The Hangman And The Papist — Strawbs
Chords and lyrics for The Hangman And The Papist by Strawbs (key of G).
Verse 1
Strawbs - The Hangman And The Papist
[INTRO:] Em
Verse 1:
The village square stands quiet with the [G]curfew still in force
The [Am]streets are even clear of dogs and [C]whores
[Em]Like some evil bird of prey the [G]scaffold spreads its wings
The [Am]people build their fires and bolt their [C]doors
The [Am]mayor is giving dinner to the [D]officers and wives
His [Am]eldest son is [Em]learning how to [D]fawn
The [Am]barrack block is hushed and [Em]tense, the [D]soldiers drawing lots
[Am]Who will be the [Em]hangman in the [D]dawn
Verse 2:
The [Em]lot falls on a young man who has [G]served for but a year
His [Am]home is in the village close [C]nearby
He [Em]shivers at the thought of what he's [G]forced to do next day
He [Am]wonders who it is that has to [C]die
The [Am]full moon casts a cold light on the [D]gloomy prison walls
The [Am]papist walks his [Em]cell, he cannot [D]sleep
He [Am]hears the waiting gallows creaking [Em]just beyond the [D]door
He [Am]prays for he has [Em]no more tears to [D]weep
Verse 3:
The [Em]day begins to break, the muffled [G]drums begin to sound
A [Am]crowd begins to gather in the [C]square
The [Em]presence of the hangman in his [G]terrifying mask
Weighs [Am]heavy on the minds of all those [C]there
The [Am]colonel reads the sentence which the [D]papist knows by heart
He has [Am]failed to show [Em]allegiance to the [D]King
His [Am]crime is thus with [Em]god himself, in [D]his name he must hang
The [Am]papist, head [Em]held high, says not a [D]thing
Verse 4:
The [Em]jailer binds his hands and puts the [G]blindfold to his eyes
He [Am]leads him through the door before the [C]crowd
The [Em]hangman sees his victim and the [G]blood drains from his face
He [Am]sees his younger brother standing [C]proud
The [Am]hangman tries to protest, but is [D]ordered to proceed
His [Am]trembling hands [Em]begin to take the [D]strain
His [Am]eyes are blind with [Em]streaming tears, he [D]cries for all to hear
[Am]"Forgive me god, we [Em]hang him in thy [D]name"
[Am]"Forgive me god, we [Em]hang him in thy [D]name"
[Am]"Forgive me god, we [Em]hang him in thy [D]name"
[Am]"Forgive me god, we [Em]hang him in thy [D]name"
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