TOM DOOLEY
(Traditional)

The Kingston Trio - 1957
New Lost City Ramblers - 1960
Glen Neaves & The Grayson County Boys - 1962
Frank Proffitt - 1962
Bradley Wayne - 1963
Doc Watson - 1964
Johnny Rivers - 1965
The Bergerfolk - 1971
The Country Gentlemen - 1973

Also recorded by: Lonnie Donegan


Chorus:
Hang down your head Tom Dooley
Hang down your head and cry
Hang down your head Tom Dooley
Poor boy you're bound to die

I met her on the mountain
There I took her life
I met her on the mountain
Stabbed her with a knife

(chorus)

This time tomorrow 
Reckon where I'll be
If it hadn't of been for Grayson
I'd have been in Tennessee

(chorus)

This time tomorrow
Reckon where I'll be
Down in some lonesome canyon
Hanging from a wide oak tree

(chorus)


*****


ORIGINAL VERSION:


Chorus:
Hang your head, Tom Dooley
Hang your head and cry
Killed poor Laura Foster 
And you know you're bound to die

You took her on the hillside 
And begged to be excused
You took her on the hillside
Then hid her clothes and shoes

You dug her grave four feet wide
Dug it three feet deep
Rolled the cold clay over her
And tromped it with your feet 

(chorus)

Took her on the hillside
Stabbed with a knife 
Took her on the hillside
And then you took her life

Trouble, oh it's trouble
A-rollin' through my breast
As long as I'm a-livin', boys
They ain't a-gonna let me rest

(chorus)

This time tomorrow morning
Where do you reckon I'll be
Down in some lonesome valley
Just swinging from a white oak tree

You can take down my old violin
And play it all you please
For at this time tomorrow morning
It'll be of no use to me

(chorus)

I know they're gonna hang me
Tomorrow I'll be dead
Though I never even harmed a hair
On poor little Laurie's head

In this world and one more
Then reckon where I'll be
If it wasn't for Sheriff Grayson
I'd be in Tennesee

(chorus)


HISTORICAL ORIGINS: Tom Dooley is based on a true story. Laura (sometimes Laurie) 
Foster was murdered in 1866 in North Carolina. Local legend tells that both she 
and Annie Melton were in love with Tom Dula (sometimes Dooley), and further that 
Sheriff Grayson, the man who arrested him and also drove the horses from beneath 
him when he was hanged, was jealous of Tom. Some believe that he either committed 
the murder himself or helped Annie Melton, who is reputed to have murdered Laura 
Foster out of jealousy.

Another version says that Annie was Tom's new love and that together they killed 
his ex, Laura.