Gallows Pole - lyrical meaning
Steve The Lemon Sauer
gallows - a frame usu. of two upright posts and a crossbeam from which
criminals are hanged.
hangman - the executor, who is apparently easily bribed.
Friend comes, has nothing to offer hangman because he is "too damn poor."
Brother comes, brings a little silver, a little gold (oughta be a pocketful of
gold... Acopulco gold!), a little of everything to keep criminal from swinging
on the gallows pole. Yes, to keep him from the gallows pole.
And that's apparently not good enough for the greedy hangman. What is he, a
money hungry Peter Grant all of a sudden? (See
http://members.aol.com/lzhistory/aug.html#18 to see why I make this quirky
metaphor.)
This is about where I'm not sure if I have the story right anymore.
So sister comes. Now apparently she is of a desirable appearance and criminal
figures, "Well heck, I can live without her. I will offer her to the hangman!
No way he can refuse her!"
And she's up for it. All she has to do is keep the hangman occupied until the
criminal can split town; then she can vamoose as well if she's not really
interested in sticking around with hangman permanently.
Well, I figure it is hangman who says, "Yes, you got a fine sister." But he
sees the plan and says, "You know if I let you [criminal] go and take her, and
if the [powers that be] ever find out that I didn't do my job [and execute
you], then it'll be my ass swinging on the gallows pole!"
So instead, what hangman does is kill her for not caring about him. And now
hangman is "laughing for so hard; she is swinging on the gallows pole."
Okay, that's the Led Zeppelin version. Then in Page/Plant's, birthday boy
Percy throws on another couple lines. What's "See-saw, knock on my door"?
Bushed from a day of recording with my band,
Steve "The Lemon" Sauer
http://members.aol.com/lemon43800
Frank Miller
attempts to "buy" his freedom by paying off the hangman.
First he asks his friends, who have nothing to offer.
He then asks his brother, who brings "a little of everything". The hangman
takes the riches and still decides to go through with the execution.
Then the guy begs his sister to have sex with the hangman in an attempt to
win his freedom. "Sister I emplore you, take him by the hand. Take him to
some shady bough, Save me from the wrath of this man."
The hangman accepts all that the guy has to offer and goes through with the
execution anyway. "Now I laugh, oh so hard, see you swinging from the
gallows pole."
It is a simple story of a desperate man trying, and failing, to buy his
freedom.
As Robert says so many times the song has its roots in the Mississippi delta
where persecution and murder of blacks has a very real history. One could
easily imagine a black man being treated in such a way by a bunch of KKK
members 150 years ago. Hell, 30 years ago.
Of course Roberts version of the tale has a Celtic ring to it. Persecution
of lower class citizens is emblazoned in Celtic history as well. I know
Braveheart was a movie, but I believe it was a fairly accurate depiction of
Scottish history. The citizens of this country, persecuted and murdered by
the British nobles. I can see just such a scene, as described in the song,
taking place.
A bit rambling, but my take on the lyrical content of the song.
By the way, its great fun to play on the guitar too.
Frank
Steve The Lemon Sauer wrote in message
<19990820015458...@ng-cb1.aol.com>...
Simon and Robyn Fisher
In article <3rav3.470$r6.1...@typhoon.nyroc.rr.com>, "Frank Miller"
<fmil...@nycap.rr.com> wrote:
<selectively snipped...>
>Of course Roberts version of the tale has a Celtic ring to it.
"Gallows Pole" actually originated in England; it's a traditional folk song
that made its way across the Atlantic. In the original, the felon is saved
by his/her true love (who has enough gold and silver).
>I know Braveheart was a movie, but I believe it was a fairly accurate
depiction of
>Scottish history.
In look and feel only; Mel took more than a few liberties with Scottish
history!
>By the way, its great fun to play on the guitar too.
Couldn't agree with you more!
Cheers,
Simon
Hippiewitch
12 string, too. Until it gets to the faster part-haven't figured that out
yet. And, about it coming from the Delta but having Celtic roots, lots of
American music is like that. White people brought it over from the isles,
and some of it got mixed in with the slave spirituals, thus resulting in
some wonderful "new" stuff!
Hippiewitch
Frank Miller wrote in message <3rav3.470$r6.1...@typhoon.nyroc.rr.com>...
>The premise of the song Gallows Pole is that a man is to be executed and he
>attempts to "buy" his freedom by paying off the hangman.
>First he asks his friends, who have nothing to offer.
>He then asks his brother, who brings "a little of everything". The hangman
>takes the riches and still decides to go through with the execution.
>Then the guy begs his sister to have sex with the hangman in an attempt to
>win his freedom. "Sister I emplore you, take him by the hand. Take him to
>some shady bough, Save me from the wrath of this man."
>The hangman accepts all that the guy has to offer and goes through with the
>execution anyway. "Now I laugh, oh so hard, see you swinging from the
>gallows pole."
>
>It is a simple story of a desperate man trying, and failing, to buy his
>freedom.
>As Robert says so many times the song has its roots in the Mississippi
delta
>where persecution and murder of blacks has a very real history. One could
>easily imagine a black man being treated in such a way by a bunch of KKK
>members 150 years ago. Hell, 30 years ago.
>Of course Roberts version of the tale has a Celtic ring to it. Persecution
>of lower class citizens is emblazoned in Celtic history as well. I know
>Braveheart was a movie, but I believe it was a fairly accurate depiction of
>Scottish history. The citizens of this country, persecuted and murdered by
>the British nobles. I can see just such a scene, as described in the song,
>taking place.
>
>A bit rambling, but my take on the lyrical content of the song.
>By the way, its great fun to play on the guitar too.
>
DJMangin
>12 string, too.
That would be cool. I've been mulling over getting an autoharp for the kids (I
remember how fun it was is grade school) since they aren't too spendy...>Until
it gets to the faster part-haven't figured that out
>yet.
There I'd recommend getting the sheet music, since they usually have the "easy
guitar chords" above the notation.
Ariel Jordon
assemblies... wow, what a neat flashback. Robert E. Lamberton Elementary
School. I can even "smell" the playdough smelling halls in my 'mind's
nose'......., if that makes sense....:)Ariel)
kingBenny
kB
Club Led
And, about it coming from the Delta but having Celtic roots, lots of
> American music is like that. White people brought it over from the isles,
> and some of it got mixed in with the slave spirituals, thus resulting in
> some wonderful "new" stuff!
And some British folk brought some Delta music over to the Isles and
some of it got mixed up and came out as some heavy heavy shit and made
Rock history. :)
Clubby
guest
>>>Okay, that's the Led Zeppelin version. Then in Page/Plant's, birthday
boy
>>>Percy throws on another couple lines. What's "See-saw, knock on my
door"?
It's a traditional English nursery rhyme. This also expklains the 'Margery
Daw' reference.
Paul Sandars.Born three streets from Perce in West Bromwich, England.
"I've got those West Bromwich blues...." [Whole Lotta Love, BBC Sessions].
Christie Reimer
wrote:
>Steve "The Lemon" Sauer wrote
>
>>>>Okay, that's the Led Zeppelin version. Then in Page/Plant's, birthday
>boy
>>>>Percy throws on another couple lines. What's "See-saw, knock on my
>door"?
>
>It's a traditional English nursery rhyme. This also expklains the 'Margery
>Daw' reference.
>
>Paul Sandars.Born three streets from Perce in West Bromwich, England.
Well, don't be a "guest," Paul! Share with us your tales of English
life, and welcome!
"C"