Gallows Pole

Alt. title : Gallis Pole

This is based on an old Blues song called "Gallis Pole," which was popularized by Leadbelly (1948). The song is considered "Traditional," meaning the author is unknown. It's really a traditional American song that may date back to the 18th Century. A case of true love being stronger than blood. Its been covered on Led Zeppelin III (1970) and also on Jimmy Page and Rober Plant's No Quarter(1994).

This song is a rare one that speeds up as it goes along, a technique Jimmy Page also used on "Stairway To Heaven." In 1994, Page and Plant re-recorded this in Wales for their album No Quarter. On that version, Page played a hurdy-gurdy, an odd instrument resembling an organ grinder that sounds like a bagpipe. They also had a singer called Najma Akhtar who contributed to the background vocals.

Leadbelley

The song is based on Leadbelly's version (via Fred Gerlach) of a song that used to be widespread in the English-speaking world.

Leadbelley and Fred Gerlach are known as the kings of the twelve string guitar.

Huddie Ledbetter was one of the most widely known of all the blues (folk-artists) in North America. He had many paths in life - songster, teller-of-tales, musician, convict, blues artist, brawler, womaniser, murderer, chauffeur, labourer were just some of them.

Huddie William Ledbetter was born on the Jeter Plantation, near Mooringsport, Louisiana on January 21, 1885 and died December 6, 1949 from a muscular-deteriorating disease. He never saw any commercial success during his lifetime but after his death several of his songs became popular hits.. "The Midnight Special", "Goodnight Irene", "Cotton Fields", "Rock Island Line", to mention a few.

Some folks are born to make music. Others are born to fight. Apparently an African American blues singer who went by the odd name of “Leadbelly”, was born to do both -- and the latter was almost his undoing.

Once Leadbelly was convicted of murder. He served his time. Then he was tried and convicted of attempted murder and went right back into prison. In fact, Leadbelly spent much of his life in jail. While he was in the Louisiana State Prison, he met folklorist John Lomax who was traveling through the South collecting folk music. Lomax used his influence to get the prisoner an early release. Then, some time later, Leadbelly tried to kill Lomax, too.

Yet, in spite of his pugnacious and sometimes violent personality, Leadbelly achieved great success, not only as a blues performer but as a songwriter as well.

Gallows Pole

(Different ending's in two versions)

It documents the events of a person about to be hung and having friends and relatives arrive to try to either see the execution or have brought money to try to buy their freedom. The lyrics are about a man trying to delay his hanging until his friends and family can rescue him.

In the version by Leadbelly the ending is left open and suggests that the man was saved by the hangman when his true-love came to him with silver and gold. A case of true love being stronger than blood.

Oh hangman hangman slack your rope, slack it for a while
I think I see my father coming, riding many a mile
Oh Father did you bring me silver, Father did you bring me gold
Or did you come to see me hang, hang from the gallows pole?
Hang from the gallows pole
No, I didn't bring you silver, I didn't bring you gold
And I have come for to see you hang, hang from the gallows pole
Hang from the gallows pole

Oh hangman hangman slack your rope, slack it for a while
I think I see my mother coming, riding many a mile
Oh Mother did you bring me silver, Mother did you bring me gold
Or did you come to see me hang, hang from the gallows pole?
Hang from the gallows pole
No, I didn't bring you silver, I didn't bring you gold
And I have come for to see you hang, hang from the gallows pole
Hang from the gallows pole

Oh hangman hangman slack your rope, slack it for a while
I think I see my brother coming, riding many a mile
Oh Brother did you bring me silver, Brother did you bring me gold
Or did you come for to see me hang, hang from the gallows pole?
Hang from the gallows pole
No, I didn't bring you silver, I didn't bring you gold
And I have come for to see you hang, hang from the gallows pole
Hang from the gallows pole

Oh hangman hangman slack your rope, slack it for a while
I think I see my true love coming, riding many a mile
True love did you bring me silver, true love did you bring me gold
Or did you come for to see me hang, hang from the gallows pole?
Hang from the gallows pole
Yes, I have brought you silver, and I have brought you gold
I did no t come for to see you hang, hang from the gallows pole
Hang from the gallows pole

In the version by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant the story takes a completely different turn. The man implores his sister to whore herself away to the hangman. They probably have sex and he thinks that he is saved, but the hangman anyway goes ahead and pulls the noose.

Hangman, hangman, hold it a little while,
Think I see my friends coming,Riding a many mile.
Friends, did you get a little silver?Did you get a little gold?
What did you bring me, my dear friends,To keep me from the Gallows Pole?
What did you bring me to keep me from the Gallows Pole?

I couldn't get no silver, I couldn't get no gold,
You know that we're too damn poor
To keep you from the Gallows Pole.

Hangman, hangman, hold it a little while,
I think I see my brother coming,
Riding a many mile.
Brother, did you get me some silver?
Did you get a little gold?
What did you bring me, my brother,
To keep me from the Gallows Pole?

Brother, I brought you some silver,
I brought a little gold,
I brought a little of ev'ry thing
To keep you from the Gallows Pole.
Yes, I brought you to keep you from the Gallows Pole.

Hangman, hangman, turn your head a while,
I think I see my sister coming,
Riding a many mile, mile, mile, mile, mile.
Sister, I implore you, take him by the hand,
Take him to some shady bower,
Save me from the wrath of this man,
Please take him,Save me from the wrath of this man, man.
Hangman, hangman, upon your face a smile,
Pray tell me that I'm free to ride,
Ride for many mile, mile, mile.

Oh, yes, you got a fine sister,
She warmed my blood from cold,
Brought my face to boiling hot
To keep you from the Gallows Pole,
Your brother brought me silver,
Your sister warmed my soul,
But now I laugh and pull so hard
And see you swinging on the Gallows Pole