O Hangman- Baker (TN) 1936 Anderson B
[My title, replacing the generic Child title. From: Anderson, A Collection of Ballads & Songs from East Tennessee (1936) p. 48.
R. Matteson 2015]
O Hangman- Miss Grace Baker, of Maryville, Tennessee, pre-1936.
1 O Hangman, hangman, slack your rope,
Slack it for a while;
I think I see my father coming,
He's walked many a mile.
2. O father have you brought me gold
Or have you paid my fee?
Or have you come to see me hung,
On yonders gallows tree?
3. I've neither come for to bring you gold,
Or have you paid my fee,
But I've come to see you hung,
On yonders gallows tree?
(Same for mother, then true-love)
9. Yes, true-love I've brought you gold,
And I've paid your fee,
But I've not come to see you hung,
On yonders gallows tree.