Hangman- Gibson (VA) c.1931 Scarborough C2
[From Scarborough, A Song Catcher, 1938. Collected c. 1931. Bronson 38.
Scarborough published three African-American versions in 1925 which I've listed A-C. These are listed A2 B2 C2etc.
R. Matteson 2015]
C2. [Hangman] Mrs. Addie Gibson, of Pirkey, gave a variant so similar to Mr. Knight's (see version B) that I will quote only two stanzas.
1. Hangman, hangman, wholl your rope,
Wholl it for a while.
I think I see my mother coming,
Many and many a mile.
2. Oh, mother, mother, have you gold,
Gold will set me free?
Or have you come to see me hung
Beneath the willow tree?
[3. No, I haven't any gold,[1]
Gold that will set you free,
But I have come to see you hung,
Beneath the willow tree.
4. Hangman, hangman, hold your rope,
Hold it for a while.
I think I see my father coming,
Many and many a mile.
5. Father, oh, Father, have you any gold,
Gold that will set me tree?
Or have you come to see me hung,
Beneath the willow tree?
6. No, I haven't any gold,
Gold that will set you free,
But I have come to see you hung,
Beneath the willow tree.
7. Hangman, hangman, hold your rope,
Hold it for a while.
I think I see my sister coming,
Many and many a mile.
8. Sister, oh, Sister, have you any gold,
Gold that will set me free?
Or have you come to see me hung,
Beneath the willow tree?
9. No, I haven't any gold,
Gold that will set you free,
But I have come to see you hung,
Beneath the willow tree.
10. Hangman, hangman, hold your rope,
Hold it for a while.
I think I see my brother coming,
Many and many a mile.
11. Brother, oh, Brother, have you any gold,
Gold that will set me free?
Or have You come to see me hung,
Beneath the willow tree?
12. No, I haven't any gold,
Gold that will set You free,
But I have come to see you hung,
Beneath the willow tree.
13. Hangman, hangman, hold Your rope,
Hold it for a while.
I think I see my true love coming,
Many and many a mile.
14. True love, true love, have you any gold,
Gold that will set me free?
Or have you come to see me hung,
Beneath the willow tree?
15. Yes, I have brought you gold,
Gold that will set You free.
And I have not come to see You hung,
Beneath the willow tree.]
1. additional text from Scarborough, version B