I Hung My Head

Album: Mercury Falling (1996)
Play Video
  • 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 bread 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 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 salt lands
    And that's where they found me, my head in my hands
    The sheriff he asked me "Why had I run"
    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

    Here in the courthouse, the whole town is 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 beg 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
    He's come to fetch me to see what they done
    We'll ride together 'til 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 Writer/s: GORDON SUMNER
    Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 7

  • Gregory from La Verne, CaI see the song like this, A young man using his brothers rifle, he's a bit excited and the power of the gun like a teenager in powerful car, he spots the rider in the distance took aim thinks to himself "I could hit him" he makes the mistake...

    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 believe the rider was Jebb his brother.

    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'd ride together
    To kingdom come
    I prayed for god's mercy
    For soon I'd be dead
    I hung my head
    I hung my head

    And the 2nd Rider is also Jebb.

    That is my what thought are.

  • Katrina from Fate, TxI absolutley LOVE this song! I heard about it from my mom after a teacher told me about a book like it. I especially like the part where it says: I felt the power/ of death over life/ I orphaned his children/ I widowed his wife/ I beg their forgiveness/ I wish I was dead/ I hung my head, I hung my head. It's the best part! Go Sting!!!
  • Eve from Pécs, HungaryI also love the 9/8 rhythm. First I only felt it was something very extraordinary, then when I counted it I didn't believe my ears. Sting has always liked rare time signatures, and he can use them well in order to express what he wants. I also read in an interview that he said it wasn't easy at all to perform songs with such rhythm.
  • Blair from Parksville, CanadaI'm a drummer, and the odd 9/8 time intrigued me. It was tough to get a handle on it. Listening to it, it alternates between 'rock' beat and 'reggae beat. Now I've memorized the pattern and its so cool to do. The song '"Love is Stronger than Justice" from "Ten Summoner's Tales has a similar time signature.
  • Jason from Kingston, CanadaThis song is in 9/8 time-- not only hard to write a song in a weird time signature like this, but very hard to perform. Very cool.
  • Jon from Oakridge, OrI LOVE this song. Stings version is good but like so many other songs, Johhny Cash's version is great.
  • Pierre-yves from Belfort, FranceI like this song because Sting narration is very efficient. I like the song effect on "I set off running to wake from the dream" too.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Early Days of MTV

Early Days of MTVFact or Fiction

If you can recall the days when MTV played videos, you know that there are lots of stories to tell. See if you can spot the real ones.

Emilio Castillo from Tower of Power

Emilio Castillo from Tower of PowerSongwriter Interviews

Emilio talks about what it's like to write and perform with the Tower of Power horns, and why every struggling band should have a friend like Huey Lewis.

American Hits With Foreign Titles

American Hits With Foreign TitlesSong Writing

What are the biggest US hits with French, Spanish (not "Rico Suave"), Italian, Scottish, Greek, and Japanese titles?

U2 Lyrics

U2 LyricsMusic Quiz

How well do you know the lyrics of U2?

Brian Kehew: The Man Behind The Remasters

Brian Kehew: The Man Behind The RemastersSong Writing

Brian has unearthed outtakes by Fleetwood Mac, Aretha Franklin, Elvis Costello and hundreds of other artists for reissues. Here's how he does it.

80s Video Director Jay Dubin

80s Video Director Jay DubinSong Writing

Billy Joel and Hall & Oates hated making videos, so they chose a director with similar contempt for the medium. That was Jay Dubin, and he has a lot to say on the subject.