Strawbs - The hangman and the papist

^EmThe village square stands quiet with the ^Gcurfew still in force The ^Amstreets are even ^Cclear of dogs and ^Emwhores ^EmLike some evil bird of prey the ^Gscaffold spreads its wings The ^Ampeople build their ^Cfires and bolt their ^Emdoors The ^Ammayor is giving dinner ^Gto the ^Dofficers and wives^{Dsus D} His ^Ameldest son is ^Glearning how to ^Dfawn^{Dsus D} The ^Ambarrack block is hushed and ^Gtense, the ^Dsoldiers drawing lots ^AmWho will be the ^Emhang^Gman in the ^Ddawn ^Am

The ^Emlot falls on a young man who has ^Gserved for but a year His ^Amhome is in the ^Cvillage close near^Emby He ^Emshivers at the thought of what he's ^Gforced to do next day He ^Amwonders who it ^Cis that has to ^Emdie The ^Amfull moon casts a ^Gcold light on the ^Dgloomy prison walls^{Dsus D} The ^Ampapist walks his ^Gcell, he cannot ^Dsleep^{Dsus D} He ^Amhears the waiting gallows creaking ^Gjust beyond the ^Ddoor He ^Amprays for he has ^Emno ^Gmore tears to ^Dweep ^Am

The ^Emday begins to break, the muffled ^Gdrums begin to sound A ^Amcrowd begins to ^Cgather in the ^Emsquare The ^Empresence of the hangman in his ^Gterrifying mask Weighs ^Amheavy on the ^Cminds of all those ^Emthere The ^Amcolonel reads the ^Gsentence which the ^Dpapist knows by heart^{Dsus D} He has ^Amfailed to show al^Glegiance to the ^DKing^{Dsus D} His ^Amcrime is thus with god himself, in ^Ghis name he must ^Dhang The ^Ampapist, head ^Emheld ^Ghigh, says not a ^Dthing ^Am

The ^Emjailer binds his hands and puts the ^Gblindfold to his eyes He l^Ameads him through the ^Cdoor before the ^Emcrowd The ^Emhangman sees his victim and the ^Gblood drains from his face He ^Amsees his younger ^Cbrother standing ^Emproud The ^Amhangman tries to ^Gprotest, but is ^Dordered to proceed^{Dsus D} His ^Amtrembling hands be^Ggin to take the ^Dstrain^{Dsus D} His ^Ameyes are blind with streaming tears, he ^Gcries for all to ^Dhear &quo^Amt;Forgive me god^Em, we ^Ghang him in^D thy name" &quo^Amt;Forgive me god^Em, we ^Ghang him in^D thy name" &quo^Amt;Forgive me god^Em, we ^Ghang him in^D thy name" &quo^Amt;Forgive me god^Em, we ^Ghang him in^D thy name"