Gallows Pole
Æë°ØÁÖ·ÉͧLed Zeppelin Lyrics


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Hangman, hangman, hold it a little while
Think I see my friends coming
Riding a many mile
Friends did you get some silver?
Did you get a little gold?
What did you bring me my dear friends
To keep me from the gallows pole?
What did you bring me to keep me from the gallows pole?

I couldn't get no silver, I couldn't get no gold
You know that we're too damn poor
To keep you from the gallows pole
Hangman, hangman, hold it a little while
I think I see my brother coming
Riding a many mile
Brother, did you get me some silver?
Did you get a little gold?
What did you bring me, my brother
To keep me from the gallows pole?
Brother, I brought you some silver
I brought a little gold,
I brought a little of everythin
To keep you from the gallows pole
Yes, I brought you to keep you from the gallows pole

Hangman, hangman, turn your head awhile
I think I see my sister coming
Riding a many mile, mile, mile
Sister, I implore you, take him by the hand
Take him to some shady bower
Save me from the wrath of this man
Please take him
Save me from the wrath of this man, man

Hangman, hangman, upon your face a smile
Pray tell me that I'm free to ride
Ride for many mile, mile, mile
Oh, yes, you got a fine sister
She warmed my blood from cold
She brought my blood to boiling hot
To keep you from the gallows pole, pole, pole, pole, yeah
Your brother brought me silver
Your sister warmed my soul
But now I laugh and pull so hard
And see you swinging on the gallows pole, yeah
But now I laugh and pull so hard
And see you swinging on the gallows pole, pole, pole
Swingin' on the gallows pole
Swingin' on the gallows pole




Swingin' on the gallows pole
Swingin' on the gallows pole, pole, pole, pole, pole, pole, pole, pole

Overall Meaning

The song 'Gallows Pole' by Led Zeppelin is a traditional English folk song that tells the story of a man about to be executed by hanging on the gallows pole. The song begins with the man pleading with the hangman to hold on for a little longer, hoping that his friends would arrive to save him. He asks his friends if they have brought him any gold or silver to keep him from the gallows pole. However, they have nothing to offer him, as they are also poor. The man's brother then arrives and brings him some silver and gold, hoping to save him. The man is grateful to his brother and asks if there is anything specific that he brought to keep him from the gallows pole. The man's brother assures him that he has brought him everything that he could to keep him from being hanged.


The man's sister then arrives, and he begs her to take him away and save him from the wrath of the hangman. However, the hangman tells the man that he is free, and the man rides off, thanking his friends and family. The hangman then reveals that he has had an affair with the man's sister and laughs as he watches the man being hanged on the gallows pole.


The song is a cautionary tale that warns against the dangers of greed, envy, and betrayal. It also highlights the cruelty of capital punishment and the importance of family ties. The use of traditional English folk music and lyrics adds to the haunting and melancholic tone of the song, and Robert Plant's powerful vocals convey the desperation and anguish of the man facing imminent execution.


Line by Line Meaning

Hangman, hangman, hold it a little while
Hangman, please wait a moment


Think I see my friends coming
I believe my friends are approaching


Riding a many mile
Having traveled a long distance


Friends did you get some silver?
Were you able to acquire any silver?


Did you get a little gold?
Or perhaps some gold?


What did you bring me my dear friends
What have you brought for me, my beloved friends?


To keep me from the gallows pole?
To prevent me from being hanged?


I couldn't get no silver, I couldn't get no gold
I was unable to obtain any precious metals


You know that we're too damn poor
As you are aware, we are impoverished


To keep you from the gallows pole
We cannot prevent your execution


Hangman, hangman, hold it a little while
Again, hangman, wait a moment


I think I see my brother coming
I believe my brother is approaching


Brother, did you get me some silver?
Did you obtain any silver for me, brother?


Did you get a little gold?
Or perhaps some gold?


What did you bring me, my brother
What have you brought for me, my brother?


Brother, I brought you some silver
I do have some silver for you, brother


I brought a little gold, I brought a little of everything
And also some gold and various items


To keep you from the gallows pole
To prevent your execution


Yes, I brought you to keep you from the gallows pole
Indeed, I have brought provisions to save you


Hangman, hangman, turn your head awhile
Hangman, please look away for a moment


I think I see my sister coming
I believe my sister is approaching


Riding a many mile, mile, mile
Having traveled quite a distance


Sister, I implore you, take him by the hand
Sister, I beg you to take my hand


Take him to some shady bower
Escort me to a peaceful place


Save me from the wrath of this man
Protect me from this man's anger


Please take him
Please aid me in this way


Save me from the wrath of this man, man
Defend me from this man's fury


Hangman, hangman, upon your face a smile
Hangman, you seem quite pleased


Pray tell me that I'm free to ride
Please inform me that I am allowed to depart


Ride for many mile, mile, mile
Travel a long distance


Oh, yes, you got a fine sister
You do indeed have a lovely sister


She warmed my blood from cold
She aroused a passion in me


She brought my blood to boiling hot
She ignited a strong desire in me


To keep you from the gallows pole, pole, pole, pole, yeah
I seduced her to protect myself from hanging


Your brother brought me silver
Your brother provided me with some silver


Your sister warmed my soul
Your sister kindled a fire within me


But now I laugh and pull so hard
But now I am filled with glee and exerting great effort


And see you swinging on the gallows pole, yeah
As I witness you dangling from the noose


Swingin' on the gallows pole
I observe you being hanged


Swingin' on the gallows pole
You hang from the gallows pole


Swingin' on the gallows pole
You are still hanging from the pole


Swingin' on the gallows pole, pole, pole, pole, pole, pole, pole, pole
You continue to sway on the pole




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JIMMY PAGE, ROBERT PLANT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Gallows Pole ( lyrics 100% accurate)

Hangman, hangman, hold it a little while
I think I see my friends comin', ridin' many a mile
A-friends, ya get some silver, d'ya get a little gold
A-what did ya bring me, my dear friends
keep me from the gallows pole
What did ya bring me, keep me from the gallows pole

I couldn't get no silver, I couldn't get no gold
You know that we're too damn poor
to keep you from the gallows pole

Hangman, hangman, hold it a little while
I think I see my brother comin', ridin' many a mile
M-brother, ya get me some silver, and d'ya get a little gold
A-what did ya bring me, my brother
keep me from the gallows pole

Brother, I brought you some silver, yeah
I-I brought a little gold
I brought a little of everything
to keep you from the gallows pole
Yes, I brought you to keep you from the gallows pole

Hangman, hangman, turn your head a while
I think I see my sister comin'
ridin' many a mile, mile, mile, mile
Sister, I implore ya, take him by the hand
A-take him to some shady bower
save me from the wrath of this man
Please take him, save me from the wrath of this madman

Hangman, hangman, upon your face a smile
Tell me that I'm free to ride, ride for many a mile, mile, mile

Oh, yes, you got a fine sister, she warmed my blood from cold
She warmed my blood to boilin' hot
keep you from the gallows pole, pole, pole, pole, yeah, yeah
Your brother brought me silver, and your sister warmed my soul
but now I laugh and pull so hard
See ya swingin' on the gallows pole, yeah
But now I laugh and pull so hard
See ya swingin' on the gallows pole, pole, pole

Swingin' on the gallows pole, swingin' on the gallows pole
Swingin' on the gallows pole, swingin' on the gallows
pole, pole, pole, pole, pole, pole, pole, yeah
Ah-ha-ha, ah-ha-ha, ah-ha-ha, ah-ha-ha
Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha, ah-ha-ha-ha, ah-ha-ha, ah-ha-ha
Keep a-singin', a-keep a-singin', a-keep a-swingin'
A-keep, keep, whoa-whoa-whoa
Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma, yeah
Ooh, yeah, ooh, yeah, ah-ha-ha, ah-ha-ha, ah-ha-ha, ah-ha
Swingin' on the gallows, yeah, swingin' on the gallows pole
Swingin' on the gallows pole, swingin' on the, ah, I gotta swing
See-saw, Margery Daw, gotta swing
See-saw, knock on my door, I, I gotta sing, ah-ha-ha
Keep a-swingin', yeah, keep a-coolin', yeah
Keep a-cool, ah-ohh, yeah



@petrosgenikis5141

Hangman, hangman, hold it a little while
Think I see my friends coming
Riding a many mile
Friends did you get some silver?
Did you get a little gold?
What did you bring me my dear friends
To keep me from the gallows pole?
What did you bring me to keep me from the gallows pole?
I couldn't get no silver, I couldn't get no gold
You know that we're too damn poor
To keep you from the gallows pole
Hangman, hangman, hold it a little while
I think I see my brother coming
Riding a many mile
Brother, did you get me some silver?
Did you get a little gold?
What did you bring me, my brother
To keep me from the gallows pole?
Brother, I brought you some silver
I brought a little gold,
I brought a little of everythin
To keep you from the gallows pole
Yes, I brought you to keep you from the gallows pole
Hangman, hangman, turn your head awhile
I think I see my sister coming
Riding a many mile, mile, mile
Sister, I implore you, take him by the hand
Take him to some shady bower
Save me from the wrath of this man
Please take him
Save me from the wrath of this man, man
Hangman, hangman, upon your face a smile
Pray tell me that I'm free to ride
Ride for many mile, mile, mile
Oh, yes, you got a fine sister
She warmed my blood from cold
She brought my blood to boiling hot
To keep you from the gallows pole, pole, pole, pole, yeah
Your brother brought me silver
Your sister warmed my soul
But now I laugh and pull so hard
And see you swinging on the gallows pole, yeah
But now I laugh and pull so hard
And see you swinging on the gallows pole, pole, pole
Swingin' on the gallows pole
Swingin' on the gallows pole
Swingin' on the gallows pole
Swingin' on the gallows pole, pole, pole, pole, pole, pole, pole, pole



@Kennedy4OurCountry

The Battle of Evermore has begun.
So I'm packin' my bags for the misty mountains
Where the spirits go
Over the hill, where the spirits fly.
The apples of the valley hold the seeds of happiness
The ground is rich from tender care-
Repay do not forget

The pain of war cannot exceed
The woe of aftermath

The Magic Runes are writ in gold
To bring the Magic back
Bring it back...



All comments from YouTube:

@coreylomax2213

Brilliant song. About a man on the gallows begging for his life. As he gets more and more desperate, the song speeds up. Yet another Led Zeppelin masterpiece.

@chetbarrasso2396

Wow!! Pretty good insight!

@jon4320

you know it's a Leadbelly song, right ?

@chetbarrasso2396

@@jon4320 I don't care who's song it is.........I'm to far gone:)

@michaellyndon6982

​@@jon4320 It's actually not. It has been around as a folk standard for a while.

I guess Leadbelly wrote the version they did though...

@mikegacek9182

​@jon4320 sure. Who cares? And it's actually older than that.

@solutionrecruiter7130

LZ is the only band that makes me feel like a modern day man capable of chilling in a medieval village

@adamastor137

Try with Jethro Tull !!!

@naudianeels1328

​@@adamastor137Was just gonna suggest that!!! 💯😆👍

@elcapitanemoticono5405

😳😳😳

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