Ropesman- mountain girls (KY) 1931 Jean Thomas
[From: Devil's Ditties, by Jean Thomas, 1931. p. 164. This is very close to Wyman's version (except Hangman=Ropesman) from 1916 also from Kentucky.
R. Matteson 2015]
Ropesman, Ropesman, slack up your rope
Slack it up a while
I looked over yonder and seen Paw comin'
He's walked for many a mile.
Say paw, say Paw, have you brung me any gold,
Any gold to pay my fine?
No sir, no sir, I haven't brung you any gold,
No gold to pay your fine.
For I've just come to see you hung,
Hung on the gallows high.
(Through Maw, brother, sister until the last verse)
Ropesman, Ropesman, slack up your rope
Slack it up a while
I looked over yonder and seen sweetheart comin'
She's walked for many a mile.
Say sweetheart, say sweetheart, have you brung me any gold,
Any gold to pay my fine?
Yes sir, yes sir, I haven't brung you any gold,
Some gold to pay your fine.
For I've just come to take you home,
From the gallows high.