The Hangman's Tree- Wiseman (WV) 1891 Cox E
[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 Bulletin, Nos. 6, 8-10.
E. "The Hangman's Tree." Communicated by Miss Mabel Richards, Fairmont, Marion County, 1916; obtained from Miss Flora Hood, Lowesville, who learned it about twenty-five years before from Mrs. James Wiseman, Fairmont. Reported by Cox, xlv, 159.
1 "Ropeman, ropeman, 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 willow tree?"
3 "O no, no, no, I haven't any gold,
Gold to set you free;
I came here this morning for to see you hung,
Beneath this willow tree."
Instructions for the remainder of the ballad are as in B, but substitute sweetheart for true-love. Repeat the triad, substituting for the word father the words mother, brother, sister, and lover. The last stanza is as follows:
15 "I have not come to see you die,
Beneath this willow tree;
But I have brought a knife to cut the rope,
And take you home with me."