My Doppelganger

It was on this road at the close of day
when the dim, red glow gives over to night
it was standing in the shadow of the hanging tree
when I saw with a fright it looked just like me

My blood runs cold at the thought of it
my doppelganger under the hanging tree
in the dim, red light at the close of day
on this lonesome road from the hills to the sea

But it just doesn’t get any darker than this
though the sun and the moon may ride high in the sky
it just doesn’t get any darker than this
for I know now that I’m bound to die

I once took the life of a blameless man
in a lonesome place so far from the town
not even the moon was awake to see
when I shot him down and went on free

For years I waited for a knock on my door
but time marched on and no one came
about a blameless man and a robbery
so I kept my name and my liberty

But it just doesn’t get any darker than this
though the sun and the moon may ride high in the sky
it just doesn’t get any darker than this
for I know now that I’m bound to die

The moon shines down on this lonely road
pitchforks and torches are now at my back
the leaves look silver, the limbs now black
as I stand at the foot of the hanging tree

My blood runs cold at the thought of it
my doppelganger under the hanging tree
in the dim, red light at the close of day
on this lonesome road from the hills to the sea

But it just doesn’t get any darker than this
though the sun and the moon may ride high in the sky
it just doesn’t get any darker than this
for I know now that I’m bound to die