O Hangsman- Long (VA) 1918 Sharp MS
[My title. From Sharp's MS, 4316/3084; Vaughan Williams Memorial Library also Bronson No. 11.
Sharp's diary entry is below.
R. Matteson 2015]
Sharp diary 1918 page 158. Tuesday 4 June 1918 - Blue Ridge Springs
Breakfasted at 6.30 and caught 7 a.m. train for Villamont about 3 or 4 miles away. We first called on Mrs Reba Dooley and got a little from her; then to Mrs Roberts to settle a point about the Brown Girl and back again to Mrs Dooley’s where we met a Mrs J. L. Long who not only sang to us but took us to a Mrs Bowyer who was quite a good singer. Mr Bowyer who when he appeared in his working clothes, excused himself because of his "outside appearance" showed me some old coins he had collected. Then we went on a long hot tramp to Dewey where we found Mrs Donald out! Then through the woods to the Lawson Greys meeting an old lady Mrs Thomas in a small log cabin nursing a small baby and singing a lullaby which I noted. The Greys were very nice and I got a nice bunch of songs at their house. Then another 2 or 3 miles to Montvale station where we took the train home arriving about 5 — a good 10 hours day in great heat, walking over 10 miles, and neither eating nor drinking anything. Some milk, tea and a rest. After dinner sang some more songs to old Capt[ain] Tait and a friend of his etc.
[O Hangsman] The Maid Freed from the Gallows- Sung by Mrs. J. L. Long, Villamont, Va., June 4, 1918.
O hangsman, hangsman, slack your rope,
O slack it for a while.
I think I see my father a-coming.
He's rode for me a mile.
O father have you brought me money,
Or have you paid my fee
Or have you come to see me hang
Upon the gallows tree?
O no, I have not brought you money,
Nor neither paid your fee,
But I have come to see you hang
Upon the gallows tree.
Last verse (after the true love has appeared):
O yes, I've done brought you money,
And have done paid your fee,
I have not come to see you hang
Upon the gallows tree.