This was one of the best and most popular halyard shanties.
Additional verses, hanging anyone that came to mind, would be
added to last as long as the job took. There is speculation that
"Hanging Johnny" may refer to the eighteenth century hangman,
Jack Ketch. In fact "Jack Ketch" was a term used to refer to all
hangman, named after a Jack Ketch who was the executioner at
Tyburn from 1663-1686. The shanty was also said to be sung by
African-American soldiers in the Civil war who were recruited from
the sea islands of the Carolina coast. They added additional verses
dealing with their enlistment in the army.
Lyrics
They call me hanging Johnnie,
Horray, Hooray!
They call me hanging Johnnie,
Hang, boys, hang.
They say I hang for money,
Horray, Hooray!
But saying so is funny;
Hang, boys, hang.
I'd hang the highway robber,
Horray, Hooray!
I'd hang the burglar jobber;
Hang, boys, hang.
I'd hang a noted liar,
Horray, Hooray!
I'd hang a bloated friar;
Hang, boys, hang.
Come hang, come haul together,
Horray, Hooray!
Come hang for finer weather,
Hang, boys, hang.
I'd hang a brutal mother,
Horray, Hooray!
I'd hang her and no other;
Hang, boys, hang.
I'd hang to make things jolly,
Horray, Hooray!
I'd hang all wrong and folly;
Hang, boys, hang.
They call me hanging Johnnie.
Horray, Hooray!
They call me hanging Johnnie,
Hang, boys, hang.
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