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Hangman
Marty Stuart Lyrics
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Well I lost count at thirty and I've grown to numb to grieve
The bottle helps me cope, when I lay down at night
And when the dope rolls through my veins, it all fades out of sight.
Hangman, hangman, that's my stock and trade
Hangman, hangman, sending bad men to their graves
Well who killed who, I ask myself, time and time again
God have mercy on the soul of this hangman
She don't ask me any questions, when I come to call
Her body keeps me warm, her words are soft and kind.
She holds me in her arms till the bad dreams leave my mind
Hangman, hangman, that's my stock and trade
Hangman, hangman, sending bad men to their graves
Well, who killed who, I ask myself, time and time again
God have mercy on the soul of this hangman
God have mercy on the soul of this hangman
The lyrics of Marty Stuart's "Hangman" describe the dark and lonely life of a hangman who has executed so many people that he has lost count. The singer's detachment from his actions is evident in the line "I've grown too numb to grieve" which reflects his disregard for human life. The hangman copes with his job through alcohol and drugs, which serve as a form of escapism. The chorus, where he proclaims that "Hangman, hangman, that's my stock and trade", continues to emphasize the executioner's normalized participation in taking lives. Stuart contrasts the brutal nature of the hangman's job with a tender moment between him and a woman named Rosalie. Her warm body and kind words provide him with the solace he needs to escape the nightmares that haunt him.
The singer's introspection on the morality of his work surfaces in the lyric, "who killed who, I ask myself, time and time again" as he grapples with his culpability and responsibility in the fate of those he has executed. The song's final line, "God have mercy on the soul of this hangman" suggests that the hangman is seeking redemption and a release from his role as a state-sanctioned killer.
Line by Line Meaning
I killed another man today, it's hard to believe
Today, I murdered another man, which is hard for me to comprehend.
Well I lost count at thirty and I've grown to num to grieve
I've taken so many lives that I stopped counting at 30 and have become desensitized to the guilt and remorse.
The bottle helps me cope, when I lay down at night
Drinking alcohol allows me to deal with my emotions and fall asleep at night.
And when the dope rolls through my veins, it all fades out of sight.
Using drugs helps me escape reality and forget about the things I've done.
Hangman, hangman, that's my stock and trade
Being a hangman is my profession and what I'm known for.
Hangman, hangman, sending bad men to their graves
I execute convicted criminals by hanging them.
Well who killed who, I ask myself, time and time again
I frequently question who is responsible for the deaths of the men I've executed.
God have mercy on the soul of this hangman
As a hangman, I fear for my own soul and ask for mercy from God.
There's a woman down the street, named Rosalie McFall
I have a neighbor named Rosalie McFall who lives nearby.
She don't ask me any questions, when I come to call
Rosalie doesn't inquire about what I do for a living or any other details when I visit her.
Her body keeps me warm, her words are soft and kind.
Spending time with Rosalie makes me feel comforted and her gentle demeanor and soothing words ease my mind.
She holds me in her arms till the bad dreams leave my mind
Rosalie embraces me and comforts me until my nightmares and disturbing thoughts dissipate.
God have mercy on the soul of this hangman
The song ends on the repeated plea for mercy on the soul of the singer who lives a life of violence and death.
Writer(s): Marty Stuart, John R. Cash
Contributed by Miles Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
ron sutton
Marty is amazing, been in music all his life, photographer & collector of Country Music memorabilia. He's keeping the true art of Country alive!
Nolan Pierce
Well said, I grew up listening to Johnny Cash,Marty Robbins, Hank Williams, to name a few,all on vinyl. I watched the history in the making on The Johnny Cash Show,The Glen Campbell Show and let's not forget Hee Haw and others.Now ,with the internet,I can reach back in time and relive those fabulous hours that I love .Marty is Country Music!
Livi Crazy Music
Thank You So much for sharing this. A wonderful interview and so nice to hear anything by both Marty and Johnny. Two legends together.
Lee Hudson
Great Song, Marty. That's what I call Country Music. When it sends a chill down your spine, that's when you know it's good.
William Linington
I believe Johnny Cash was a very positive influence on Marty.
Arturo Gómez
Masters of music, masters of the stage.
Pendragon__94
Masterfully beautiful, and brilliant song, by an amazing artist. Mr, Marty Stuart.
Bonnie McGill
One of the most powerful songs I've ever heard... WOW !!!!!
David Berkman
Although I wish JR were still with us, I applaud this wonderful work from Marty...
Vicky Heavens
Marty keep on dong what you do .. the world needs songs of truths!