Story Behind The Song
The story is a woman has lost her virginity to her lover so now she is no longer a value to her family and can no longer bring any wealth to the family coffers. So she is being sent to the gallows maybe a metaphor for being sent to a convent.
Song Description
Woman wanting to be saved by her family, but all are against her except her lover.
| Song Length |
5:15 |
Genre |
World - Celtic, Folk - Traditional |
| Tempo |
Slow (71 - 90) |
Lead Vocal |
Female Vocal |
| Mood |
Anxious, Frantic |
Subject |
Doom, Lover |
| Similar Artists |
Loreena McKennitt, Sarah Brightman |
Language |
English |
| Era |
Before 1600 |
| |
Lyrics
Slack your rope hangman
slack it for awhile
I think I see my father comin'
riding many a mile
Oh! father have you brought me hope?
or have you payed my fee?
Or have you come to see me
hangin' from
the gallows tree?
I have not brought you hope
I have not payed your fee.
Yes, I have come to see you hangin'
from the gallows tree
Slack your rope hangman
slack it for awhile
I think I see my mother comin'
riding many a mile
Oh! mother have you brought me hope
or have you payed my fee?
Or have you come to see me
hangin 'from
the gallows tree?
I have not brought you hope
I have not payed your fee
Yes, I have come to see you hangin'
from the gallows tree
Slack your rope hangman
slack it for awhile
I think I see my brother comin'
riding many a mile
Oh! brother have you brought me hope ?
Or have you payed my fee?
Or have you come to see me
hangin' from
the gallows tree?
I have not brought you hope
I have not payed your fee.
Yes, I have come to see you hangin'
from the gallows tree
Slack your rope hangman
slack it for awhile
I think I see my sister comin'
riding many a mile
Oh! sister have you brought me hope?
Or have you payed my fee?
Or have you come to see me hangin'
from the gallows tree?
I have not brought you hope
I have not payed your fee
Yes! I have come to see you hangin'
from the gallows tree
Slack your rope hangman
slack it for awhile
I think I see my true love comin'
riding many a mile
Oh! true love have you brought me hope?
or have you payed my fee?
Or have you come to see me hangin'
from the gallows tree?
Yes! I have brought you hope
yes I have payed your fee
for I've not come to see you
hangin'
hangin'
hangin'
from that gallows tree
Traditional
Lead vocal Delta Burnett Reed
Back up vocal Joe Podlesny
Composer Joe Podlesny
Musical arranger Joe Podlesny
Guitar Joe Podlesny
Keyboard Joe Podlesny