Mercy Hill - Song

[Verse 1] The moon was low on Mercy Hill, The church bell rang at two, And by the road where blackthorn grows, They found poor Henry Blue. My knife lay beside him there, Its handle dark with red, And by the dawn the sheriff swore That I had cut him dead. [Chorus] Oh, ring, bell, ring, Let the cold wind carry still, There’s a name I never spoke aloud In the dust of Mercy Hill. [Verse 2] That knife was mine, I won’t deny, The blade my father wore, But three nights gone it left my belt And I saw it nevermore. I told them once, they laughed me down, “Too neat a tale,” said he, “So tell us where you stood that night, If innocent you be.” [Chorus] Oh, ring, bell, ring, Let the cold wind carry still, There’s a name I never spoke aloud In the dust of Mercy Hill. [Verse 3] The judge looked down with oaken eyes, The jury would not meet mine, They said, “Young man, where were you then, When the clock struck two that night?” I held my tongue and bowed my head, Though truth could set me free, For the lantern in the widow’s room Was burning there for me. [Chorus] Oh, ring, bell, ring, Let the cold wind carry still, There’s a name I never spoke aloud In the dust of Mercy Hill. [Verse 4] She came to me before the dawn, Her face as white as bone, She said, “The truth is yours to tell, Don’t carry this alone.” To tell them all I lay with her Would bury her in shame, So I kissed her through the prison bars And never spoke her name. [Chorus] Oh, ring, bell, ring, Let the cold wind carry still, There’s a name I never spoke aloud In the dust of Mercy Hill. [Verse 5] They marched me out at morning light, The sky was iron grey, The preacher read from the holy book, But I had naught to say. The rope was rough around my neck, The crowd was gathered tight, And somewhere near the widow wept, But never came in sight. [Chorus] Oh, ring, bell, ring, Let the cold wind carry still, There’s a name I never spoke aloud In the dust of Mercy Hill. [Verse 6] Now every year when frost lies down, And village lights expire, She brings Henry’s son to Mercy Hill By one old lantern’s fire. They kneel beside a nameless stone, Where winter grasses lean, And leave one rose, dark red as blood, Where no one else has been. [Final Chorus] Oh, ring, bell, ring, Let the cold wind carry still, There’s a love that wore no wedding band In the dust of Mercy Hill. [Outro] The church bell knows, the blackthorn knows, My grave lies quiet still, But no man asks who stole my blade And spilled blood on Mercy Hill. ©️Richard Meller Inspired by The Long Black Veil