Hangman, hangman, slack your line a while
I think I see my father coming, riding many miles
Did you bring me a little silver or did you bring me a little gold
What did you bring me, my own father, to keep me from the gallows pole?
“I didn’t bring you no silver, I didn’t bring you no gold
I just came to watch you swinging high up from the gallows pole”

Hangman, hangman, slack your line a while
I think I see my mother coming riding many miles
Did you bring me a little silver or did you bring me a little gold
What did you bring me, my only mother, to keep me from the gallows pole?
“I didn’t bring you no silver, I didn’t bring you no gold
I just came to watch you swinging high up from the gallows pole”

Hangman, hangman, slack your line a while
I think I see my brother coming riding many miles
Did you bring me a little silver or did you me a little gold
What did you bring me, my one brother, to keep me from the gallows pole?
“I brought you a little silver and I brought you a little gold
I brought a little of everything, just to keep you from the gallows pole”

Sundown, sundown, moon on the rise
I think I see the hangman coming, murder in his eyes
I thought I heard a little silver, I thought I heard a little gold
Down in the well of the hangman’s pockets, walking to the gallows pole