O Hang- Cooper (NC) 1924 Chappell
[My title; From Folk-Songs of the Roanoke and Albermarle; Chappell 1939, p.35. Bronson 34.
R. Matteson 2015]
[O Hang] Maid Freed from the Gallows- Sung by Henry Cooper, Chapanoke, NC; text, 1924; tune, 1935.
1. O hang, O hang, O slack your rope,
O slack it for awhile,
I think I hear my father a-coming
A-riding a many a mile.
2. O father, have you brought me any gold,
O father, have you paid my fee?
Or have you come to see me hung
Beneath the willow tree?
3. No, I have not brought you any gold,
I have not paid your fee,
But I'm only here to see you hung
Beneath the willow tree.
4. O hang, O hang, O slack your rope,
O slack it for a while,
I think I hear my mother a-coming
A-riding a many a mile.
5. O mother, have you brought me any gold,
O mother, have you paid my fee?
Or have you come to see me hung
Beneath the willow tree?
6. No, I have not brought you any gold,
I have not paid your-fee,
But I'm only here to see you hung
Beneath the willow tree.'
7. O hang, O hang, O slack your rope,
O slack it for a while,
I think I hear my brother a-coming
A-riding a many-a mile.
8. O brother, have you brought me any gold,
O brother, have you paid my fee?
Or have you come to see me hung
Beneath the willow tree?
9. No, I have not brought you any gold,
I have not paid your fee;
But I'm only here to see you hung
Beneath the willow tree.
10. O hang, O hang, O slack your rope,
O slack it for a while;
I think I hear my sister a-coming
A-riding a many a mile.
11. O sister, have you brought me any gold,
O sister, have you paid my fee?
Or have you come to see me hung
Beneath the willow tree?
12. No, I have not brought you any gold,
I have not paid your fee.
But I'm only here to see you hung
Beneath the willow tree.
13. O hang, O hang, O slack your rope,
O slack it for a while;
I think I hear my sweetheart a-coming
A-riding a many a mile.
14. O sweetheart, have you brought me any gold,
O sweetheart, have you paid my fee?
Or have you come to see me hung,
Beneath a the willow tree?
15. O yes, I have brought you gold,
Yes, I have paid your fee;
I have not come to see you hung
Beneath a the willow tree.