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THE GALLOWS TREE (HOLD YOUR HANDS, OLD MAN; THE MAID FREED FROM THE GALLOWS) Sung by: Mrs. Almeda Riddle Recorded in Miller, AR 8/22/57 Click here to listen to the original recording For I see my father coming From our far-off distant home. Oh, Father, Father, have you brought me gold, Or have you paid my fee, Or did you come to see your only son Hang 'neath the gallows tree? Oh, no, son-no, son-I brought no gold, Nor have I paid your fee. Alas, I have come to see a guilty son Hang on a gallows tree. Oh, hangman, hangman, slacken up your line, For I see my mother coming From our far and distant home. Oh, Mother, Mother, have you brought me gold, Or have you paid my fee, Or have you come to see your only son Hanging 'neath the gallows tree? Oh, no, son-no, son-I brought no gold, Nor have I paid your fee. Alas, I come to see a guilty son Hang on a gallows tree. Oh, hangman, hangman, slacken up your lines; I see my sister coming From our far-off distant home. Oh, Sister, Sister, have you brought me gold, Or have you paid my fee, Or did you come to see your brother Hanging 'neath the gallows tree? No, Brother-my Brother-I brought you no gold, Or did I pay your fee. Alas, I come to see a guilty one Hang on a gallows tree. Oh, hangman, hangman, slacken up your lines; I see my brother coming From our far-off distant home. Oh, Brother-my Brother-have you brought me gold, Or have you paid my fee, Or did you come to see your brother Hanging 'neath the gallows tree? No, Brother-my Brother-I brought no gold, Nor have I paid your fee. Alas, I come to see you, guilty one, Hang on a gallows tree. Oh, hangman, hangman, slacken up the line, For I see my sweetheart coming From a far-off distant home. Oh, Sweetheart, Sweetheart, have you brought me gold, Or did you pay my fee, Or did you come, too, to see me hang Beneath this gallows tree? Oh, yes, dear-yes, dear-I've brought your gold; I too have paid your fee. Thank God, my love, you'll never, never hang Beneath this gallows tree. Also found in Child, #95, "The Maid Freed From the Gallows"; Randolph, Vol. I, #24, "Hold Your Hands, Old Man"; Brown, Vol. II, #30, "The Maid Freed From the Gallows"; Belden, p. 66, "The Maid Freed From the Gallows." |
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All Songs Recorded by John Quincy Wolf, Jr., unless otherwise noted The John Quincy Wolf Folklore Collection Lyon College, Batesville, Arkansas Back to the Song Index Back to the Wolf Collection Homepage ©Copyright 2002 Lyon College |