A case study in the selective use of reverb on vocals, "Long Black Veil" is a classic country ballad written by Danny Dill and Marijohn Wilkin and originally recorded by Lefty Frizzell in 1959. The song's haunting melody and tragic story have made it a staple in the country music canon.
Told from the point of view of a man falsely accused of murder and executed, the song tells the story of a man who refuses to provide an alibi, since he was having an extramarital affair with his best friend's wife on the night of the murder. The chorus describes the woman's mourning visits to his gravesite, wearing a long black veil and enduring a wailing wind.
In 2019, Frizzell's version of "Long Black Veil" was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
The song has been covered by numerous artists, including Johnny Cash, Joan Baez, and Bruce Springsteen. Many folks are only familiar with cover versions so take a listen (or re-listen) to the original recording in all it's glory!
