The Hangman Tree- Crow (OK) pre1964 Moores A
[Probably the Moores' title. From Ethel and Chauncey Moore: Ballads and Folk Songs from the Southwest, 1964. No date given. Their notes follow.
This version, as with most of the Moores' collection, dates back much older than 1964. The opening statement from their notes is questionable. Most of the analogues from other countries are related by theme but different ballads.
R. Matteson 2015]
27 The Maid Freed from the Gallows
The best versions of The Maid Freed from the Gallows (Child, No. 95) come from southern Europe, particularly Sicily (see Child, II, 326). In the Oklahoma texts, a young man is the person on the gallows pleading for ransom by relatives and finally his true love. A history of the ballad may be found in Reed Smith's Ballads, chap. xx, "Five Hundred Years of the Maid Freed from the Gallows."
For other references, see Arnold, 68-69; Barry, Eckstorm, and Smyth, 206-13; Belden, 66-67; Brewster, 125-27; Chappell, 35-36; Child, II, 346-54; Cox, 115-19; Creighton and Senior, 109-12; Davis,360-82; Eddy, 62-64; Gardner and Chickering, 146-48; Henry, 93 ; Hudson, 111-14 ; Journal, Vol. X-IX, 22 (Hutcheson), Vol. XXI, 56 (Smith), Vol. XXIV, 337 (Barry), Vol. XXVI, 175 (Kittredge), Vol. XXXIX, 105 (Hudson); Morris, 295-300; Owens, 45-47; Randolph, I, t43-48; Sandburg,72, 385; Scarborough, 35; Scarborough, Song Catcher,196-200; Sharp, I, 208-14; Thomas, 164; and Wyman and Brockway, 44-48.
A. The Hangman Tree, sung by Mrs. Nancy Crow of Depew.
"Oh Hangman, oh Hangman, oh Hangman hold your rope.
I think I see my father far, far away."
"Oh Father, did you bring me gold to pay my fee,
Or have you come to see me hung upon the gallows tree?"
"I have not brought you gold to pay your fee.
I only come to see you hung upon the gallows tree."
"Oh Hangman, oh Hangman, oh Hangman hold your rope.
I think I see my mother far, far away."
"Oh Mother, did you bring me gold to pay my fee,
Or have you come to see me hung upon the gallows tree?"
"I have not brought you gold to pay your fee.
I only come to see you hung upon the gallows tree."
"Oh Hangman, oh Hangman, oh Hangman hold your rope,
I think I see my brother far, far away."
"Oh Brother, did you bring me gold to pay my fee,
Or have you come to see me hung upon the gallows tree?"
"I have not brought you gold to pay your fee.
I only come to see you hung upon the gallows tree."
"Oh Hangman, oh Hangman, oh Hangman hold your rope.
I think I see my sister far, far away."
"Oh Sister, did you bring me gold to pay my fee,
Or have you come to see me hung upon the gallows tree?"
"I have not brought you gold to pay your fee.
I only come to see you hung upon the gallows tree."
"Oh Hangman, oh Hangman, oh Hangman hold your rope,
I think I see my sweetheart far, far away."
"Oh Sweetheart, did you bring me gold to pay my fee,
Or have you come to see me hung upon the gallows tree?"
"I have brought you gold to pay your fee.
I have not come to see you hung upon the gallows tree."