Strawbs – The Hangman And The Papist (Guitar)
Capo 3
Key
-
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Speed:
1.0x
Chords
[INTRO:] Em
[VERSE 1:]
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 Am D The mayor is giving dinner to the officers and wives Am Em D His eldest son is learning how to fawn Am Em D The barrack block is hushed and tense, the soldiers drawing lots Am Em 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 Am D The full moon casts a cold light on the gloomy prison walls Am Em D The papist walks his cell, he cannot sleep Am Em D He hears the waiting gallows creaking just beyond the door Am Em 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 Am D The colonel reads the sentence which the papist knows by heart Am Em D He has failed to show allegiance to the King Am Em D His crime is thus with god himself, in his name he must hang Am Em 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 Am D The hangman tries to protest, but is ordered to proceed Am Em D His trembling hands begin to take the strain Am Em D His eyes are blind with streaming tears, he cries for all to hear Am Em D "Forgive me god, we hang him in thy name" Am Em D "Forgive me god, we hang him in thy name" Am Em D "Forgive me god, we hang him in thy name" Am Em D "Forgive me god, we hang him in thy name"