Name: Gallows Pole/Prickle-Eye-Bush
Duration: P00H04M47S
Description: Leadbelly's 'Gallows Pole' has its origins in the old English folk song 'Prickle Eye Bush'. It is a dark song about the helplessness of a convicted man about to die, and hoping that someone he loved would pay to have his death sentence cancelled. I have always wanted to mash the two together, as the Prickle Eye Bush chorus makes clear that the victim has learned his lesson. Maybe.

Gallows Pole/Prickle-Eye-Bush

by Traditional Graffiti

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about

Leadbelly's 'Gallows Pole' has its origins in the old English folk song 'Prickle Eye Bush'. It is a dark song about the helplessness of a convicted man about to die, and hoping that someone he loved would pay to have his death sentence cancelled. I have always wanted to mash the two together, as the Prickle Eye Bush chorus makes clear that the victim has learned his lesson. Maybe.

lyrics

GALLOWS POLE/PRICKLE-EYE BUSH

Hangman stay your hand
Stay it for a while
I think I see my father coming
Coming over yonder stile.

Father did you bring me silver?
Father did you bring me gold?
Or have you come to watch me hang,
Hanging on the Gallow’s Pole?

No I didn’t bring you silver
Or money to pay your fee.
I just came to watch you hang
Hanging on the Gallow’s Tree

Oh that prickle-eye bush
It pricks my heart full sore
If ever I was out of that prickle-eye bush
I’d never get in it no more

…Mother…

…Brother….

Hangman stay your hand
Stay it for a while
I think I see my true love coming
Coming over yonder stile.

True love did you bring me silver?
True love did you bring me gold?
Or have you come just like the rest,
To see me on the Gallow’s Pole?

Yes I brought you silver
And money to pay your fee.
I could not stand to watch you hang
Hanging on the Gallow’s Tree

Oh that prickle-eye bush
It pricks my heart full sore
If ever I was out of that prickle-eye bush
I’d never get in it no more

credits

released April 10, 2020
Source: Traditional & Leadbelly.
All vocals and instruments; The Pump.

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some rights reserved

about

Traditional Graffiti Sydney, Australia

Formally performing as the Wheeze & Suck Band,
Ian 'The Pump' Macintosh, Johnny 'Red Tips' Milce, and Nigel 'Muddy' Walters formed the Traditional Graffiti Band in 2018 to continue and expand upon the Wheezer's music and performance style. ... more

traditionalgraffiti.com.au

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