Down by the Green Willow Tree- Hess (WV) 1916 Cox C
[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.
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. Repeat the triad, substituting mother, brother, sister, and true-love for father. The last stanza is as follows:
"O yes, I have brought you gold,
Likewise to set you free,
And I did not come for to see you hanged,
Down by the green willow tree."