The Hangin' Tree Songtext

An angry mob had a man in chains They were sure he was to blame A vicious rumor had made the rounds Was soon well known all over town Don't you beg for mercy you'll get none here When you're dead, mister there'll be no tears Guilt and innocence are all the same Long as we've got someone to blame And with each tellin' the story grew The crimes got worse the threat was true "He deserves", they screamed "the hangin' tree For all he's done to you and me" The hangman's rope and the hangin' tree Take away the sins from you and me It's always been that from time to time We've got to have someone to hang so high And the seething crowd chanted his name "By God, let justice be done today" A man rose to ask "what did he do?" The cry went up "let's hang him too"