O Jailer- Harn/Miller (FL) pre1950 Morris C
[From Folksongs of Florida by Alton C. Morris. 1950 p. 296.
R. Matteson 2015]
C. [O Jailer] No title given. Text given me by Miss Julia Harn, who learned the song from Mr. Bob Miller, a state legislator When held a position as clerk in the state legislature. In transmitting it to me, she said "I may not have been able to give the lines exactly as Mr. Miller but this is essentially the song as he sings it. Whatever differences may exist can be attributed to oral tradition."
"O Jailer, Jailer, lengthen the rope;
O lengthen it for awhile;
I think I see my father coming;
He's been riding many a mile.
"O Father, have you come to bring me gold
To pay my fine and set me free;
Or have you come to see me hung
Upon the juniper tree?"
"I have not come to bring you gold
To pay your fine and set you free;
But I have come to see you hung
Upon the juniper tree".
(Repeated for "mother," "brother," "sister," and, finally, "sweetheart")
"My love, my love, I have not come to see you hung
Upon the juniper tree;
But I have come to bring you gold
To pay your fine and set you free."