The Gallows Tree- York (NC) 1939 Brown R
[Fragment from a Brown Collection Volume 4, 1956. Two recordings are found in he Abrams Collection- both incomplete. The last line of text from the Brown Collection is clearly wrong.
R. Matteson 2015]
R. 'The Gallows Tree.' Sung by Mrs. James York. Recorded at Olin, Iredell county, August 24, 1939. Melodic deviations in another recording are given in the variations below.
For melodic relationship cf. **SharpK I 214, No. 28K, measures 1-4; FSF 297. Scale: Heptachordal. Tonal Center: e-flat. Structure: aa1bc (2,2,2,2) = ab (4,4).
The Gallows Tree- Mrs. York (two recordings), 1939 NC.
http://omeka.library.appstate.edu/files/original/340fccb46b0f4ad3d4f78555633225d0.mp3
"Go slacken your rope oh for a while
Go slacken it for a while,
I think I see my father coming,
He rode oh many a mile."
Oh have you come to bring me gold?
Or have you come to pay my fee?
Or have you come to see me hung
On yonders gallows tree?"
No, I've not come to bring you gold
No, I've not come to pay your fee,
But I have come to see you hung
On yonders gallows tree?"
"Go slacken your rope oh for a while
Go slacken it for a while,
I think I see my mother coming,
She rode oh many a mile."
Oh have you come to bring me gold?
Or have you come to pay my fee?
Or have you come to see me hung
On yonders gallows tree?"
No, I've not come to bring you gold
No, I've not come to pay your fee,
But I have come to see you hung
On yonders gallows tree?"