Strawbs - The hangman and the papist

The village square stands quiet with the ^Gcurfew still in force The ^Amstreets are even clear of dogs and ^Cwhores ^EmLike some evil bird of prey the ^Gscaffold spreads its wings The ^Ampeople build their fires and bolt their ^Cdoors The ^Ammayor is giving dinner to the ^Dofficers and wives His ^Ameldest son is ^Emlearning how to ^Dfawn The ^Ambarrack block is hushed and ^Emtense, the ^Dsoldiers drawing lots ^AmWho will be the ^Emhangman in the ^Ddawn

The ^Emlot falls on a young man who has ^Gserved for but a year His ^Amhome is in the village close near^Cby He ^Emshivers at the thought of what he's ^Gforced to do next day He ^Amwonders who it is that has to ^Cdie The ^Amfull moon casts a cold light on the ^Dgloomy prison walls The ^Ampapist walks his ^Emcell, he cannot ^Dsleep He ^Amhears the waiting gallows creaking ^Emjust beyond the ^Ddoor He ^Amprays for he has ^Emno more tears to ^Dweep

The ^Emday begins to break, the muffled ^Gdrums begin to sound A ^Amcrowd begins to gather in the ^Csquare The ^Empresence of the hangman in his ^Gterrifying mask Weighs ^Amheavy on the minds of all those ^Cthere The ^Amcolonel reads the sentence which the ^Dpapist knows by heart He has ^Amfailed to show al^Emlegiance to the ^DKing His ^Amcrime is thus with ^Emgod himself, in ^Dhis name he must hang The ^Ampapist, head ^Emheld high, says not a ^Dthing

The ^Emjailer binds his hands and puts the ^Gblindfold to his eyes He l^Ameads him through the door before the ^Ccrowd The ^Emhangman sees his victim and the ^Gblood drains from his face He ^Amsees his younger brother standing ^Cproud The ^Amhangman tries to protest, but is ^Dordered to proceed His ^Amtrembling hands be^Emgin to take the ^Dstrain His ^Ameyes are blind with ^Emstreaming tears, he ^Dcries for all to hear "For^Amgive me god, we ^Emhang him in thy ^Dname" "For^Amgive me god, we ^Emhang him in thy ^Dname" "For^Amgive me god, we ^Emhang him in thy ^Dname" "For^Amgive me god, we ^Emhang him in thy ^Dname"