I Hung My Head

Track 5 on American IV: The Man Comes Around

Producer

A Johnny Cash’s cover of Sting’s hit “I Hung My Head”, off American IV. American IV: The Man Comes Around is the last studio album released by Cash when he was still alive.

Nov. 5, 20021 viewer32.5K views

I Hung My Head Lyrics

[Verse 1: Johnny Cash]
Early one morning
With time to kill
I borrowed Jebb's rifle
And sat on the hill
I saw a lone rider
Crossing the plain
I 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

[Chorus: Johnny Cash]
I hung my head
I hung my head

[Verse 2: Johnny Cash]
I set off running
To wake from the dream
My brother's rifle
Went into the sheen
I kept on running
Into the south lands
That's where they found me
My head in my hands
The sheriff, he asked me
"Why had I run?"
And then it came to me
Just what I had done
And all for no reason
Just one piece of lead

[Chorus: Johnny Cash]
I hung my head
I hung my head

[Verse 3: Johnny Cash]
Here in the courthouse
The whole town was 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 felt the power
Of death over life
I orphaned his children
I widowed his wife
I begged their forgiveness
I wish I was dead

[Chorus: Johnny Cash]
I hung my head
I hung my head
I hung my head
I hung my

[Verse 4: Johnny Cash]
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
And he'd come to fetch me
To see what they'd done
And we'll ride together
To kingdom come
I pray for God's mercy
For soon I'll be dead

[Chorus: Johnny Cash]
I hung my head
I hung my head
I hung my head
I hung my head

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About

A Johnny Cash’s cover of Sting’s hit “I Hung My Head”, off American IV.

American IV: The Man Comes Around is the last studio album released by Cash when he was still alive.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

Here he sings "I prayed for God's mercy"— was Johnny a Christian?

Yes, he was. During an interview he stated:

I—as a believer that Jesus of Nazareth, a Jew, the Christ of the Greeks, was the Anointed One of God (born of the seed of David, upon faith as Abraham has faith, and it was accounted to him for righteousness)—am grafted onto the true vine, and am one of the heirs of God’s covenant with Israel.
I’m a Christian—Don’t put me in another box.

However, he also knew that…