Hangman- Glen Neaves (VA) 1974 REC
[From the recording: Glen Neaves and the Virginia Mountain Boys: Country Bluegrass from Southwest Virginia
Virginia Mountain Boys FW03830 / FA 3830; 1974. No source informant is named. Liner notes follow,
R. Matteson 2015]
Country Bluegrass from Southwest Virginia is the first in a series of albums recorded by the Virginia Mountain Boys. Even as many commercial bluegrass bands in the 1970s were being influenced by Nashville or folk rock sounds, the Virginia Mountain Boys stuck to the traditional bluegrass sounds that were pioneered decades earlier.
Band 6: Hangman (Song, ballad) Sung by Glen Neaves and accompanied by Neaves (guitar) and Galyean (banjo). This song of ancient origins was recorded over fifty years ago from Bentley Ball (Columbia 3084) and was also played by Charlie Poole and the North Carolina Ramblers (Columbia l5384-D).
1. Hangman, hangman slack the rope,
Slack it for a while.
I think I see my father comin'
He's walked a many a mile.
2. Father, dear father, have you paid my fee,
Did you bring me any gold?
Or have you come to see me hung,
Here under this gallows tree.
3. No son, no son, I've brought no gold,
I have not paid your fee.
Bu.t, I have come to see you hung,
Under this gallows tree.
4. Now, hangman, hangman slaok the rope,
Slack the rope a while.
I think I see my mother a-comin',
She's walked a many a mile.
5. Mother, dear mother, did you bring me any gold?
Have you paid my fee?
Or have you come to see me hung,
Here under this gallows tree.
6. Hangman, hangman slack the rope,
Slack it for a while.
I think I see my true love a-comin'
She's walked a many a mile.
7. True love, true love, did you bring me any gold,
Have you paid my fee?
Or have you come to Bee me hung,
Under this gallows tree.
8. Yes, true love, yes true love, I've brought you some gold.
I've done paid your fee.
But I did not come to see you hung,
Here under this gallows tree.