Jimmy Driftwood

20 June 1907, Mountain View, Arkansas - 12 July 1998, Fayetteville, Arkansas

Born as James Corbett Morris and was also known as Jimmie Driftwood.

I wouldn't have a single gal, the reason is plain to see,
I cannot find a single gal who hankers after me.
Jimmie Driftwood - I'm Young To Marry

He was an American folk musician, songwriter, teacher and folklorist.

His best known songs included "The Battle of New Orleans". The song, "The Battle of New Orleans", was written, in order to help Jimmy explain to his high school history students that the Battle of New Orleans was fought during the War of 1812 instead of during the Revolutionary War. After he achieved fame as a noted songwriter and performer, Jimmy used his influence to help the rest of America and the world discover the wonder and beauty of Arkansas Folk Culture, particularly in the areas of folk music and folk story telling, and to help preserve the environment.

Driftwood learned to play guitar at a young age on his grandfather's homemade instrument. Driftwood used the unique guitar throughout his career and noted that its neck was made from a fence rail, its sides from an old ox yoke, and the head and bottom from the headboard of a bed. This homemade instrument produced a pleasant distinctive resonant sound. He started writing songs during his teaching career in order to teach his students history in an entertaining manner.

Hear his version of the "Gallows Pole" titled "Slack your rope (Gallows Tree)". It goes like this:

Slack your rope hangman, slack it for a while
I think I see my father comin' ridin' many a mile
Father have you brought me hope or have you paid my fee
Or have you come to see me hangin' from the gallows tree?
I have not brought you hope, I have not paid your fee
Yes I have come to see you hangin' from the gallows tree.

Slack your rope hangman, slack it for a while
I think I see my mother comin' ridin' many a mile
Mother have you brought me hope or have you paid my fee
Or have you come to see me hangin' from the gallows tree?
I have not brought you hope, I have not paid your fee
Yes I have come to see you hangin' from the gallows tree.

Slack your rope hangman, slack it for a while
I think I see my brother comin' ridin' many a mile
Brother have you brought me hope or have you paid my fee
Or have you come to see me hangin' from the gallows tree?
I have not brought you hope, I have not paid your fee
Yes I have come to see you hangin' from the gallows tree.

Slack your rope hangman, slack it for a while
I think I see my true love comin' riding' many a mile
True love have you brought me hope or have you paid my fee
Or have you come to see me hangin' from the gallows tree?
Yes I have brought you hope, yes I have paid your fee
For I've not come to see you hangin' from the gallows tree.

He adapted the words from a fifteenth century British Ballad when any crime could be paid off with money right up to the last step of the gallows. In his version, the criminal is definitely a woman and her lover rides up and pays her fee.

This song seems to be based on a old english ballad, usually called "The Maid Freed from the Gallows" or "The Briery Bush". It documents the events of a person about to be hung and having friends and realatives arrive to try to either see the execution or have brought money to try to buy their freedom.