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"The Maid Freed from the Gallows" is one of many titles of a centuries-old folk song about a condemned maiden pleading for someone to buy her freedom from the executioner. In the collection of ballads compiled by Francis James Child in the late 19th century, it is indexed as Child Ballad number 95; 11 variants, some fragmentary, are indexed as 95A to 95K. In the Roud Folk Song Index it is number 144. The ballad exists in a number of folkloric variants, from many different countries, and has been remade in a variety of formats. For example, it was recorded in 1939 as "The Gallis Pole" by folk singer Huddie "Lead Belly" Ledbetter, and - the most famous version - in 1970 as "Gallows Pole", an arrangement of the Fred Gerlach version by English rock band Led Zeppelin, on the album ''Led Zeppelin III''. ==Synopsis== There are many versions, all of which recount a similar story. A maiden (a young unmarried woman) or man is about to be hanged (in many variants, for unknown reasons) pleads with the hangman, or judge, to wait for the arrival of someone who may bribe him. Typically, the first person (or people) to arrive, who may include the condemned person's parent or sibling, has brought nothing and often has come to see them hanged. The last person to arrive, often their true love, has brought the gold, silver, or some other valuable to save them.〔 Although the traditional versions do not resolve the fate of the condemned one way or the other, it may be presumed that the bribe would succeed. Depending on the version, the condemned may curse all those who failed them. The typical refrain is: :"Hangman, hangman, hangman / slack your rope awhile. :I think I see my father / ridin’ many a mile. :Father, did you bring any silver? / father, did you bring any gold, :Or did you come to see me / hangin’ from the gallows pole?" :"No, I didn’t bring any silver, / no I didn’t bring any gold. :I just come to see you / hangin’ from the gallows pole." It has been suggested that the reference to "gold" may not mean actual gold for a bribe, but may instead stand for the symbolic restoration of condemned person's honor, perhaps by proving their innocence, honesty, or fidelity, or the maiden's virginity.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Steeleye Span - Time )〕〔(【引用サイトリンク】title= The Prickilie Bush )〕 Such an interpretation would explain why a number of the song's variations have the condemned person asking whether the visitors have brought gold ''or'' paid the fee. In at least one version the reply is: "I haven't brought you gold / But I have paid your fee." The song is also known as "The Prickly Bush", a title derived from the oft-used refrain lamenting the maiden's situation by likening it to being caught in a briery bush, which prickles her heart. In versions carrying this theme, the typical refrain may add: :O the prickly bush, the prickly bush, :It pricked my heart full sore; :If ever I get out of the prickly bush, :I'll never get in any more. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「The Maid Freed from the Gallows」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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