Into our town the Hangman came
Smelling of gold and blood and flame
And he paced our bricks with a diffident air
And built his frame on the courthouse square
The scaffold stood by the courthouse side
Only as wide as the door was wide
A frame as tall or a little more
Than the capping sill of the courthouse door
And we wondered, we had the time
Who the criminal, what the crime
The Hangman judged with the yellow twist
Of knotted hemp in his busy fist
And innocent though we were with dread
We passed those eyes of buckshot lead
Till one cried, “Hangman, who is he
For whom you raise the gallows tree?”
A twinkle grew in the buckshot eye
He gave us a riddle instead of reply
“He who served me the best,” said he
“Shall earn the rope on the gallows tree”
The next day’s sun looked mildly down
On roof and street in our quiet town
Stark and black in the morning air
The gallows tree on the courthouse square
Other lyrics by Alison Krauss:
Forever
Not all who tire are weary Not all who wander are lost It’s not for me to determine what should be I always keep my fingers crossed Not all who ask seek answers Not …
Granite Mills
In this vain world of trouble, many accidents occur I’m going to sing about one as sad as you ever heard It was in Fall River City, they were all burned up and …
Looks Like The End Of The Road
It’s the end of the circus And I’m feeling sad like a clown My makeup is drowning in Blood, sweat and tears From my heart and I fear that When I look around I …
North Side Gal
I pull a mad scheme all around the north side Chasing a sweet thing, so unsatisfied Every time I try Crazy about a north side gal I got some good talk, but not enough …
One Ray Of Shine
I stand at the backdoor screen This is where I like to lean Trees like a village square Keep me here This is where I rest my head This is where I’ll always be Home …