Key: E
Introduction:
Em G
The village square stands quiet with the curfew still in force
Am C Em
The streets are even clear of dogs and whores
Em G
Like some evil bird of prey the scaffold spreads its wings
Am C Em
The people build their fires and bolt their doors
Am G D
The mayor is giving dinner to the officers and wives
Am G D
His eldest son is learning how to fawn
Am G D
The barrack block is hushed and tense, the soldiers drawing lots
Am Em G D Am
Who will be the hangman in the dawn
Em G
The lot falls on a young man who has served for but a year
Am C Em
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 Em
He wonders who it is that has to die
Am G D
The full moon casts a cold light on the gloomy prison walls
Am G D
The papist walks his cell, he cannot sleep
Am G D
He hears the waiting gallows creaking just beyond the door
Am Em G D Am
He prays for he has no more tears to weep
Em G
The day begins to break, the muffled drums begin to sound
Am C Em
A crowd begins to gather in the square
Em G
The presence of the hangman in his terrifying mask
Am C Em
Weighs heavy on the minds of all those there
Am G D
The colonel reads the sentence which the papist knows by heart
Am G D
He has failed to show allegiance to the King
Am G D
His crime is thus with god himself, in his name he must hang
Am Em G D Am
The papist, head held high, says not a thing
Em G
The jailer binds his hands and puts the blindfold to his eyes
Am C Em
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 Em
He sees his younger brother standing proud
Am G D
The hangman tries to protest, but is ordered to proceed
Am G D
His trembling hands begin to take the strain
Am 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"
Am Em G D
"Forgive me god, we hang him in thy name"