The Hangman's Song- Harry Jackson(WY) 1959 REC
[No informant named. From Harry Jackson FW05723_207; "The Hangman's Song" on the album The Cowboy: His Songs, Ballads and Brag Talk, 1959. Liner notes follow,
R. Matteson 2014]
Fascinated by horses and cowboys, but not by school, Harry Jackson (1924–2011) left his home in Chicago at age 14 to become a ranch hand and cowboy in Wyoming. While there, he learned cowboy songs from traditional singers, and he sings them here in the traditional unaccompanied manner. The songs portray the life of a cowboy in an authentic, unadorned fashion that is light-years removed from Hollywood and country western simulations.
SIDE II, Band 7: THE HANGMAN'S SONG This interesting version of' the "The Maid Freed from the Gallows" (Child #95) is rather unique in its ending. Usually the person being hung is freed when the lover rides up with the gold and fee. In this version, the lover is rather macabre in bringing the gold and fee just to make sure the hanging takes place. The ballad is widely known in English-speaking countries, and is known in a more complicated narrative plot in foreign analogies. For a listing of numerous American texts, see Coffin, p. 96 .
Slack your rope, hangman,
Oh, slack it tor awhile,
I see my father ridin',
Ridin' many a mile.
Father have you brought me gold,
Or have you paid my fee
Or have you come to see me hangin'
From the gallows tree?
Well, I've not brought you gold,
And I've not paid your fee,
And I've come to see you hangin'
From the highest tree.
Well, slack your rope, hangman,
Slack it once more,
I see my true love ridin',
I see my true love once more.
Oh, true love have you brought me gold,
Or have you paid my fee,
Or have you come to see me hangin'
From the gallows tree.
Well, I have brought you gold,
And I have paid your fee,
And I have done these very things
To make sure you're on the tree.