The Hangman's Rope- Stowe (TX) 1938 Owens
[Not a local title, probably invented to name this version. From: Owens; Texas Folk Songs, 1950. his notes follow,
R. Matteson 2015]
THE HANGMAN'S ROPE.
This ballad, recorded for me by Mrs. I. L. Stowe of Silsbee, is widely sung in Southeast Texas, but is less well known in other parts of the state. The dozen or so versions I have heard vary surprisingly little, perhaps because of the simplicity of words and story, and the incremental repetition.
In most versions, English and American, a girl is faced with hanging on the gallows if her fine is not paid. In the English version the appeal is to the judge or justice of the peace rather than to the executioner. In some of these she is to be hanged for stealing a golden ball or a comb. In the ones I have heard in Texas details of her crime are omitted. In a few versions, particularly those sung by southern Negroes, a youth instead of a maid is freed from the gallows. Two versions I have heard in Negro dialect begin "Slack-a-tnan, slack-a-man) lack on yo' line" and "Hangerman, hangerman, slack yo' rope."
THE HANGMAN'S ROPE -Sung by Mrs. I. L. Stowe, Silsbee, Texas, 1938.
"Oh, hangman, hangman, slack your rope,
Oh, slack it for a while;
I think I see my own dear father
Come riding many a mile."
"Oh, father, did you bring my gold,
Or did you pay my fee,
Or did you come to see me hanged
To yonders willow tree?"
"Oh, no, I did not bring Your gold,
And did not pay your fee;
I come to see you hang today
To yonders willow tree."
(The same formula ts repeated for mother, sister, brother.)
"Oh, hangman, hangman, slack your rope'
Oh, slack it for a while;
I think I see my own true love
Come riding many a mile.
"Oh, true love, did you bring my gold,
Or did you pay my fee,
Or did you come to see me hanged
To yonders willow tree?"
"Oh, yes, I brought your gold, my dear,
And also paid your fee;
I did not come to see you hanged
To yonders willow tree."