18. The Maid Freed From The Gallows (Folk-Songs of the South- 1925; Footnotes moved to the end of each version.)
18. THE MAID FREED FROM THE GALLOWS (Child, No. 95)
[See Sharp A & B for similar versions of Cox G.]
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.
A. "The Hangman's Tree." Communicated by Mr. George Paugh, Thomas, Tucker County, October, 191 5; obtained from Mae Cosnor, who says, "When I was a little girl I used to play it." Reported by Cox, xlv, 159.
1 "Hangsman, hangsman, hold your rope,
And hold it for awhile;
I think I hear my father coming,
For many a many a mile."
2 "O father, have you brought me any gold,
Or have you come to set me free?
Or have you come to see me die,
Beneath this gallows tree?"
3 "I have not brought you gold,
I have not come to set you free;
But I have come to see you die,
Beneath this gallows tree."
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 the gallows tree;
But I have brought a knife to cut the rope,
And take you home with me."
B. "The Hangman's Tree." Contributed by Mr. Warren C. Steele, Walker, Wood County, January, 191 7; learned from a young man named Richards, in Logan County in 1916.
1 "Hangman, hangman, go slack your rope,
Go slack it for awhile;
For yonder comes my father,
He's come for many a mile."
2 "O father, O father, have you brought me gold,
Likewise to pay my fee?
Or have you come for to see me hung,
Upon the gallows tree?"
3 "I have not brought you any gold,
Likewise to pay your fee,
But I have come for to see you hung,
Upon the gallows tree."
Repeat the triad, substituting mother, brother, sister, and true-love for father.
The last stanza is as follows :
15 "0 yes, I have brought you gold,
Likewise to pay your fee,
And I did not come for to see you hung,
Upon the gallows tree."
C. "Down by the Green Willow Tree." Contributed by Miss Carrie Hess, Spencer, Roane County, August 8, 1916.
1 " O hangsman, hangsman, slack your rope,
O slack it for a while;
I think I see my father coming,
He has come for many a long mile."
2 "O father, father, have you brought any gold,
Any gold to set me free?
Or have you come for to see me hung,
Down by the green willow tree?"
3 "O no, my son, I have brought no gold,
No gold to set you free,
But I have come to see you hanged,
Down by the green willow tree."
Instructions for the remainder of the ballad are as in B.
D. "The Hangman's Tree." Communicated by Mr. George Paugh, Thomas, Tucker County, August 28, 1915; obtained from Mrs. H. S. Paugh. He writes that he has found nine different persons who sing this song. Reported by Cox xlv, 159.
1 " Hangman, hangman, hold your rope,
Hold it for a while;
I think I see my father coming,
Coming for many a mile."
2 " Father, father, have you any gold,
Gold to set me free?
Or have you come to see me hung,
Hung to this willow tree?"
3 "No, O no, I haven't any gold,
Gold to set you free;
But I have come to see you hung,
Hung to the willow tree."
Instructions for the remainder of the ballad are as in B.
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 have n'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.
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.
G. "By a Lover Saved." Communicated by Mr. Harold Staats, Ripley, Jackson County, 1921, who writes: "This song was told, or rather sung, to me by some person living on Tug Fork. It is claimed that this song was brought to this country by Captain William Parsons, one of the early settlers. According to legends it was at one time a popular folk song in the British Isles."
1 "Hold up your hands, O Joshua," she cried,
"Wait a little while and see;
I think I hear my own father dear,
Come rambling over the sea."
2. "O father, have you brought any gold for me?
Or any silver to pay my fee?
For I have stolen a golden cup,
And hanging it will be."
"No, daughter, no, no, I have no gold for thee,
Nor silver to pay your fee;
For I have come to see you hung,
All on the willow tree."
"Yes, true-love, I have some gold for you,
And silver for to pay your fee;
For I have come for to pay your fee,
And take you home with me."