Lyr/Chords Req: Hang Me Oh Hang Me

Subject: Hang Me Oh Hang Me
From:
Date: 15 Mar 01 - 03:30 PM

I know "Hang Me Oh Hang Me" is a morbid sounding "thread" but it is the title of a wonderful traditional song from the late 19th or early 20th century I believe. A great version of it is on Dave Van Ronks "Inside" album. It is also sometimes titled "I've Been All Around The World." And I think Bill Morrisey and Greg Brown did a similar version of this song on thier Friend Of Mine album and titled it something like I May Not Get Out Alive. It's a simple song but there is a chord change in there that i can't quite get, and I'd love a copy of the lyrics as well (although there are many different versions) Can you help me?? Thanks, Jon

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Hang Me Oh Hang Me
From: Dani
Date: 15 Mar 01 - 04:56 PM

Follow this and you'll find the Grateful Dead's version:

http://www.malfalfa.cjb.net/

Dani

Subject: ADD: Hang Me Oh Hang Me
From: Joe Offer
Date: 15 Mar 01 - 06:03 PM

I found a digital copy of the Grateful Dead lyrics, chords, and tab here: (click).
There's a previous thread on the song here (click). I guess it would be a good idea for me to harvest the lyrics and submit them to the Digital Tradition.
-Joe Offer (e-mail sent)-

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Hang Me Oh Hang Me
From: Jim Krause
Date: 16 Mar 01 - 05:38 PM

My favorite version of the song is on the Highwoods Stringband's album "Dance All Night." Sadly, the LP is out of print. But there is a reissue of a bunch of their stuff on a CD titled "Feed Your Babies Onions." Don't know whether or not that "Been All Around This World" is on it. It ought to be, though.
Jim

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Hang Me Oh Hang Me
From: BanjoRay
Date: 16 Mar 01 - 07:42 PM

It is.

Cheers
Ray

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Hang Me Oh Hang Me
From: GUEST,steve vitoff
Date: 09 Dec 13 - 11:23 PM

i have posted my own version with keyboard on youtube. my chords are simply this:

C - Am - F - C
C - Am - F - C
C - Am - C - Am
(…..uhhh and then i go a little crazy here and i do this on 'i been all around the world':)
Eflat - F - C

i guess the conventional chords would be:   F - G - C

check out my version and you'll hear how i slip that Eflat in there!

Subject: Lyr Add: HANG ME, OH, HANG ME (from Dave Van Ronk)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 Dec 13 - 10:01 AM

My transcription from Spotify:

HANG ME, OH, HANG ME
As sung by Dave Van Ronk on "Folksinger" (1967) and "Inside Dave Van Ronk" (1969)

Hang me, oh, hang me; I'll be dead and gone.
Hang me, oh, hang me; I'll be dead and gone.
Wouldn't mind the hangin' but the layin' in the grave so long.
Poor boy, I been all around this world.

I been all around Cape Girardeau,* parts of Arkansas.
All around Cape Girardeau, parts of Arkansas.
Got so god-damn hungry I could hide behind a straw.
Poor boy, I been all around this world.

Went up on the mountain; there I made my stand.
Went up on the mountain; there I made my stand,
Rifle on my shoulder and a dagger in my hand.
Poor boy, I been all around this world.

Hang me, oh, hang me, and I'll be dead and gone.
Hang me, oh, hang me, and I'll be dead and gone.
Wouldn't mind the hangin' but the layin' in the grave so long.
Poor boy, I been all around this world.

Put the rope around my neck, hung me up so high.
Put the rope around my neck, hung me up so high.
Last words I heard 'em say: "Won't be long now 'fore you die."
Poor boy, I been all around this world.

Hang me, oh, hang me, and I'll be dead and gone.
Hang me, oh, hang me; I'll be dead and gone.
Wouldn't mind the hangin' but the layin' in the grave so long.
Poor boy, I been all around this world.

* Cape Girardeau, MO, city on the Mississippi, about 115 miles south of St. Louis, 100 miles north of the Arkansas border. Van Ronk pronounces it "Jerdo" or "Jardo."

Subject: Lyr Add: HANG ME, OH, HANG ME (from Sam Hinton)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 Dec 13 - 10:30 AM

My transcription from Spotify:

HANG ME, OH, HANG ME
As sung by Sam Hinton on "Sam Hinton Sings the Song of Men" (Smithsonian Folkways, 1961)

Hang me, oh, hang me until I'm dead and gone.
Hang me, oh, hang me until I'm dead and gone.
I don't mind your hangin' me; it's layin' in the grave so long.
God knows, I been all around this world.

I been all around Cape Jerdo* and parts of Arkansas.
I been all around Cape Jerdo and through parts of Arkansas.
Got so awful hungry I couldn't work my under-jaw.
God knows, I been all around this world.

Went up on Greenwood Mountain, there to take my stand,
Up on Greenwood Mountain, there to take my stand.
A rifle over my shoulder, had my six-gun in my hand.
God knows, I been all around this world.

My pappy was a gambler; he taught me how to play.
Pappy was a gambler an' he taught me how to play.
Said, "Son, don't you never go a-beggin' when you hold the ace and the trey."
God knows, I been all around this world.

They put the rope around my neck and hung me very high,
Put the rope around my neck and hung me very high.
Very last words that I heard 'em say was "It won't be long till you die.
Poor boy, he's been all around this world."

* Cape Girardeau, MO

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Hang Me Oh Hang Me
From: GUEST,John Foxen
Date: 17 Dec 13 - 12:08 PM

Jody Kruskal and Paul Freidman do a fine version on their Paul and Jody CD called Working On The New Railroad (Hang Me Oh Hang Me).