Hangman- (KY) 1923 Sharp/Raine bk
[My title, replacing the generic Child title. From: Mountain Ballads for Social Singing by James Watt Raine (1869-1949) and Cecil James Sharp (1859-1924). This 27 page booklet contains 16 songs, "...a selection of our Mountain Ballads prepared for the use of Berea Students at Vesper Hour gatherings and other social occasions." Published by Berea College Press; 1923, p. 27.
No informant named for the text. The melody was collected by Sharp in 1916 from Sarah Buckner (Sharp B) with a slight variation at the last cadence.
R. Matteson 2015]
Hangman- 1923 as sung by Berea students; arranged Raine & Sharp.
1 Hangman, hangman, hold your rope,
Oh hold it for a while;
I think I see my own father dear
Come a-riding a many a mile.
2. Father, O father, have you any gold?
Gold for to set me free?
Or have you come to see me hung
On yon high gallows tree?
3. No daughter, no I have no gold,
Nor silver to set you free;
I've only come to see you hung
On yon high gallows tree.
In subsequent verses for "mother," "brother" "sister" and finally "true love" are substituted for "father."
15. Yes, true love, yes, I have some gold,
And silver to set you free;
And I have not come here to see you hung
On yon high gallows tree.