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Freed From the Gallows (Child 95)Listening time: (5 minutes) |
VERSE 1
Hangman, hangman, slack your rope
Slack it full an' free
For I think I see my Father coming
Away over yonder
VERSE 2
Father, O Father, have you brought me gold
Or have you paid my fee
Or have you come to see me hanged
On this green willow tree
VERSE 3
Son, O Son, I've not brought you gold
Nor have I paid your fee
But I have come to see you hanged
On this green willow tree
VERSE 4
Hangman, hangman, slack your rope
Slack it full an' free
For I think I see my Mother coming
Away over yonder
VERSE 5
Mother, O Mother, have you brought me gold
Or have you paid my fee
Or have you come to see me hanged
On this green willow tree
VERSE 6
Son, O Son, I've not brought you gold
Nor have I paid your fee
But I have come to see you hanged
On this green willow tree
VERSE 7
Hangman, hangman, slack your rope
Slack it full an' free
For I think I see my Sister coming
Away over yonder
VERSE 8
Sister, O Sister, have you brought me gold
Or have you paid my fee
Or have you come to see me hanged
On this green willow tree
VERSE 9
Brother, O Brother I've not brought you gold
Nor have I paid your fee
But I have come to see you hanged
On this green willow tree
VERSE 10
Hangman, hangman, slack your rope
Slack it full an' free
For I think I see my Brother coming
Away over yonder
VERSE 11
Brother, O Brother, have you brought me gold
Or have you paid my fee
Or have you come to see me hanged
On this green willow tree
VERSE 12
Brother, O Brother I've not brought you gold
Nor have I paid your fee
But I have come to see you hanged
On this green willow tree
VERSE 13
Hangman, hangman, slack your rope
Slack it full an' free
For I think I see my true love coming
Away over yonder
VERSE 14
True love, O true love have you brought me gold
Or have you paid my fee
Or have you come to see me hanged
On this green willow tree
VERSE 15
True love, O true love I brought you gold
An' I have paid your fee
I have not come to see you hanged
On this green willow tree
Questions. Make sure you can answer these questions about what you just read:
Source: From The Max Hunter Folksong Archive (weblink) and Lesley Nelson's Child Ballad website (weblink). See also Francis James Child, The English and Scottish Popular Ballads (1882-1898). Weblink. |
Modern
Languages / Anthropology 3043: Folklore & Mythology.
Laura Gibbs, Ph.D.
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