The Kingston Trio Place

Presents

"Tom Dooley":
The Ballad That Started The Folk Boom

by

Peter J. Curry
1998

"Tom Dooley" performed by Grayson & Whitter 1929 (RealAudio)

"Tom Dooley" performed by Frank Warner 1952 (RealAudio)

"Tom Dooley" performed by The Kingston Trio 1958 (RealAudio)

"Tom Dooley"
As recorded by The Kingston Trio (1958)

(SPOKEN)
Throughout history, there have been many songs written about the eternal triangle. This next one
tells the story of a Mr. Grayson, a beautiful woman, and a condemned man named Tom Dooley.
When the sun rises tomorrow, Tom Dooley must hang.

(CHORUS)
Hang down your head, Tom Dooley,
Hang down your head and cry;
Hang down your head, Tom Dooley,
Poor boy, you're bound to die.

I met her on the mountain,
There I took her life;
Met her on the mountain,
Stabbed her with my knife. (CHORUS)

This time tomorrow,
Reckon where I'll be;
Hadn't a-been for Grayson,
I'd a-been in Tennessee. (CHORUS)

This time tomorrow,
Reckon where I'll be;
Down in some lonesome valley,
Hangin' from a white oak tree. (CHORUS)