Hangman- Sarah Gunning (KY) 1974 REC Wilson
[From: Meeting's a Pleasure; Folk-songs of the Upper South, Volume 2; Musical Traditions Records' 2007 (MTCD343-4). Their notes follow.
This may or may not be traditional. Gunning may have learned this in NY (cover song inspired by Leadbelly) or from her roots in KY (Aunt Molly Jackson/Jim Garland).
R. Matteson 2015]
9. Hangman - Sarah Ogan Gunning, vocal (Rec: Mark Wilson, Medford, Mass, 5/8/74). Roud 144, Child 95. In contrast, here is Child 95 (book title: The Maid Freed from the Gallows) in its full glory. It is one of the few of the classic British ballads to have regularly passed into black tradition as well, as Sarah and Jim's good friend Leadbelly's Gallis Pole energetically illustrates.
"Oh, hangman, hangman, hold your horses, hold them for a while
I think I see my mother's face, come riding many a mile."
"Did you come to bring me silver or gold or come to set me free
Or did you come to see me hang beneath the gallows tree?"
"No, son, I didn't you bring you silver or gold or come to set you free
But I did come to see you hung beneath the gallows tree."
"Oh, hangman, hangman, hold your horses, hold them for a while
I thought I saw my father's face, come riding many a mile."
"Did you come to bring me silver or gold or come to set me free
Or did you come to see me hang beneath the gallows tree?"
"Oh no, I didn't you bring you silver or gold or come to set you free
But I did come to see you hang beneath the gallows tree."
"Oh, hangman, hangman, hold your horses, hold them for a while
I thought I seen my brother's face, come riding many a mile."
"Did you come to bring me silver or gold or come to set me free
Or did you come to see me hang beneath the gallows tree?"
"Oh, no, I didn't you bring you silver or gold or come to set you free
But I did come to see you hang beneath the gallows tree."
"Hangman, hangman, hold your horses, hold them for a while
I thought I see my sister's face, come riding many a mile."
"Did you come to bring me silver or gold or come to set me free
Or did you come to see me hang beneath the gallows tree?"
"Oh, no, I didn't you bring you silver or gold or come to set you free
But I did come to see you hang beneath the gallows tree."
"Oh, hangman, hangman, hold your horses, hold them for a while
I think I see my true love's face, come riding many a mile."
"Did you come to bring me silver or gold or come to set me free
Or did you come to see me hang beneath the gallows tree?"
"Oh, yes, I brought silver and gold and come to set you free
For I could not bear to see you hang beneath the gallows tree."