Lyrks
Lyrks
Sign In
Cover Art

Tom Dooley Lyrics by Doc Watson

Life’s Work: A Retrospective

0

[Chorus]
Hang your head, Tom Dooley, hang your head and cry
You killed poor Laurie Foster and you know you're bound to die

[Verse 1]
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

[Chorus]
Hang your head, Tom Dooley, hang your head and cry
You killed poor Laurie Foster and you know you're bound to die

[Verse 2]
You took her on the hillside for to make her your wife
You took her on the hillside and there, you took her life
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

[Chorus]
Hang your head, Tom Dooley, hang your head and cry
You killed poor Laurie Foster and you know you're bound to die

[Verse 3]
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

[Chorus]
Hang your head, Tom Dooley, hang your head and cry
You killed poor Laurie Foster and you know you're bound to die

[Verse 4]
In this world and one more, then reckon where I'll be
If it wasn't for Sheriff Grayson, I'd be in Tennessee
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

[Chorus]
Hang your head, Tom Dooley, hang your head and cry
You killed poor Laurie Foster and you know you're bound to die

[Verse 5]
At this time tomorrow, where do you reckon I'll be?
Away down yonder in the holler, hangin' on a white oak tree

[Chorus]
Hang your head, Tom Dooley, hang your head and cry
You killed poor Laurie Foster and you know you're bound to die
Credits
Doc Watson

Doc Watson

About “Tom Dooley” by Doc Watson

Read the complete lyrics to "Tom Dooley" by Doc Watson from the album "Life’s Work: A Retrospective". On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under In English, USA, Cover.

"Tom Dooley" is performed by Doc Watson. from the album "Life’s Work: A Retrospective" This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Tom Dooley", explore more songs by Doc Watson using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

View all songs and biography for Doc Watson · Trending lyrics · Billboard Hot 100

Frequently asked questions

"Tom Dooley" is credited to Doc Watson. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Tom Dooley" appears on "Life’s Work: A Retrospective".

Visit the Doc Watson artist page at /artist/doc-watson for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.

Baby Blue Eyes
Amazing Grace
Alberta
Along The Road
Amazing Grace
Alabama Jubilee
All About You
And The Green Grass Grew All Around
Lyrks
Lyrks

Your gateway to the world of music lyrics.

Product

Features

Company

About

Artists

Trending

Legal

Privacy

Terms

Copyright

Support

Contact

Features

Charts

© 2026 Lyrks. All rights reserved.