Hangman
Jean Ritchie Lyrics
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Hangman, slack up your rope, oh slack it for a while.
I look down yonder to see Pa comin', he's walked for a many long mile.
Oh Pa, say Pa, have you brung me any gold, any gold to pay my fee?
Or have you walked these many long miles
See me on the hangin' tree?
No son, no son, I ain't brought you any gold, no gold for to pay your fee.
But I just walked these many long miles
Hangman,
Hangman, slack up your rope, oh slack it for a while.
I look down yonder to see Ma comin', she's walked for a many long mile.
Oh Ma, say Ma, have you brung me any gold, any gold to pay my fee?
Or have you walked these many long miles
See me on the hangin' tree?
No son, no son, I ain't brought you any gold, no gold for to pay your fee.
But I just walked these many long miles
See you on the hangin' tree.
Hangman,
Hangman, slack up your rope, oh slack it for a while.
I look down yonder to see my true love comin', she's walked for a many long mile.
Oh true love, say true love, have you brung me any gold, any gold to pay my fee?
Or have you walked these many long miles
See me on the hangin' tree?
Yes love, yes love, I've brung you some gold, some gold for to pay your fee.
And I've just come for to take you home so we can marry thee.
Jean Ritchie's "Hangman" is a ballad that tells a story of a man awaiting his execution and the emotional pleas made by his family members. The song starts with the singer, looking towards the hangman and asking him to slacken his rope. He tells the hangman that his father is coming to see him and asks if he is carrying any gold to pay his fee. The singer then wonders if his father walked such a distance only to see him die on the hanging tree. When his father arrives, the son asks the same question, but the father does not have any gold. He tells his son that he has walked all this distance only to say goodbye before his execution.
The same sequence happens with the singer's mother and his true love. The singer awaits his execution, asking for mercy, pleading for someone to bring him gold to set him free. Finally, his true love arrives, and she brings him some gold to pay his fee. She tells him that she has come to take him home to marry him. The song ends with the sound of the rope being tightened as the singer is hung, and the people weeping and watching him die.
The song has a mournful, plaintive tone that reflects the desperate situation of the singer. The emotional pleas of his family members, contrasted with the cold-hearted hangman, create a powerful imagery that highlights the harsh realities of life in ancient times. The song also shows the powerlessness of the singer and his loved ones against the strong hand of justice.
Line by Line Meaning
Hangman,
Hangman, slack up your rope, oh slack it for a while.
The singer requests the hangman to delay the execution by relaxing the tightening of the rope for a brief period.
I look down yonder to see Pa comin', he's walked for a many long mile.
The singer spots his father who has travelled a long distance to attend the execution.
Oh Pa, say Pa, have you brung me any gold, any gold to pay my fee?
Or have you walked these many long miles
See me on the hangin' tree?
The singer asks his father if he has brought any money to pay for his life or if he has come all this way just to watch his son be executed.
No son, no son, I ain't brought you any gold, no gold for to pay your fee.
But I just walked these many long miles
See you on the hangin' tree.
The father tells his son that he has not brought any money to pay for his life, but just to be with him during his final moments.
I look down yonder to see Ma comin', she's walked for a many long mile.
The artist spots his mother who has also travelled a long distance to attend the execution.
Oh Ma, say Ma, have you brung me any gold, any gold to pay my fee?
Or have you walked these many long miles
See me on the hangin' tree?
The singer asks his mother if she has brought any money to pay for his life or if she has come all this way just to watch her son be executed.
No son, no son, I ain't brought you any gold, no gold for to pay your fee.
But I just walked these many long miles
See you on the hangin' tree.
The mother tells her son that she has not brought any money to pay for his life, but just to be with him during his final moments.
I look down yonder to see my true love comin', she's walked for a many long mile.
The artist sees his lover who has also travelled a long distance to attend the execution.
Oh true love, say true love, have you brung me any gold, any gold to pay my fee?
Or have you walked these many long miles
See me on the hangin' tree?
The artist asks his lover if she has brought any money to pay for his life or if she has come all this way just to watch her lover be executed.
Yes love, yes love, I've brung you some gold, some gold for to pay your fee.
And I've just come for to take you home so we can marry thee.
The lover assures the artist that she has brought money to pay for his life and plans to marry him after his release.
Contributed by Camden S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Abrdoks
Hangman,
Hangman, slack up your rope, oh slack it for a while.
I looked down yonder and I seen Pa comin', he's walked for a many long mile.
Oh Pa, say Pa, have you brung me any gold, any gold to pay my fee?
Or have you walked these many long miles
See me on the hangin' tree?
No son, no son, I ain’t brung you no gold, no gold for to pay your fee.
But I just walked these many long miles
See you on the hangin' tree.
Hangman,
Hangman, slack up your rope, oh slack it for a while.
I looked down yonder and I seen Ma comin', she's walked for a many long mile.
Oh Ma, say Ma, have you brung me any gold, any gold to pay my fee?
Or have you walked these many long miles
See me on the hangin' tree?
No son, no son, I ain’t brung you no gold, no gold for to pay your fee.
But I just walked these many long miles
See you on the hangin' tree.
Hangman,
Hangman, slack up your rope, oh slack it for a while.
I looked down yonder and I seen my true love comin', she's walked for a many long mile.
Oh true love, say true love, have you brung me any gold, any gold to pay my fee?
Or have you walked these many long miles
See me on the hangin' tree?
Yes love, yes love, I've brung you some gold, some gold for to pay your fee.
And I've just come for to take you home so we can marry thee.
@jasminecoxjc
+Dinesh Lamichhane
Hangman, hangman, slack up your rope. Oh slack it for a while.
I look down yonder and I see Pa comin'. He's walked for a many long mile.
Oh Pa, say Pa, have you brung me any gold? Any gold to pay my fee?
Or have you walked these many long miles, see me on the hangin' tree?
No son, no son I ain't brung you any gold. No gold for to pay your fee.
But I just walked these many long miles, see you on the hangin' tree.
Hangman, hangman, slack up your rope. Oh slack it for a while.
I look down yonder and I see Ma comin'. She's walked for a many long mile.
Oh Ma, say Ma, have you brung me any gold? Any gold to pay my fee?
Or have you walked these many long miles, see me on the hangin' tree?
No son, no son I ain't brung you any gold. No gold for to pay your fee.
But I just walked these many long miles, see you on the hangin' tree.
Hangman, hangman, slack up your rope. Oh slack it for a while.
I look down yonder and I see my true love comin'. She's walked for a many long mile.
Oh true love, say true love, have you brung me any gold? Any gold to pay my fee?
Or have you walked these many long miles, see me on the hangin' tree?
Yes love, yes love I've brung you some gold, some gold for to pay your fee.
And I've just come for to take you home so we can married be.
@Jazzyteach65
Ms. Ritchie 's catalog is an ethnomusicologist's treasure trove. Hard to believe she's still playing dulcimer and singing this fruitfully at 91
@RickDeevey
She just passed on, yesterday. RIP.
@zerip9756
@@RickDeevey R.I.P
@Brockspapa
I stumbled on this. I loved it friend. Traditional American acoustic songs are hard to beat in my eyes.
@riverrat362
she was born and raised in Kentucky
@robertlytle9752
I am so lucky to live in Missouri. Many a group of regular folks get together and sing these songs. I know one man who is now dead, who could never read a lick of music but he was a virtuoso on the banjo. I have seen a number of ladies who play the dulcimer. All these people learned their music from their parents and grandparents. It is fantastic to hear them play their music.
@leesutter9767
Jean Ritchie died June 2015. I'm listening to all versions I can find of this, aka Gallows Pole, since I heard Willie Watson'''s recent magnificent version . Great Variety of lyrics, voices, tempos. I first heard Peter Paul and Mary's back in the day.
@vestibule1011
i'm glad he got that gold in the end
@zerip9756
Agreed!!
@Trollificusv2
And the girl. A win/win.