Lyrics Richard Thompson

Richard Thompson

Poor Will And The Jolly Hangman

Won’t you rise for the hangman

His pleasure is that you should rise

He’s the judge and the jury

At the jester’s assize

Poor Will on the gallows tree

Never a cruel word did say

Oh that a young man

Should be treated this way

Run to me mother of anyone’s child

And tell me the revelry planned

Judges and barristers, clerks at the law

His show is the best in the land

Here’s a toast to the Jolly Hangman

He’ll hang you the best that he can

Here’s a toast to the Jolly

No purse for a champion

No true love come over the stile

The debt of a poor man

He’ll pay in awhile

Poor ladies, poor gentleman

Born of a sorry degree

Will you laugh for the hangman

When he comes for his fee?

Run to me mother of anyone’s child

And tell me the revelry planned

Judges and barristers, clerks at the law

His show is the best in the land

Here’s a toast to the Jolly Hangman

He’ll hang you the best that he can

Here’s a toast to the Jolly

Rise for the hangman

His pleasure is that you should rise

He’s the judge and the jury

At the jester's assize