Live 01 Oct 2011 version
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
Drew a bead 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 set off running to wake from this dream
My brother's rifle went into the stream
I kept on running into the salt lands
That's where they found me, my head in my hands
The sheriff he asked me, "Why I've run"
Then it came to me yeah just what I've 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
[Guitar solo]
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
We'll ask the jury what verdict they find"
I said, "I felt the power of death over life
I orphaned his children, widowed his wife
I ask for 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
Out in the distance a trick of the brain
I see a lone rider crossing the plain
Well he come to get me to see what they done
And we'll ride together 'til Kingdom come
I ask for no mercy for soon I'll be dead
I hung my head, I hung my head
I hung my head, I hung my head
I hung my head, I hung my head
I hung my head, I hung my head
[Guitar solo]
(I hung my head, I hung my head)
(I hung my head, I hung my head)
(I hung my head, I hung my head)
(I hung my head, I hung my head)
Thank you!
I HUNG MY HEAD is a 1996 song by Sting. See the original Sting version for more details.
The above lyrics are for the live 01 Oct 2011 performance of I HUNG MY HEAD at Beacon Theatre in New York City, NY, during a charity concert marking Sting's 60th birthday and 25th anniversary of his solo career. The song was played in a full-band rock arrangement. For his version, Springsteen replaced the lyrics in the last line, originally "I pray for God's mercy for soon I'll be dead", to "I ask for no mercy for soon I'll be dead."
Sting was joined onstage by numerous artists performing material from his Police and solo careers. Springsteen was the final guest of the night to take the stage, three hours into the four-hour show. At that point Sting left him the stage − Springsteen was the only guest artist who got the stage to himself that night. He performed three song written by Sting: I HUNG MY HEAD, FIELDS OF GOLD, and CAN'T STAND LOSING YOU. The latter was a duet with Sting. Proceeds from the concert went to the Robin Hood Foundation, a charity that targets poverty in New York City.
I HUNG MY HEAD was performed off-tour on 01 Oct 2011 at Beacon Theatre in New York City, NY, during a charity concert marking Sting's 60th birthday and 25th anniversary of his solo career. The song was played in a full-band rock arrangement.
I HUNG MY HEAD was performed off-tour on 07 Dec 2014 at John F. Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts in New York City, NY, during the 37th annual Kennedy Center Honors gala. The song was played in a full-band rock arrangement. See the live 07 Dec 2014 version for more details.
List of available versions of I HUNG MY HEAD on this website:
I HUNG MY HEAD [Live 01 Oct 2011 version]