Lyrics
Throughout history,
Introduction, setting the context for the song.
There's been many songs written about different killers.
Acknowledgment of songs about different killers in history.
This one's the story of a Sheriff Grayson, a beautiful young woman,
Introducing Sheriff Grayson and a young woman, key characters.
And a condemned man named Tom Dooley.
Mentioning Tom Dooley, a condemned man, setting the stage for the narrative.
Tomorrow morning at sunrise, Tom Dooley must hang.
Indicating that Tom Dooley is scheduled to be executed at sunrise.
(chorus)
Beginning of the chorus.
Hang down your head Tom Dooley,
Chorus expressing the inevitability of Tom Dooley's fate.
Hang down your head and cry (ay-ay),
-Hang down your head Tom Dooley,
-Poor boy, you're bound to die.
-I met her on the mountain,
Tom Dooley confessing to meeting and killing a woman on the mountain.
There I took her life.
-I killed her on the mountain
-I stabbed her with my knife.
-(chorus)
Reiteration of the chorus.
This time tomorrow
Tom Dooley contemplating his impending execution and acknowledging Sheriff Grayson's role.
They'll be hangin' me.
-If 'twasnt for Sheriff Grayson
-I'd be in Tennessee.
-(chorus 2x)
Repetition of the chorus.
This time tomorrow,
Tom Dooley reflecting on where he might be this time tomorrow, envisioning his hanging in a lonesome valley.
I reckon where I'll be:
-Down in some lonesome valley,
-Hangin' from a white oak tree.
-(chorus 2x)
Repetition of the chorus.
Poor boy you're boy you're bound to die
Final line emphasizing Tom Dooley's inevitable death.
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