The Hangman's Tree- Black (WV) 1916 Cox F
[From: Cox, Folk-Songs of the South- 1925. His notes follow.
R. Matteson 2012, 2015]
18. THE MAID FREED FROM THE GALLOWS (Child, No. 95)
Seven texts have been secured in West Virginia under various titles. The first six of these texts differ from each other but slightly, and are similar to that printed by Child, v, 296. Text G is fragmentary, and differs from the others in that it states the crime for which the maid is to be hanged (see stanza 2). Of the English versions in Child, the language of the West Virginia texts is most like B. The term "hangman" occurs in Child G only.
The first American copy to be printed was that in Child, v, 296 (from Virginia by way of North Carolina). For texts printed since, see Journal, xxi, 56 (Reed Smith; West Virginia); xxvi, 175 (Kittredge; from an Irish servant in Massachusetts); xxvii, 64 (Reed Smith; South Carolina); xxx, 319 (Kittredge; New York, Missouri, North Carolina; contributed by Reinhard, Belden, and Hart) ; Wyman and Brockway, p. 44 (Kentucky; reprinted by Pound, No. 13); Smith, p. 10 (Virginia); Campbell and Sharp, No. 24 (Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia); cf. Minish MS. (North Carolina); Belden's Missouri collection. Barry gives the tune current in Ireland, from the Hudson MS. (Journal, xxrv, 337). For further references see Journal, xxx, 318. Add Bul-
letin, Nos. 6, 8-10.
F. "The Hangman's Tree." Communicated by Mr. R. E. Quirk, Mannington, Marion County, July 21, 1916; obtained from Miss Hazel K. Black, Pine Grove, Wetzel County, who learned it from the children at school.
1 "Ropemen, ropemen, slack your rope,
Slack it for a while;
For I think I see my father a-coming,
Away off many a mile."
2 "Father, father, have you any gold,
Gold to set me free?
Or did you come for to see me hung,
Beneath this green oak tree?"
3 "No, O no, I haven't any gold,
Gold to set you free;
I came here this morning to see you hung,
Beneath this green oak tree."
Repeat triad for mother, brother, and sister.
13 "Ropeman, ropeman, slack your rope,
Slack it for a while;
For I think I see my true-love on yonder shore,
He's walked for many a mile."
14 "True-love, true-love, have you any gold," etc.
15 "Yes, O yes, I have got gold," etc.