Swinging from the Gallows Pole
The Gallis Pole es una canción folklorica norteamericana que tiene cientos de versiones pero que fue grabada por primera vez en 1939 por Huddie "Leadbelly" Ledbetter aunque es muy probable que la más famosa sea la del grupo inglés Led Zeppelin.
La historia que cuenta la canción es simple. Alguien, a punto de ser ahorcado, le ruega al verdugo que espere, que vendrá alguien con un rescate para salvarlo y aparentemente, está basada en una serie de cantos religiosos llamados The maid freed from the gallows.
En esas primeras versiones, la protagonista es una mujer y todo hace suponer que se la juzga por algún tipo de pecado que es expiado cuando su verdadero amor llega para perdonarla o evitar el castigo; sin embargo, en otras versiones, el protagonista es un hombre y se asocia el tema con los linchamientos de negros, algo común durante la primera mitad del siglo 20. Por lo general, en esas versiones, la historia queda inclonclusa pero en la de Page y Plant se le ha agregado un desenlace trágico. El verdugo recibe el soborno y la hermana del protagonista se le entrega para salvarlo pero, aún así, es ahorcado.
Hangman, hangman, hold it a little while,
I think I see my friends coming, riding a many mile.
friends, you get some silver?
did you get a little gold?
what did you bring me, my dear friends? Keep me from the Gallows Pole.
what did you bring me to keep me from the Gallows Pole?
I couldn't get no silver, I couldn't get no gold,
you know that we're too damn poor to keep you from the Gallows Pole.
hangman, hangman, hold it a little while,
I think I see my brother coming, riding many a mile.
brother, you get me some silver?
did you get a little gold?
what did you bring me, my brother, to keep me from the Gallows Pole?
Brother, I brought you some silver, yeah.
I brought a little gold, I brought a little of everything
to keep you from the Gallows Pole.
yes, I brought you to keep you from the Gallows Pole.
Hangman, hangman, turn your head awhile,
I think I see my sister coming, riding many mile, mile, mile.
sister, I implore you, take him by the hand,
take him to some shady bower, save me from the wrath of this man,
please take him, save me from the wrath of this mad, man.
Hangman, hangman, upon your face a smile,
tell me that I'm free to ride,
ride for many mile, mile, mile.
Oh yes, you got a fine sister, She warmed my blood from cold,
she warmed my blood to boiling hot to keep you from the Gallows Pole,
your brother brought me silver, Your sister warmed my soul,
but now I laugh and pull so hard, see you swinging from the Gallows Pole
But now I laugh and pull so hard, see you swinging from the Gallows Pole
swingin' on the gallows pole!
