The Words of a Song: Long Black Veil

Hosted by: 
Molly Campbell
Produced by: 
KBOO
Program:: 
Swing 'n' Country
Air date: 
Sat, 02/02/2019 - 6:00am to 9:00am

How many songs do you know sung from the point of view of a ghost? And that's just one thing that makes Long Black Veil special.  Written by Marijohn Wilkin (pictured) and Danny Dill back in 1959, Long Black Veil tells the story of a man hung for a murder he didn't commit.  His lover mourns his death in secret, visiting his grave when the north winds wail... This morning on Swing'n'Country, Molly will dive into the the history of the song, explore the careers of the songwriters, and play a few of the many versions recorded over the years.

Topic tags: 
History, Music
Genre(s): 
Country, Folk

Episode Playlist

  • Time
    6:01
    Artist
    Lefty Frizzell
    Song
    Is It Only That You're Lonely
    Album
    Signed, Sealed and Delivered
    Label
    Columbia Nashville Legacy
  • Time
    6:02
    Artist
    Lefty Frizzell
    Song
    Don't Think It Ain't Been Fun, Dear (Cuz It Ain't)
    Album
    Columbia Sessions (1950-1972)
    Label
  • Time
    6:05
    Artist
    Kitty Wells
    Song
    Release Me
    Album
    20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Kitty Wells
    Label
    MCA Nashville
  • Time
    6:08
    Artist
    Willie Nelson
    Song
    Fly Me To The Moon
    Album
    My Way
    Label
    Legacy
  • Time
    6:13
    Artist
    Jimmie Rodgers
    Song
    When The Cactus Is In Bloom
    Album
    The Rough Guide To Country Legends: Jimmie Rodgers (Reborn And Remastered)
    Label
    Music Rough Guides
  • Time
    6:17
    Artist
    Lefty Frizzell
    Song
    Always Late (With Your Kisses)
    Album
    Look What Thoughts Will Do
    Label
    Columbia
  • Time
    6:19
    Artist
    The Browns (3)
    Song
    Looking Back To See
    Album
    Complete Pop & Country Hits
    Label
    Real Gone Music
  • Time
    6:22
    Artist
    Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys
    Song
    Stay All Night (Stay A Little Longer)
    Album
    For The Last Time
    Label
    United Artists Records
  • Time
    6:27
    Artist
    Lefty Frizzell
    Song
    I'll Try
    Album
    Look What Thoughts Will Do
    Label
    Columbia/Legacy
  • Time
    6:28
    Artist
    Lefty Frizzzell
    Song
    Shine, Shave, Shower (It's Saturday)
    Album
    Look What Thoughts Will Do
    Label
  • Time
    6:31
    Artist
    June Carter Cash
    Song
    Root, Hog, or Die
    Album
    Keep On The Sunny Side: June Carter Cash- Her Life In Music
    Label
    Columbia
  • Time
    6:34
    Artist
    Marty Robbins
    Song
    Smokin' Cigarettes and Drinkin' Coffee Blues
    Album
    The Essential Marty Robbins (1951-1982)
    Label
    Legacy/Columbia
  • Time
    6:39
    Artist
    Eddy Arnold
    Song
    Anytime
    Album
    Complete Original #1 Hits
    Label
    Real Gone Music
  • Time
    6:41
    Artist
    Hank Locklin
    Song
    A Good Woman's Love
    Album
    The Girls Get Prettier
    Label
    RCA/Legacy
  • Time
    6:44
    Artist
    Porter Wagoner And Dolly Parton
    Song
    The Last Thing On My Mind
    Album
    The Essential Porter Wagoner And Dolly Parton
    Label
    RCA
  • Time
    6:49
    Artist
    Lefty Frizzell
    Song
    Long Black Veil
    Album
    American Originals
    Label
    Columbia
  • Time
    6:51
    Artist
    Eddie Cochran
    Song
    Cut Across Shorty
    Album
    Somethin' Else
    Label
    EMI
  • Time
    6:53
    Artist
    Jerry Lee Lewis
    Song
    Ramblin' Rose
    Album
    The Golden Cream Of The Country
    Label
    Sun (9)
  • Time
    6:59
    Artist
    Marijohn Wilkins and the Jacks
    Song
    Cold, Cold Heart
    Album
    Label
  • Time
    7:00
    Artist
    Stonewall Jackson
    Song
    Waterloo
    Album
    American Originals
    Label
    Columbia
  • Time
    7:06
    Artist
    Kris Kristofferson
    Song
    Loving Her Was Easier (Thank Anything I'll Ever Do Again)
    Album
    Live at the Big Sur Folk Festival
    Label
  • Time
    7:08
    Artist
    Townes Van Zandt
    Song
    Dead Flowers
    Album
    Roadsongs
    Label
    Sugar Hill Records (2)
  • Time
    7:13
    Artist
    Hip Hatchet
    Song
    Small Demons
    Album
    Joy and Better Days
    Label
    Gravitation
  • Time
    7:18
    Artist
    Emmylou Harris
    Song
    Wayfaring Stranger
    Album
    The Very Best Of Emmylou Harris: Heartaches & Highways
    Label
    Rhino Records (2)
  • Time
    7:22
    Artist
    Stoney Edwards
    Song
    She's My Rock
    Album
    Lost Country Hits of the 70s
    Label
    Capitol Nashville
  • Time
    7:25
    Artist
    Jon Emery & Stoney Edwards
    Song
    Brown Boots (Bonus Track)
    Album
    Jon Emery's Greatest Hits (That Never Were)
    Label
    JE Records
  • Time
    7:28
    Artist
    Lucinda Williams
    Song
    Am I Too Blue
    Album
    Lucinda Williams
    Label
    Chameleon Records (2)
  • Time
    7:34
    Artist
    Buck Owens
    Song
    Good Ole Mountain Dew
    Album
    Live At The Nugget
    Label
    Capitol Records
  • Time
    7:37
    Artist
    Buck Owens
    Song
    Nugget Lament
    Album
    Live At The Nugget
    Label
    Capitol Records
  • Time
    7:40
    Artist
    Johnny Horton
    Song
    Honky Tonk Mind
    Album
    The Legendary Johnny Horton
    Label
    Harmony (4)
  • Time
    7:42
    Artist
    Buck Owens
    Song
    The Streets of Bakersfield
    Album
    All-Time Greatest Hits
    Label
    Saguaro Road Records
  • Time
    7:48
    Artist
    Marijohn Wilkin
    Song
    Where I'm Going
    Album
    Jubilation!
    Label
  • Time
    7:50
    Artist
    Iris Dement
    Song
    Let The Mystery Be
    Album
    Infamous Angel
    Label
    Warner Bros. Records
  • Time
    7:53
    Artist
    Kitty Wells
    Song
    Gathering Flowers for the Master's Bouquet
    Album
    Dust On the Bible
    Label
    Gusto Records
  • Time
    7:55
    Artist
    Gillian Welch
    Song
    I'm Not Afraid to Die
    Album
    Hell Among the Yearlings
    Label
    Acony Records
  • Time
    8:02
    Artist
    Willie Nelson & Webb Pierce
    Song
    Heebie Jeebie blues
    Album
    In the Jailhouse Now
    Label
    Columbia Nashville Legacy
  • Time
    8:03
    Artist
    Don Williams
    Song
    Down the Road I Go
    Album
    Greatest Hits
    Label
  • Time
    8:06
    Artist
    Lefty Frizzell
    Song
    A King Without a Queen
    Album
    The Complete Columbia Recording Sessions, Vol. 2 - 1951-1953
    Label
    Columbia/Legacy
  • Time
    8:10
    Artist
    Willie Nelson & Webb Pierce
    Song
    There Stands the Glass
    Album
    In the Jailhouse Now
    Label
    Columbia Nashville Legacy
  • Time
    8:22
    Artist
    Elliott Peck and Graham Lesh
    Song
    One of those days
    Album
    Live in KBOO studio
    Label
  • Time
    8:29
    Artist
    Elliott Peck and Graham Lesh
    Song
    Silver and Gold
    Album
    Live in KBOO studio
    Label
  • Time
    8:33
    Artist
    Leo Rondeau
    Song
    Love Again
    Album
    Take It And Break It
    Label
    Not On Label
  • Time
    8:35
    Artist
    Margo Price
    Song
    Heart Of America
    Album
    All American Made
    Label
    Third Man Records
  • Time
    8:38
    Artist
    Shovels And Rope
    Song
    Birmingham
    Album
    O' Be Joyful
    Label
    Dualtone
  • Time
    8:43
    Artist
    Adia Victoria
    Song
    Stuck In The South
    Album
    Beyond The Bloodhounds
    Label
    Canvasback
  • Time
    8:46
    Artist
    Lucette
    Song
    Bobby Reid
    Album
    Black Is the Color
    Label
    Rock Creek Music
  • Time
    8:48
    Artist
    Blackberry Smoke
    Song
    Mother Mountain (feat. The Wood Brothers)
    Album
    Find a Light
    Label
    3 Legged Records
  • Time
    8:53
    Artist
    Johnny Cash
    Song
    The Long Black Veil
    Album
    At Folsom Prison (Live)
    Label
    Columbia/Legacy

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