Long Black Veil is a folk ballad sung by Johnny Cash and many others. It tells a very strange story of murder, love, loss, betrayal and a ghost in three minutes. There are three verses.
Listening Comprehension: English language level: intermediate A2-B1
Before Listening – look at the cover photo
- What is the woman wearing on her head?
- Why do you think her clothes black?
- Describe the landscape and the weather.
- When and where do you think the story takes place?
Listen once
- Who is singing the song?
- Who is the woman?
- Why is she wearing black?
Vocabulary:
- alibi: “The Judge said, “Son, what is your alibi?” An alibi is when someone can prove they were somewhere else when a crime happened.
- scaffold – structure used for hangings.
Quick Check: True or False?
1. The song is about a murder
2. The song is sung by a murderer?
3. The singer goes on trial for murder
4. The singer doesn’t have an alibi.
5. The woman with the long black veil attends the hanging.
Lesson Plan (from Nick Jaworskil)
Song Lyric with chords * Johnny Cash version * Roseanne Cash version
Level: Upper Intermediate+ Age: 12+ Skills: Listening/reading/vocab
More classic stories for English language learners here.