I Hung My Head

Infer the story of the song from these lines:

I saw a lone rider crossing the plain 

My brother's rifle went off in my hand

I kept on running into the south lands

The sheriff he asked me why had I run

I see the judge high up in his chair

I begged their forgiveness, I wish I was dead

I see the gallows up on the hill

I see a lone rider crossing the plain

I Hung my Head

Lyrics

I Hung my Head

Early one morning with time to kill
I __________ Jeb's rifle and sat on the hill
I __________ a lone rider crossing the plain
I __________ a bead on him, to practice my aim

My brother's rifle _________ off in my hand
A shot _________ out across the land
The horse, he _________ running, the rider _________ dead

I _________ my head, I hung my head

 

Who is Jeb?

What tense are the missing verbs in?

 

I _________ off running to wake from the dream
My brother's rifle ___________ into the sheen
I _________ on running into the south lands
That's where they _________ me, my head in my hands

The sheriff he _________ me why had I run
And then it _________ to me, just what I had done
And all for no reason, just one piece of lead

I _________ my head, I hung my head

 

Why do you think the man ran?

 

 

Here in the courthouse, the whole town _________ there
I _________ the judge high up in his chair
_________ to the courtroom what went through your mind
And we'll _________ the jury what verdict they _________

 

What tense are the missing verbs in? Why has this changed?

I _________ the power of death over life
I _________ his children, I _________ his wife
I _________ their forgiveness, I wish I _________ dead

I hung my head, I hung my head
I hung my head, I hung my head

 

Should the man be forgiven? Why, why not?

 

Early one morning with time to kill
I _________ the gallows up on the hill
And out in the distance, a trick of the brain
I _________ a lone rider crossing the plain

And he'd _________ to fetch me, to see what they'd done
And we'll _________ together to kingdom come
I _________ for God's mercy, for soon I'll be dead

I hung my head, I hung my head
I hung my head, I hung my head

 

What is the meaning of this story to you?