Ed de Moel

Child Ballads - Lyrics

Child 95
The Maid Freed From the Gallows
Version J

Narrative

1   'Hold up, hold up your hands so high!
Hold up your hands so high!
For I think I see my own father
Coming over yonder stile to me.
2   'Oh father, have you got any gold for me?
Any money for to pay me free?
To keep my body from the cold clay ground,
And my neck from the gallows-tree?'
3   'Oh no, I've got no gold for thee,
No money for to pay thee free,
For I've come to see thee hangd this day,
And hang d thou shalt be.'
4   'Oh the briers, prickly briers,
Come prick my heart so sore;
I ever I get from the gallows-tree,
I'll never get there any more.'
* * * * *
5   'Oh yes, I've got some gold for thee,
Some money for to pay thee free;
I'll save thy body from the cold clay ground,
And thy neck from the gallows-tree.'
6   'Oh the briers, prickly briers,
Don't prick my heart any more;
For now I've got from the gallows'tree
I'll never get there any more.'

This page most recently updated on 05-Mar-2011, 17:40:44.
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