Cat. #0610 (MFH #67) - As sung by Paralee Weddington, Busch, Arkansas on February 8, 1968
VERSE 1
My true love was a nice young man
As ever lived or th sun shine on
An' now to save him, I have been try'n
He's got his sentence to be hung
VERSE 2
Th first step that he took on th ladder
His dear ole Mother was standing by
Come here, come here, my dear ole Mother
One word to you before I die
VERSE 3
He threw his arms around his Mother
A weeping, o, so bitterly
O, how I hate to leave you Mother
No one one earth can tell but me
VERSE 4
Th next step that he took on th ladder
His belov-ed sister was standing by
Come here, come here, my beloved sister
One word to you before I die
VERSE 5
He took a ring from off his finger
An wrapped it in a napkin fine
Take this, take this, my beloved sister
An' seal it constan'ly in your mind
VERSE 6
O, where's my true-love, O ain't she coming
O, what does detain her so long from me
Or does she think, that it would disgrace her
For to see me die on th gallows tree
VERSE 7
Then lookin' 'round, he saw her coming
A riding more swiftly than anyone
She lit from off of'er tired pony
All robed and dressed in collins fine
VERSE 8
O, hang him, hang him, cried th she-riff
Th good ole Judge was standing by
Stand back, stand back, you false prosecuetors
I'll show you that he's not to die
VERSE 9
Come down, come down, from th dreared gallows
I have your pardon from George, th King
We'll show them that we'll be united
I'll wed my darling at the Bowen Spring