Gallows Pole
Led Zeppelin Lyrics

Hangman, hangman, hold it a little while
The singer is asking the hangman to wait for a while.

Think I see my friends coming
The singer thinks that his friends are approaching.

Riding a many mile
The friends are coming from a far distance.

Friends did you get some silver?
The artist is asking his friends if they got any silver (money).

Did you get a little gold?
The artist is asking his friends if they got any gold.

What did you bring me my dear friends
The singer is asking his friends what they brought for him.

To keep me from the gallows pole?
The singer is asking his friends if they brought anything to save him from the gallows pole (execution).

I couldn't get no silver, I couldn't get no gold
The friends reply that they couldn't get any silver or gold.

You know that we're too damn poor
The friends explain that they are too poor to help the artist.

Hangman, hangman, hold it a little while
The artist asks the hangman to wait a little longer again.

I think I see my brother coming
The singer now sees his brother approaching.

Brother, did you get me some silver?
The artist asks his brother if he got any silver for him.

Did you get a little gold?
The singer asks his brother if he got any gold.

What did you bring me, my brother
The singer wants to know what his brother brought for him.

To keep me from the gallows pole?
The singer is asking his brother if he brought anything to save him from execution.

Brother, I brought you some silver
The brother says he brought some silver for the artist.

I brought a little gold,
The brother also brought some gold for the artist.

I brought a little of everythin
The brother brought a little bit of everything to help the singer.

To keep you from the gallows pole
The brother brought everything to save the singer from execution.

Hangman, hangman, turn your head awhile
The artist asks the hangman to look away for a while.

I think I see my sister coming
The artist sees his sister approaching.

Riding a many mile, mile, mile
The sister is also coming from a far distance.

Sister, I implore you, take him by the hand
The singer is begging his sister to take him away.

Take him to some shady bower
The artist requests his sister to take him to a safe place.

Save me from the wrath of this man
The singer wants to be saved from the hangman's punishment.

Oh, yes, you got a fine sister
The hangman compliments the singer's sister.

She warmed my blood from cold
The hangman is attracted to the singer's sister.

She brought my blood to boiling hot
The artist's sister aroused the hangman's desires.

To keep you from the gallows pole, pole, pole, pole, yeah
The hangman was bribed with the artist's sister's companionship to save him from execution.

Your brother brought me silver
The singer's brother bribed the hangman with silver.

Your sister warmed my soul
The singer's sister charmed the hangman.

But now I laugh and pull so hard
The hangman is now ready to carry out the execution.

And see you swinging on the gallows pole, yeah
The hangman is watching the artist swinging on the gallows pole.

Swingin' on the gallows pole, pole, pole
The song ends with the repeated phrase of the artist swinging on the gallows pole.