The Hangman And The Papist

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