more Irish folk!

[@kevindonohue2912]

Have The Longest Johns ever done The Fields of Athenry? I mean, if we're going Irish and all...

[@Acid0999]

That would also be awesome

[@wholedangshebang4999]

I was just listening Johnny Cash before seeing this. Love this.

[@yasumedia9528]

I got chills when JD's double bass kicked in

[@daunaltromondo]

Sad but beautiful! It makes you think about how sometimes it only takes a second to change people's lives, and how dangerous guns are.

[@Yasemin_Sky]

Beautiful rendition. ❤

[@hessanscounty3592]

Sting’s albums from the 1990s, and this song in particular, greatly shaped my musical experience growing up.

[@c.ssturmer6794]

I think I get this song. It's a song about regret, bringing your whole life down to one mistake that you have made. This is a very dramatic example of that experience. Many people can relate to making one bad decision or one big mistake that will change someone's life in a moment.

[@ProfesoraNut]

WOW! 😮❤️😮 What a stunner! I am REALLY digging the addition of JD on bass. What an absolute heartbreaking, beautiful song.

[@catherinemontrose2102]

So sad and beautifully arranged, thanks! I've heard Sting's version and Johnny Cash's cover, and I love this one too.

[@AnC-gc9rk]

Loved the harmonies. Enjoyed Andy singing the higher part for once. Robbie's voice sounding so smooth, JD's bass great as always.

[@claritysabbath4943]

Absolutely beyond stunning.

[@Fragglerocker93]

Grew up listening to Sting and this song quickly became one of my favorite songs by him. You made this song your own and I am for it ❤wonderful job

[@aquaticangel3380]

deep voice robbie, a rare sight!! So beautiful though, I love this rendition so much! excellent job ❤

[@EleniaTheGreat]

A sad song, but those are often the most beautiful. This is amazing, thank you TLJ 💜

[@kobayashi.official]

I had no idea Sting wrote this! I only ever heard Johnny Cash's version and totally thought it sounded like a song he'd write. But this version is SOOO SOOO good!! Excellent job, Gents! Still hoping that someday you'll cover "If I Was A Blackbird" by Silly Wizard! =)

[@josiahzabel8596]

I've only ever known it as a Sting song... Now I need to listen to the Johnny Cash version and Silly Wizard

[@doxiegirl2522]

@@kobayashi.official same, I didn’t realize Sting sang a version of this song. I too thought it was a Johnny Cash song written and sung. 🙂

[@misomiso8228]

Fantastic rendition of a great song.

[@epicfail9271]

Never heard this before, was not ready to be sad. Well done lads

[@theredone7980]

I'm in Tears Fellas.. this was So beautiful ❤️

[@river9994]

Oh wow, such sweet sadness had me stop, hang my head and listen. You three bring such emotion to your songs. Thank you

[@robertthegreek]

Love the chosen instrumentation. Love seeing Robbie taking on different instruments and seeing JD back on bass. This song suited the 3 of you well. More like this please.

[@segothgalont23]

One of my favorite songs, awesome job.

[@Man_of_Tears]

Emotional song. Beautiful

[@alexanderprice5305]

I've been a long-time fan of you guys. I thought, surely they can't cover Cash.. I was terrible wrong. This is amazing. Beautifully done. I never should have doubted.

[@JdV988]

I have no words That was beautiful 🥲

[@ProfesoraNut]

Some addictive quality is in this song. It's tragic, yes, but also so so beautiful. I've listened to it multiple times today. The melody is really soothing. Really interesting lyrics, also. Reminds me a lot of "Long Black Veil" by Johnny Cash. Similar themes.

[@williamhalsted4]

Beautiful ballad, and I like the ending. Next could you do "White Squall" by Stan Rogers or "Witch of the West-Mer-Lands" by Archie Fischer?

[@dustydruid6670]

I'd love to hear them so either of those! I think White Squall is right up their alley, not quite sure about Witch of the Westmerlands (it's pretty long) but definitely a favorite of mine.

[@norafromash5087]

wow. this one goes straight to the heart. thank you

[@jacqf3583]

Only ever heard this done by Sting before - beautifully done fellas

[@evilspoons]

Johnny Cash also does a good version on "American IV: The Man Comes Around". That's the first place I heard this song.

[@realdirtydan7302]

My two year old daughter gets so calm with your music

[@Marksman0317]

All due respect for a 2 year old child, they shouldn't be listening to something about death.

[@newjerseyyouth4853]

@@Marksman0317they can’t understand the lyrics and tbh this song is all ages. No blood or gore. My dad played this for me the first time he brought me to the range around the age of 7

[@Marksman0317]

@@newjerseyyouth4853 It's still related to the Topic and if the child somehow remembers it and tells their peers it could lead to something that people wouldn't want.

[@MySerpentine]

@@Marksman0317 What, to kids not wanting to play with guns? The horror!

[@gruenlilie007]

@@Marksman0317 A lot of traditional lullabies and children's songs have dark themes (e.g. London Bridge is Falling Down, Rockabye Baby, Alouette, Humpty Dumpty, Waltzing Mathilda...). I don't think this is any different just because the song is a bit more modern.

[@thehoopsnerd4261]

Beautiful. I'd love to see you do a version of Alison Krauss' Down To The River To Pray

[@williamhalsted4]

I second.

[@thessie]

Absolutely sublime

[@judyyougotthis]

Wow. Just….wow.

[@timothyrowland1501]

Yep. Just yep.

[@steveallen3434]

beautiful

[@Revenant-oq9ts]

Goddamn, beautiful. The definition of it.

[@willpearse3881]

Omg I love this song!!! So cool to see you cover this

[@svendtveskg5719]

Heavy lyrics for such a young man. Well done.

[@AngelienRhymesWithGreen]

Really choked up over this one. Well done, boys.

[@panda93247]

Great interpretation of the tune lads. Loved it.

[@theamazinghotbottle3531]

Beautiful one lads ! Very sad but very soothing too.

[@casanovafiems1508]

Love your work as always!

[@jeffandthings77]

There are few songs I love seeing covers of-Disturbed doing "Sound of Silence" is one of them. But your harmonies and treatment of this song has made one more for me to add to that short list!

[@newfiehughes]

Outstanding!

[@reallygoodbee]

Still requesting Court of the Crimson King. I would love to hear you guys do that as a harmony

[@marvinthemaniac7698]

This has got to be the saddest song you've ever done since Bones In The Ocean.

[@Dannysoutherner]

Good gun safety message. Don't point at anything you don't intend to hit.

[@Echo2-2]

Outstanding work with this cover!

[@ReeseMacalma]

Please do "Hurt" as well in the adequate future!

[@AxeMoose]

This hits hard. I feel it.

[@jonharper5919]

So good! I loved the ending, it felt unresolved somehow

[@Hennu_TRM]

Fellas, I've listened to this video a lot since it dropped. The tab's been open all week on my browser, I just come back and hit replay...

[@ZeroEx131]

I want this on Spotify so bad.

[@OlgaPuma1977]

I love it ❤

[@kylelindberg7771]

Johnny Cash would’ve loved this rendition

[@davidruggles996]

Yasss! Let's keep it going! Do Long Black Veil please ❤

[@Lardbeane]

The Longest Johnny's

[@jasonbruinsma9228]

I was listening To this song on a randomly mixed playlist, As I was lingering in the sadness the Song switched. and Of all the songs to go next It was Your Guy's Cover of BLACKBIRD, It was quite the Transition of Emotions

[@derpybird2039]

Oh this is gorgeous!

[@nimbusshadow-wings]

such an underrated song.

[@EmelineHalsted]

It's great to hear a song also done by Johnny Cash! I would love if you guys did a cover of "The Big Hewer" by David Coffin and "White Squall" by Stan Rogers.

[@williamhalsted4]

I second!

[@CapriUni]

Something like an 18th C. Murder Ballad for the 20th Century. Haunting! (Appropriate, considering the subject matter)

[@mikeknowles8017]

Nice. I always wondered why, on his recording, Cash said "My brothers rifle went into the sheen". Maybe it was just a mistake they left in his recording.

[@moragmckay3779]

Great version of a Johnny Cash favourite. I'd been looking out earlier hoping for a notification you'd produced something for later to give me a boost today (lurgy time)and missed it by an hour. It's all your fault I burned my daughter's pizza!

[@Chef316]

Would love to hear you guys do an a cappella version of Moreton Bay

[@dammitbelle1]

Maybe a bit of an odd request? But a cover of Bob Dylan's "When the Ship Comes In" would be awesome.

[@sallymaria]

I don't often think of covers, though I enjoy them when I hear them, but after hearing a couple of other versions, I'd love to hear your take on Wildflowers, originally by Tom Petty. I think you could make something really beautiful with it.

[@stgcjc7902]

We've had a lot slow songs form you guys recently, and chance you can sing some other faster or more upbeat songs like Tilbury Town or some such. That is not in any way to detract from the absolutely AMAZING work you've done here, really brilliant singing and playing. Well done, great video, sad and soulful song.

[@Sam-yb1kz]

Well done

[@jeanrussell9248]

So sad, so beautiful!

[@helenswan705]

new to me. thank you

[@SebTheGardener]

Great video :) see you in Perranporth in a few weeks!

[@SpaceGodzilla4242]

Please tell me y’all are gonna drop a new album soon

[@cuppotea]

Can you please please please please cover Loreley by Blackmores night

[@scottyp1303]

Please do DON'T TAKE YOUR GUNS TO TOWN next or Steve Earle's DEVIL'S RIGHT HAND.

[@krockpotbroccoli65]

Nice cover! I still prefer the johnny cash version but still damn good.

[@thewitherbros.9208]

Would love to see some banjo lessons from any on some the banjo heavy songs like hog eyed man and others not to mention a rendition of 16 tons

[@carlhume544]

When are you guys coming down under to Oz?

[@thelongestjohns]

Next year!!

[@jakehalsey4128]

Please have Antigua Gravyard as the next studio song ❤

[@gracehulbert7867]

I second this!

[@ReeseMacalma]

Oh....... damn.

[@cellistinak2161]

❤

[@yellowmonk8006]

crazy seeing a kurzgesat shirt

[@MySerpentine]

Oh yeah!

[@EySkream]

Could you do Tom Petty's Learning To Fly?

[@GenesisProjectHD]

I accidently watched this video on 1.5x speed and it actually sounded really good 😂Give it a try?

[@gracehulbert7867]

Omg, it's actually kinda fun! The speed of it makes it sound deceptively peppy! 😂

[@DoctorDewgong]

Jeb!

[@notsharing5887]

Oh dear..

[@Xenolilly]

Didn't Johnny Cash do a version of this song?

[@mastermind3660]

No one else notice the kurtzagart shirt?❤

[@flamboyantwarlock7101]

Let's be honest; Dudes defense was ass. You get hanged for murder, not for manslaughter.

[@Lodestone8]

Is that a kurzgesagt shirt?

[@williamhalsted4]

Google offered to translate your comment as "Is that a short-spoken shirt?"

[@SamDarley]

horsey🐴

[@professorganto2848]

people call this song depressing, but I don't think so. I always saw the lone rider to be Christ, who has seen the remorseful man throw himself before his mercy. Yes, the man faces judgement and punishment for his sins, but his genuine desire for redemption is why Jesus appears before him and takes him away, to kingdom come

[@robertshadbolt3056]

How can you orphan his children AND widowed his wife?