Where Did You Sleep Last Night (In the Pines)

A song with many names — In the Pines, Where Did You Sleep Last Night, My Girl and Black Girl is a traditional American folk song originating from two songs, “In the Pines” and “The Longest Train”.

The original writer is unknown but the orgins date back to Appalachia 1870s.

Made famous by Lead Belly, he originally recorded the song in 1944 and called it “Where Did You Sleep Last Night”. Lead Belly learned the song from an interpreted 1917 version and from the original documented recording from 1925.

My girl, my girl, don't lie to me
Tell me, where did you sleep last night (come on and tell me, baby)
In the pines, in the pines, where the sun don't ever shine
I would shiver the whole night through

My girl, my girl, where will you go?
I'm going where the cold wind blows (where's that, baby?)
In the pines, in the pines, where the sun don't ever shine
I would shiver the whole night through

My girl, my girl, don't you lie to me
Tell me, where did you sleep last night (come on and tell me something 'bout it)
In the pines, in the pines, where the sun don't ever shine
I would shiver the whole night through (shiver for me now)

What happend down there?

My husband was a hard working man
Killed a mile and a half from here (what happened to him?)
His head was found in a driving wheel
And his body ever never be found

My girl, my girl, don't you lie to me
Tell me where did you sleep last night (come on and tell me something 'bout it)
In the pines, in the pines where the sun don't ever shine
I would shiver the whole night through

Copyright © Folkways Music Pub. Co. Inc
Written by: Huddie Ledbetter (version - orignal author unknown)

All lyrics and works displayed are intended for educational purposes only. We want to give credit where credit is due. Please contact us for any corrections.