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HANGMAN (HOLD YOUR HANDS, OLD MAN; THE MAID FREED FROM THE GALLOWS) Sung by: Almeda Riddle Recorded on 5/14/70 Click here to listen to the original recording Dr. Wolf: “Same . . . hangman? This is . . . This is the version . . .” Mrs. Riddle: “Yeah. This is the hangman.” Dr. Wolf: “This is a tune you haven’t heard.” Mrs. Riddle: “And I don’t know that you will hear it. I’m gonna have to think a little. I haven’t done that in several years.”) “Oh, hangman, hangman, slacken up your lines. I see my father coming from a far-off distant shore.” “Oh, father--my father--have you brought me gold, Or have you paid my fee? Or did you come to see your only son Hanging high on a gallows tree?” "Oh, no, son, no, and I have brought no gold, Nor have I paid your fee. Alas, I come to see an unworthy son Hanging high on the gallows tree.” “Oh, slackman, slackman, slacken up your lines. I see my mother coming from our far-off distant home.” “Oh, mother--my mother--have you brought me gold, Or have you paid my fee? Or did you come to see your only son Hanging high on a gallows tree?” (Mrs. Riddle: “Now, it’s the same answer that his father give, it’s so long, let’s . . . Will it be okay?” Dr. Wolf: “Yeah.” Mrs. Riddle: “And then it comes on to the sister, and then to the sweetheart.”) “Oh, slackman, slackman, slacken up your lines. I see my sweetheart coming from a far and distant plain.” “Oh, sweetheart--my sweetheart--have you brought me gold, Or have you paid my fee? Or did you to come but to see me hung, Hung high on the gallows tree?” “Oh, yes, and yes, I have brought you gold, And I have paid the fee. I never intended to see my love hanging High on a 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 |