Oh hangman, stay your hand
Oh stay it for a while
For I think I see my mother coming over yonder stile
Oh mother, have you brought me gold?
Or silver to set me free?
For to save my body from the cold, cold ground
And my neck from the gallows tree
"Oh no, I have not brought you gold,
Or silver to set you free
For to save your body from the cold, cold ground
And your neck from the gallows tree"
Oh the prickle-eye bush
That pricks my heart full sore
And if ever I get out of the prickle-eye bush
Then I never will get in it anymore
Oh hangman, stay your hand
Oh stay it for a while
For I think I see my sister coming over yonder stile
Oh sister, have you brought me gold?
Or silver to set me free?
For to save my body from the cold, cold ground
And my neck from the gallows tree
"Oh no, I have not brought you gold,
Or silver to set you free
For to save your body from the cold, cold ground
And your neck from the gallows tree"
Oh the prickle-eye bush
That pricks my heart full sore
And if ever I get out of the prickle-eye bush
Then I never will get in it anymore
Oh hangman, stay your hand
Oh stay it for a while
For I think I see my own true love coming over yonder stile
Oh true love, have you brought me gold?
Or silver to set me free?
For to save my body from the cold, cold ground
And my neck from the gallows tree
"Oh yes, I have brought you gold,
And silver to set you free
For to save your body from the cold, cold ground
And your neck from the gallows tree"
Oh the prickle-eye bush
That pricks my heart full sore
Oh, and now that I'm out of the prickle-eye bush
Then I never will get in it anymore