Chords for Strawbs - Hangman and the Papist (Top of the Pops)

[C] _ _ [Gm] _ _ [F] _ [Gm] _ _ _
[F] _ [Gm] _ _ _ [F] _ _ [Gm] _ _
_ [F] _ _ [Eb] _ _ _ _ [D] _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
[A] _ [Ab] _ _ _ [Gm] _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ The [G] _
_ _ _ village squares [Eb] and choirs with the curfew still in force.
[Ab] The streets are even clearer [Eb] of dogs and whores.
_ [Cm] Like some evil bird afraid of [Eb] scaffolds spreads its wings.
[Ab] The people [Cm] build their fires and bolt their [Ab] doors.
_ The [Cm] mayor is giving dinner to [F] the officers and wives.
[C] His eldest [Gm] son is learning [F] how to form.
_ [Cm] The barrack [Gm] block is hushed and [F] tense, the soldiers drawing lots.
[Cm] Who [Gm] will be the [F] hangman in the door?
_ The _ _ _ [Gm] lot falls on a young man who [Bb] has served for but a year.
[Cm] His home is in the [Eb] village close nearby. _
[Gm] He shivers at the thought of [Bb] what he's forced to do next day.
[Cm] He wonders who it is that [Eb] has to die. _
The full moon casts a [Cm] cold [F] light on the gloomy prison walls.
[C] The baby's [Gm] corpse is dead, he [F] cannot sleep. _
[C] He hears the [Gm] wailing gallows [F] creaking just beyond the door.
[Cm] He prays for [Gm] he has no more [F] tears to [Fm]
[A] weep.
[Fm] _ _ _ [Gm] The day begins to break, the [Bb] muffled rock begins to swell.
[Cm] A crowd begins to gather [Eb] in the square.
_ [Gm] The presence of the hangman [Bb] in his terrifying mask
[Cm] weighs heavy on the minds of [Eb] all those there.
_ _ The colonel reads the [Gm] sentence, [F] with the faith he knows by heart.
[Ab] He has failed to show [Bb] allegiance [F] to the king.
_ [Ab] His crime [Gm] is done with God [F] himself, in his name he must hang.
[C] The baby's [Gm] head held high [F] says not a thing. _ _ _
_ [Gm] A jailer binds his hands and [Bb] puts the blindfold to his eyes.
[Cm] He leans in through the door [Eb] before the crowd. _
[Gm] The hangman sees his victim [Bb] and the blood rains from his face.
[Cm] He sees his younger brother [Eb] standing proud. _
The hangman tries to protest, [F] but is ordered to proceed.
[Cm] His trembling [Gm] hands begin to [F] take the strain. _
[C] His eyes are [Gm] blinded with screaming [F] tears, he cries for all to hear.
[A] Forgive me God, we hang him in thy name.
_ Forgive me [Gm] God, we hang him [F] in thy name.
_ [D] Forgive me [Gm] God, we hang him [F] in thy name. _
[Cm] Forgive me [Gm] God, we hang him [Db] in thy name. _