Tom Dooley

Tom Dooley is the historical subject of an old North Carolina folk song. Laura Foster was murdered in 1866 in Wilkes County, and Tom Dooley was convicted of the crime and hanged. Local legend holds that Tom Dooley's love Annie Melton may have actually killed Foster, and that the sheriff who took custody of Dooley and presided over the hanging, Sheriff Grayson, was jealous of Dooley. These events are described in the doleful ballad that is still commonly sung in North Carolina, which was made popular by a 1952 recording by the Kingston Trio.

Here are the lyrics to the song:

Hang your head, Tom Dooley

Hang your head and cry

You killed poor Laurie Foster

And you know you're bound to die

You left her by the roadside

Where you begged to be excused

You left her by the roadside

Then you hid her clothes and shoes

Hang your head, Tom Dooley

Hang your head and cry

You killed poor Laurie Foster

And you know you're bound to die

You took her on the hillside

For to make her your wife

You met her on the mountain

And stabbed her with your knife

You dug the grave four feet long

And you dug it three feet deep;

You rolled the cold clay over her

And tromped it with your feet.

Hang your head, Tom Dooley,

Hang your head and cry;

You killed poor Laurie Foster,

And you know you're bound to die.

"Trouble, oh it's trouble

A-rollin' through my breast;

As long as I'm a-livin', boys,

They ain't a-gonna let me rest.

I know they're gonna hang me,

Tomorrow I'll be dead,

Though I never even harmed a hair

On poor little Laurie's head."

Hang your head, Tom Dooley,

Hang your head and cry;

You killed poor Laurie Foster,

And you know you're bound to die.

"In this world and one more

Then reckon where I'll be;

If is wasn't for Sheriff Grayson,

I'd be in Tennesee.

You can take down my old violin

And play it all you please.

For at this time tomorrow, boys,

It'll be of no use to me."

Hang your head, Tom Dooley,

Hang your head and cry;

You killed poor Laurie Foster,

And you know you're bound to die.

"At this time tomorrow

Where do you reckon I'll be?

Away down yonder in the holler

Hangin' on a white oak tree.

Hang your head, Tom Dooley,

Hang your head and cry;

You killed poor Laurie Foster,

And you know you're bound to die.