Hangman, put that rope away
Will you give me till the break of day?
Heaven help me for the fate I chose
Down where the old oak grows
Mama met me at the door that night
She said, "There's blood on your hands and your face is all white"
"Don't ask me, Mama - nobody knows
What went down where the old oak grows"
Where the old oak grows at the bend in the river
One dark night there was a breach of trust (tale of lust)
Mama, don't weep for me
It's an eye for an eye and dust to dust
See those people, they are gathered around
There's a man lyin' dead on the ground
"Where'd they find him?" "You don't want to know"
"Tell me - not down where the old oak grows"
Well, he held me down and he had his way
He said there'd be no wedding day
In a flash of anger I pulled my knife
God forgive me, I took his life
Hear the wagon wheels rollin' at dawn
Six white horses come to carry me on
Say a little prayer for the fate I chose
And bury me down where the old oak grows