“The Maid Freed from the Gallows” is one of many titles of a centuries-old folk song about a condemned maiden pleading for someone to buy her freedom from the executioner. It was recorded in 1939 as “The Gallis Pole” by folk singer Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter, but the most famous version was the 1970 arrangement of the Fred Gerlach version by English rock band Led Zeppelin, which was titled “Gallows Pole” on the album Led Zeppelin III.
riff :
B --2-0-2---1-3-
G --2-0-2---0-0-
D --2-2-2---2-4-
Hangman, Hangman, hold it a little while
I think I see my friends a commin
G D riff
ridin a many mile
Friends you get a little silver, get a little gold
what did you bring me, my dear friends
G D riff
to keep me from the gallows pole
what did you bring me
G D riff
to keep me from the gallows pole
I couldn't get no silver
couldn't get no gold
you know the way they took that ball
G D riff
to keep you from the gallows pole
A D G D
Hangman, Hangman, hold it a little while
I think I see my brother commin
G D G A G A G A G A
ridin a many mile
Brother you get a little silver, get a little gold
what did you bring me, my brother
to keep me from the gallows pole
brother I brought you some silver
I brought a little gold
Brought a little of everything
to keep you from the gallows pole
Ya I brought you
to keep you from the gallows pole
Hangman, Hangman, turn your head a while
I think I see my sister commin
ridin a many mile mile mile mile
Sister I emplore you take him by the hand
take him to some shady pass and
sit him on the rock of his man
please take him
sit him on the rock of main man man
Hangman, Hangman, on your face a smile
tell me that I'm free to ride
ride for many mile
uh you've got a fine sister
she want my blood to boil
she want my blood to boil in her
to keep you from the gallows pole
Your brother brought me silver
and your sister want my sole
for now I laugh oh so hard
she's swinging on my gallows pole
for now I laugh oh so hard
she's swinging on my gallows pole
swinging on my gallows pole
swinging on my gallows pole
Gallows Pole / When The Levee Breaks.mp3
Daniel — Vocals, Guitar
From the album Earthling Country
by Daniel Brouse