I Hung My Head - Sting (Covered by Johnny Cash) ✦✦✧

Improve your English as I explain the lyrics and meaning of the song I Hung My Head by Sting (Covered by Johnny Cash) Click "SHOW MORE" to navigate. Full transcript at: https://explainedinenglish.com/podcast/hunghead.html

Lyrics Difficulty: ✦✦✧
Note: Please listen to the real song before using this explanation. It will help you learn more efficiently.
Sting version: https://youtu.be/WnwmOfmZbb0
Johnny Cash version: https://youtu.be/Rkr2AbyVnIk

INTRODUCTION:
(00:00) Opening statement
(00:22) Introduction to "I Hung My Head"

VERSE ONE:
(02:20) Early one morning with time to kill
(03:01) I borrowed Jeb's rifle and sat on the hill
(04:21) I saw a lone rider crossing the plain
(04:56) I drew a bead on him to practice my aim
(05:26) My brother's rifle went off in my hand
(05:59) A shot rang out across the land
(06:24) The horse he kept running, the rider was dead
(06:54) I hung my head, I hung my head

VERSE TWO:
(07:37) I set off running to wake from the dream
(08:18) And my brother's rifle went into the stream
(08:41) I kept on running into the salt lands
(09:14) And that's where they found me, my head in my hands
(09:52) The sheriff he asked me, "Why had I run?"
(10:16) Then it came to me just what I had done
(10:48) And all for no reason, just one piece of lead (I hung my head, I hung my head)

VERSE THREE:
(11:34) Here in the courthouse, the whole town is there
(12:28) I see the judge high up in his chair
(13:15) "Explain to the courtroom what went through your mind
(13:52) And we'll ask the jury what verdict they find"
(14:45) "I said I felt the power of death over life
(15:04) I orphaned his children, I widowed his wife
(15:43) I beg their forgiveness, I wish I was dead (I hung my head, I hung my head)

VERSE FOUR:
(16:40) Early one morning with time to kill
(16:48) I see the gallows up on the hill
(17:35) And out in the distance a trick of the brain
(17:59) I see a lone rider crossing the plain
(18:19) He's come to fetch me to see what they done
(18:53) We'll ride together till Kingdom come
(19:31) I pray for God's mercy, for soon I'll be dead (I hung my head, I hung my head)

INTERPRETATION:
(20:12) "I Hung My Head" song explanation
(21:18) Is the Sting or the Johnny Cash version better? Vote and leave a comment.
(22:02) More narrative songs available at explainedinenglish.com

[Transcript]

INTRO: (00:22)

Most of you have probably heard of Sting, but this song, I Hung My Head, is not one of his most famous songs. However, that doesn't mean it's not good. In fact, it's an excellent song.

One of the things I want to do with this project is share with you, not only the biggest hits and classic songs, but also music which I really love, which I feel is special in some way. That way, you can discover and fall in love with new music or even new artists depending on your age group and background. You know we have this tendency to...

[Transcript continues at:]
https://explainedinenglish.com/podcast/hunghead.html

LINKS:
More song explanations:
https://explainedinenglish.com/podcast.html

Image Credit: By Sting_by_Yancho_Sabev.jpg: Yancho Sabevderivative work: Fiorellino (talk) - Sting_by_Yancho_Sabev.jpg, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped from the original version at https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10723467

Leave a comment below and vote for your favorite version!