The Hangman and the Papist - The Strawbs -------------------------------------------- Transcribed by Howard Wright howardw (at) jmdl (dot) com To play along with the original, use a Capo at the 2nd fret. Some of the D chords can be replaced with D/F# chords, just to add variety. Similarly, the C chords can be replaced with C/G chords. Intro: ------- Em G Am C Em G Am C Verse: ------- Em G The village square stands quiet with the curfew still in force Am C The streets are even clear of dogs and whores Em G Like some evil bird of prey the scaffold spreads its wings Am C The people build their fires and bolt their doors C D The mayor is giving dinner to the officers and wives Am Em G D His eldest son is learning how to fawn Am Em G D The barrack block is hushed and tense, the soldiers drawing lots Am Em G D Who will be the hangman in the dawn? Verse 2: --------- Em G The lot falls on a young man who has served for but a year Am C His home is in the village close nearby Em G He shivers at the thought of what he's forced to do next day Am C He wonders who it is that has to die C D The full moon casts a cold light on the gloomy prison walls Am Em G D The papist walks his cell he cannot sleep Am Em G D He hears the waiting gallows creaking just beyond the door Am Em G D He prays for he has no more tears to weep Verse 3: ---------- Em G The day begins to break, the muffled drums begin to sound Am C A crowd begins to gather in the square Em G The presence of the hangman in his terrifying mask Am C Weighs heavy on the minds of all those there C D The colonel reads the sentence which the papist knows by heart Am Em G D He has failed to show allegiance to the king Am Em G D His crime is thus with God himself, in his name he must hang Am Em G D The papist, head held high, says not a thing Verse 4: --------- Em G The jailer binds his hands and puts the blindfold to his eyes Am C He leads him through the door before the crowd Em G The hangman sees his victim and the blood drains from his face Am C He sees his younger brother standing proud D The hangman tries to protest but is ordered to proceed Am Em G D His trembling hands begin to take the strain Am Em G D His eyes are blind with streaming tears, he cries for all to hear Am Em G D Forgive me God, we hang him in thy name Am Em G D Forgive me God, we hang him in thy name Am Em G D Forgive me God, we hang him in thy name EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE 022000 320003 x02210 x32010 Em G Am C EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE 332010 xx0232 2x0232 C/G D D/F#