I Hung My Head

Lyrics

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 in my hands  
  
The sheriff he asked me  
Why had I run  
And then it come 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  
  
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 your 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'll ride together  
To kingdom come  
I prayed for God's mercy  
'Cause soon I'd be dead  
I hung my head  
I hung my head  
  
I hung my head  
I hung my head