Odetta~ Gallows Pole

Album- Essential Odetta
Recorded in the early or mid 1960's.
Great singer & guitar player.

This is for Johnny.


Traditional lyrics & chords:

Am
Hangman, hangman slack your rope,

Slack it for a while.
A7 D7
Think I see my father comin',
F7 Am
Ridin' many a mile.

Papa, did you bring me silver ?
Papa, did you bring me gold ?
Did you come to see me hangin'
By the gallows pole ?

Well, I couldn't bring no silver,
I didn't bring no gold.
I come to see you hangin'
By the gallows pole.

Hangman, hangman, slack your rope,
Slack it for a while,
Think I see my mother comin',
Ridin' many a mile, etc.

Hangman, hangman, slack your rope,
Slack it for a while,
Think I see my sweetheart comin',
Ridin' many a mile.

Honey, did you bring me silver?
Honey, did you bring me gold ?
Did you come to see me hangin'
By the gallows pole ?

I brought you silver,
Brought you a little gold,
Didn't come to see you hangin'
By the gallows pole.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• odetta
• folk
• music

[cudleycamerondudley]

cant believe i have never heard odetta's stuff before... Absolutley stunning

[UnAmericanBandstand]

@cudleycamerondudley im so glad you like this! Thank you for listening. Peace & best to ye.

[minaroar]

my guitar teacher was amazed by this when I asked him to teach it to me.

[UnAmericanBandstand]

@minaroar Hehe! AWESOME! Wow....guitar teacher...wish I had one when I was a kid. I learned this just by ear and tryin on my own...somethin like......Dm-Am-E7-Dm.....some­thin like that......thats the old "fashioned" E7 the "two fingered chord. But....works for me. ....wow.....i admire ye. Thank you for listening and enjoyin it. Best to ye. x

[spqrbarlow]

@7mikethebike

Its a folk song. No one stole it.

[9496tull]

I have a folk music record album box set that has her and many others on it. she is great.

[PHJimY]

@rocktenniscat Odetta was to have performed at Obama's inaugeration, but when she passed, Aretha Franklin was asked to take her place.

[Mjollnir50]

@TepidVision I was lucky enough to see it live in 1962...all I can say is, it's doubtful anyone else could play it as she did.

[zappator]

Man, for this video my neighbours below must hate you ! My feet can't stop moving, swinging, dancing, tapping, hitting the ground !

But fuck the neighbours, that's TOO GOOD !

[jm777333]

Respond to this video... Saw it performed live with Odetta and Bill Lee on Bass- film maker-Scott Lee father-saw it twice I believe

The power and dignity of Odetta-outstanding-in Blues, Folk. Gospel and her personal life

[jm777333]

@minaroar You are an idiot

She produced many tributes to leadbelly and this is the finest interpretation of Gallows Pole-Led Zep loved it as well

[minaroar]

@iwantwatermellon most of the guitar riffs are copied, its shocking, they've only been sued 3x, Zep was mostly successful because of John Bonham and Robert Plant, if all the African American originators of those blues riffs were alive they would be sued much more, just an opionion

[ivycompton]

@gnowave

that's a great, insightful reply, gnowave. appreciate it.

[gnowave]

@yourmomsrottencorpse any version you like is the best!