L A County, Lyle Lovett, by Craig Hubbard

L A County, Lyle Lovett, by Craig Hubbard

She left Dallas for California

With an old friend by her side

Well he did not say much

But one year later

He'd ask her to be his wife

And the lights of L.A. County

Look like diamonds in the sky

When you're driving through the hours

With an old friend at your side

One year later I left Houston

With an old friend by my side

Well it did not say much

But it was a beauty

Of a coal black .45

And the lights of L.A. County

Look like diamonds in the sky

When you're driving through the hours

With an old friend at your side

So I drove on all the day long

And I drove on through the night

And I thought of her a'waiting

For to be his blushing bride

And the lights of L.A. County

They looked like diamonds in the sky

As I drove into the valley

With my old friend at my side

And as she stood there at the altar

All dressed in her gown of white

Her face was bright as stars a'shining

Like I'd dreamed of all my life

And they kissed each other

And they turned around

And they saw me standing in the aisle

Well I did not say much

I just stood there watching

As that .45 told them goodbye

And the lights of L.A. County

Are a mighty pretty sight

When you're kneeling at the altar

With an old friend at your side

And the lights of L.A. County

Look like diamonds in the sky

When you're kneeling at the altar

With an old friend at your side

I Hung My Head, Sting, By Craig Hubbard

I Hung My Head, Sting, By Craig Hubbard

Early one morning

With time to kill

I borrowed Jebb's rifle

And sat on a 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

I hung my head

I hung my head

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

I hung my head  

I hung my head

Here in the court house

The whole town was there

I see the judge

High up in the chair

Explain to the court room

What went on in your mind

And we'll ask the jury

What verdict they find

I felt the power

Of death and life

I orphaned his children

I widowed his wife

I begged their 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 a 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'd ride together

To kingdom come

I prayed for god's mercy

For soon I'd be dead

I hung my head

I hung my head

I hung my head

I hung my head

Theme [edit]

The story is told from the point of view of a young man who takes his brother's rifle out onto the hill one morning. As a rider crosses the plain, the singer takes aim ("I drew a beadon him; to practice my aim.") The rifle goes off in his hands, killing the rider.

The man runs to the salt lands, throwing the rifle into a stream. (The Cash cover changes "salt lands" to "south lands", and "stream" to "sheen". Sting supposed the latter was due to a misprint in the lyrics Cash was using.[1]) He is discovered by a sheriff, and is struck by the realization of what he has done.

He is brought before a judge and jury, where he begs forgiveness and wishes he was dead. Awaiting execution on the gallows, he sees as a "trick of the brain" the rider return, so that they will ride together "till kingdom come". The man prays to God for mercy.

Compositional structure [edit]

The song is written in compound time 9/8.[2] The curious offbeat rhythm has the effect of alternating 5-beat and 4-beat bars. The drum beat is syncopated, on the 3rd and 8th beats. In the Johnny Cash cover, the signature of the song was changed to standard 4/4.