THE MAID FREED FROM THE GALLOWS OR THE HANGMAN’S TREE

Slack your rope, hangs-a-man,

Oh, slack it for a while;

I think I see my father coming,

Riding many a mile.

"O father, have you brought me gold?

Or have you paid my fee;

Or have you come to see me hanging

On the gallows-tree?”

:Slack your rope, hangs-a-man,oh, slack

       it for a while;

I think I see my mother coming,

Riding many a mile”.

"O mother, have you brought me gold?

Or have you paid my fee?

Or have you come to see me hanging

On the gallows-tree?”

“I have not brought you gold;

I have not paid your fee;

But I have com to see you hanging

On the gallows-tree.”

(And so on for brother, sister, aunt, uncle, 

       cousin, etc,)

“Slack your rope, hangs-a-man,

Oh, slack it for a while;

I think I see my true love coming,

Riding many a mile.”

“O  true love, have you brought me gold?

Or have you paid my fee?

Or have you come to see m hanging

On the gallows-tree?”

“Yes, I have brought you gold;

Yes, I have paid your fee;

Not have I come to see you hanging

On the gallows-tree.”