THE MAN THEY COULD NOT HANG
As recorded by Matt McGinn on “Take Me Back to the Jungle”

CHORUS: There was an old hangman in Exeter, and a fine old hangman was he.
He had hanged a thousand or more But he couldn’t hang John Lee, John Lee!
No, he couldn’t hang John Lee.

1. Emma Keyse of Babbacombe was rich as rich can be.
She had servants in her home And one was Johnny Lee, John Lee!
And one was Johnny Lee.

2. Johnny Lee was a bad, bad man; so the story said,
So they threw him in the local can when they found old Emma dead, so dead!
They found old Emma dead.

3. The judge he listened unto the cons; then he heard the pros,
And it was clear that Johnny Lee had fewer friends than foes, than foes!
Fewer friends than foes. CHORUS

4. The Judge picked up his old black cap and he looked John in the eye.
Said: “It falls on me to sentence thee to be hanged until ye die, ye die!
Hanged until ye die.

5. James Berry was the hangman’s name and it filled his heart with glee
When they placed into his gentle hands the prisoner Johnny Lee, John Lee!
The prisoner Johnny Lee.

6. He led him to the scaffold high and then to John, says he:
“One last request I’ll grant to you.” “Close your trap!” says Johnny Lee, John Lee!
“Close your trap!” says Johnny Lee. CHORUS

7. James Berry pulled the lever down to send John Lee below.
Then he began to curse and frown when John Lee would not go, not go!
When John Lee would not go.

8. Again and then again he tried; again and again he failed.
Then word came down from London town John Lee for a life in jail, in jail!
John Lee for a life in jail. CHORUS

9. ’Twas back in 1885, they tried to hang John Lee.
In 1917, he sailed for far Amerikee, did he!
For far Amerikee.

10. There he went and died in bed, in 1933:
“Here lies the man they could not hang, and his name was Johnny Lee, John Lee!
And his name was Johnny Lee.” CHORUS

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Babbacombe_Lee]