Tom Dooley

Producer

Written late in the 19th century, this song is credited by many as the one that started the folk music boom of the late 1950s and early 60s. Some also credit the song (and… Read More

Jun. 2, 19581 viewer30.7K views

Tom Dooley Lyrics

[Intro]
Throughout history, there have been many songs written about the eternal triangle. This next one tells the story of Mister Grayson, a beautiful woman and a condemned man named Tom Dooley. When the sun rises tomorrow, Tom Dooley must hang

[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

[Verse 1]
I met her on the mountain
There I took her life
Met her on the mountain
Stabbed her with my knife

[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

[Verse 2]
This time tomorrow
Reckon where I'll be
Hadn't-a been for Grayson
I'd-a been in Tennessee

Well now, boy

[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

Well now, boy

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

[Verse 3]
This time tomorrow
Reckon where I'll be
Down in some lonesome valley
Hangin' from a white oak tree

[Chorus]
Hang down your head, Tom Dooley
Hang down your head and cry (At night)
Hang down your head, Tom Dooley
Poor boy, you're bound to die

Well now, boy

Hang down your head, Tom Dooley
Hang down your head and cry (Poor boy)
Hang down your head, Tom Dooley
Poor boy, you're bound to die

[Outro]
Poor boy, you're bound to die
Poor boy, you're bound to die
Poor boy, you're bound to die

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About

Written late in the 19th century, this song is credited by many as the one that started the folk music boom of the late 1950s and early 60s. Some also credit the song (and others by The Kingston Trio) as paving the way for singer-songwriters Pete Seeger, Joan Baez and Bob Dylan.

This song was selected as one of the American Songs of the Century by the Recording Industry Association of America and the Western Writers of America chose it as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time. It also reached the No. 1 position on the Billboard Hot 100 the week of November 17, 1958.