O Hangsman- Grey (VA) 1918 Sharp MS
[My title. From Sharp's MSS. 4340; Vaughan Williams Memorial Library also Bronson No. 13.
Sharp's diary entry is below.
R. Matteson 2015]
Sharp diary 1918 page 160. Thursday 6 June 1918 - Blue Ridge Springs
Breakfast at 6.30. Caught 7 train for Dewey a small flag-station between here & Montvale. Walked to Mrs Donald’s house and got Mrs Donald — an old lady — to sing which she did very beautifully giving me 10 first rate tunes — words not of much account. Then walked on to the Lawson Gray’s eating our lunch in a wood (bread and raisins is my fare, but Maud debauches herself with hard-boiled eggs) getting there about 11. Had quite a concert, Mrs Tina Dooley, Mr Gray’s sister being there and singing rather well. We sang a great many songs, The two Crows being the most popular one. I got some nice songs and at 2.30 we walked back to Montvale station, in a shower, which though not very heavy, spoiled my new white umbrella! Very tired on getting back. Had milk and tea & rested till dinner. Sang songs on verandah to the hotel guests in the evening.
[O Hangsman] The Maid Freed from the Gallows- Sung by Mrs. Lawson Grey, Montvale, Va., June 6, 1918. p I (inflected VII)
O hangsman, hangsman, O slack your rope,
O slack it for a while;
I think I see my mother a-coming,
But she's rode many a long mile, O mile,
But she's rode many a long mile.