Origins: Veil of White Lace (Damon Black)

Subject: Lyr Add: VEIL OF WHITE LACE (Damon Black)
From: Cruiser
Date: 06 Sep 03 - 11:40 PM

This great lyrical song sounds Irish or at least of Celtic origin.

Any idea if it is a traditional Celtic song or of relatively recent composition?

I first heard it recorded by Mel Tillis in 1970. I have the song on a CD "Songs of Love and Life" by The Traditional Grass.

The song is 3/4 meter and here are the lyrics:

The church door was opened as I stepped inside
I went there hoping that she'd change her mind
There were beautiful roses in a bridal bouquet
Where she stood at the alter beneath a veil of white lace

A stranger in silence reached out for her hand
And he placed on her finger a gold wedding band
There was happiness written in the smile on his face
But I couldn't see her's beneath the veil of white lace

I pitied that stranger for all he could see
Was their life together until eternity
My heart filled with anger as I pictured the face
Of a false hearted quitter beneath a veil of white lace

I reached in my pocket when the wedding was done
My hand touched a locket, then it fell on a gun
It shattered the silence as it left its trace
Stains of red crimson on a veil of white lace

I ran from the church house as I threw down the gun
But stopped on the door step for there crossing the lawn
My darling said she had decided to wait
Death to a stranger beneath a veil of white lace

Yes, it's death to a stranger beneath a veil of white lace


From: "Veil of White Lace

Hear a .wav of Mel's rendition

Cruiser

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Veil Of White Lace' Celtic?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 07 Sep 03 - 01:48 PM

It can be found in GEST Songs of Newfoundland and Labrador:
Index

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Veil Of White Lace' Celtic?
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Sep 03 - 06:49 PM

Its 2328hrs on Sunday 7/9/03 and i'm listening (in London, UK),to
Radio Kerry , 'Irish Favourites' programme ,over the net and playing is 'veil of white lace'by Micheal O'Brien who some years ago had a big hit in Ireland with this song, just as it was playing i logged in to this forum and read this thread, Micheal also had a hit in Ireland with a follow up song that i believe he wrote himself.

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Veil Of White Lace' Celtic?
From: Cruiser
Date: 07 Sep 03 - 08:07 PM

What a coincidence.

I visited Radio Kerry for the first time just as the next to last song played, before 1am. The song was an Irish version of Marty Robbins' 'Big Iron'. A neat program which I will visit more often.

Thanks for the info.

Cruiser

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Veil Of White Lace' Celtic?
From: Cruiser
Date: 09 Aug 06 - 06:45 PM

This song came up tangentially in another thread tonight. Since there are some very knowledgeable musicologists (at least of amateur stature) posting, I wanted to revive this to inquire about its origins.

Thanks,
Cruiser

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Veil Of White Lace' Celtic?
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Oct 10 - 12:39 AM

I believe Mel Tillis may indeed have written this song.... if this is true, this is a country western song.

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Veil Of White Lace' Celtic?
From: michaelr
Date: 22 Oct 10 - 03:18 PM

Attributed here to Damon Black.

"Celtic" it ain't.

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Veil Of White Lace' Celtic?
From: Cruiser
Date: 23 Oct 10 - 08:19 PM

Thanks michaelr...that only took 7 years to get the answer to my question...

"Eleven of the 12 songs on the album were written by Wagoner's longtime friend, Damon Black. "I met Damon probably 25 years ago when he came to Nashville to be a songwriter," Wagoner says. "He was a farmer from Missouri who owned a farm that had been handed down through their family." Despite his songwriting talent, Black found limited success as a songwriter during the '70s and returned to his Missouri farm. A newfound financial independence sparked Black's renewed interest in songwriting after he sold a tract of his farm to Wal-Mart for a reported $3.5 million."

A bit about D. Black

P.S. Maybe Damon is "Black Irish"...