Poor Will and the Jolly Hangman
(Richard Thompson & Dave Swarbrick )
All rise for the Hangman, his pleasure is that you should rise
He's the judge and the jury at the jester's assize
Poor Will on the gallows tree never a cruel word did say
Oh that a young man should be treated this way
Ch.: Run to me mother of anyone's child and tell me the revelry plan
He's judges and barristers, court and the law
His show is the best in the land
Here's a toast for the Jolly Hangman
He'll hang you the best that he can
Here's a toast to the Jolly ---
No purse for a champion, no true love come over the stile
The death of a poor man he'll play in a while
Poor ladies, poor gentlemen, born of a sorry degree
Will you laugh for the hangman when he comes for his fee
All rise for the Hangman, his pleasure is that you should rise
He's the judge and the jury at the jester's assize
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copyright Warlock Music
recorded by Fairport Convention for, but not released on, "Full House" (1970)
released on Richard Thompson's "Guitar, Vocal" and live on Fairport's
"Moat On The Ledge" (1981).
"No true love come over the stile" in the second verse is probably a
reference to "The Prickly Bush (The Maid Freed From The Gallows)" (Child 95)
and there's an unconfirmed rumour that "No purse for a champion" refers to
a line in a play by Shakespeare (Hamlet, I think).
MJ
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!