The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #4760 Message #1344365
Posted By: EBarnacle
01-Dec-04 - 10:41 AM
Thread Name: Origins: Sam Hall
Subject: RE: Origins: Sam Hall
Re: the content about this song following the form of Captain Kidd.
This format seems to be a standard format for hanging ballads. It could even be considered a "zipper" format in which the printer would fill in the name of the felon with a few details about the crime, be it great or small, about the felons remorse [or lack of it] and be hawking it on the hill as the felon went to his reward.
I believe that the attraction of "Sam Hall" is his lack of repentance, the fact that, unlike "Hangman, Hangman, slack your rope," there is no rescue at the end and the pseudo-commonness of its style.