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