Digital Tradition Mirror

Go Down, You Murderes

(This score available as ABC, SongWright, PostScript, PNG, or PMW, or a MIDI file)
Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

Go Down, You Murderes
(Ewan MacColl)

Tim Evans was a prisoner fast in his prison cell
And those who read about his crimes, they damn'd his soul to Hell
Saying, "Go down, you murderer, go down!"

For the murder of his own dear wife and the killing of his own child,
The jury found him guilty and the hanging judge he smiled,
Saying, "Go down, you murderer, go down!"

Evans pleaded innocent, and he swore by Him on high,
That he never killed his own dear wife nor caused his wife to die,
Saying, "Go down, you murderer, go down!"

So they moved him out of C block to his final flowery dell
And the day and night two screws were there, and they never left his cell,
Saying, "Go down, you murderer, go down!"

Sometimes they played draughts with him and solo and pontoon
To stop him brooding on the rope that was to be his doom,
Saying, "Go down, you murderer, go down!"

They brought his grub in on a tray, there were eggs and meat and ham
And all the snout that he could smoke was there at his command,
Saying, "Go down, you murderer, go down!"

Evans walked in the prison yard and the screws he walked behind
And he saw the sky above the wall but he knew no peace of mind
Saying, "Go down, you murderer, go down!"

They came for him at eight o'clock and the chaplain read a prayer
And then they walked him to that place where the hangman did prepare,
Saying, "Go down, you murderer, go down!"

The rope was fixed around his neck and a washer behind his ear
And the prison bell was tolling but Tim Evans did not hear,
Saying, "Go down, you murderer, go down!"

A thousand lags were cursing and a-banging at the doors,
Tim Evans did not hear them , he was deaf forevermore,
Saying, "Go down, you murderer, go down!"

They sent Tim Evans to the drop for a crime he did not do,
It was Christie was the murderer, and the judge and jury too,
Saying, "Go down, you murderers, go down!"

Copyright Ewan MacColl
RG
APR99

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!