Hangman- Foster (TN) pre1966 Burton/ Manning
[From Folklore: Folksongs; Burton and Manning I, 1967 with music.
R. Matteson 2015]
[Hangman] -sung by Doug Foster, May 6, 1966. Most of his songs were learned from his grandfather. Collected by Tony Heglar.
1. "Hangman, hangman, hangman,
Slack your lope a while;
I think I see my mama coming,
Coming many a mile.
2. "Mama, did you bring me silver?
Mama, did you bring me gold?
Or did you come to see me hangin'
High from the gallows cold?"
3. "No, I didn't bring you silver;
No, I didn't bring you gold.
I did come to see you hangin'
High from the gallows cold?"
4. "Hangman, hangman, hangman,
Slack your lope a while;
I think I see my father coming,
Coming many a mile.
5. "Father, did you bring me silver?
Father, did you bring me gold?
Did you come to see me hangin'
High from the gallows cold?"
6. "No, I didn't bring you silver;
No, I didn't bring you gold.
I did come to see you hangin'
High from the gallows cold?
7. "Hangman, hangman, hangman,
Slack your lope a while;
I think I see my brother coming,
Coming many a mile.
8. "Brother, did you bring me silver?
Brother, did you bring me gold?
Did you come to see me hangin'
High from the gallows cold?"
9. "No, I didn't bring you silver;
No, I didn't bring you gold.
I did come to see you hangin'
High from the gallows cold?
10. "Hangman, hangman, hangman,
Slack your lope a while;
I think I see my sister coming,
Coming many a mile.
11. "Sister, did you bring me silver?
Mama, did you bring me gold?
Did you come to see me hangin'
High from the gallows cold?"
12. "No, I didn't bring you silver;
No, I didn't bring you gold.
I did come to see you hangin'
High from the gallows cold?"
13. "Hangman, hangman, hangman,
Slack your rope a while;
I think I see my truelove coming
Coming many a mile.
14. "Truelove, did you bring me silver;
Truelove, did you bring me gold;
Or did you come to see me hangin'
High from the gallows cold?"
15. "Yes, I brought you silver
For to pay this hangman's fee
'Cause I can't come to see you hangin'
High from the gallow tree."