TIM EVANS
(learned in the 1960s at Teton Tea Parties and from Sing Out,-although the melody as I learned it differs slightly from the printed versions)
-it is a true story about a man who was hanged for a murder he did not commit
-but another man later confessed to the murder of Evans' wife)
Tim Evans was a prisoner, fast in his prison cell;
For the murder of his own true wife, and the killin' of his child,
Now Evans pleaded innocent, and swore by Him on high,
They moved him out at nine o'clock to his final flowery dell,
Sometimes they played at draughts with him, or solo and pontoon,
They brought his grub in on a tray, there were eggs and meat and ham,
The governor came in one day, the chaplain by his side,
So Evans walked the prison yard, and the screws they walked behind,
They came for him at eight o'clock, the chaplain said a prayer,
They fixed the rope around his neck, the buckle around his ear,
A thousand lags were cursing and a-banging at the door;
They sent Tim Evans to the drop for a crime he did not do,
(from miriam berg's folksong collection)
And all who heard about his crime, they damned his soul to hell,
Sayin', Go down, ye murderers, go down.
The jury found him guilty, and the hangin' judge, he smiled,
Sayin', Go down, ye murderers, go down.
That he never killed his own dear wife, nor caused his child to die,
Sayin', Go down, ye murderers, go down.
And day and night two screws were there, and never left his cell.
Sayin', Go down, ye murderers, go down.
To keep him from a-brooding on the rope that was his doom.
Sayin', Go down, ye murderers, go down.
And all the snout that he could smoke was there at his command.
Sayin', Go down, ye murderers, go down.
Sayin', Your appeal has been refused, prepare yourself to die,
Sayin', Go down, ye murderers, go down.
And he saw the sky above the wall, and he knew no peace of mind,
Sayin', Go down, ye murderers, go down.
And then they walked him to the place the hangman did prepare.
Sayin', Go down, ye murderers, go down.
The prison bell began to toll, Tim Evans did not hear.
Sayin', Go down, ye murderers, go down.
Tim Evans did not hear them, he was deaf forevermore.
Sayin', Go down, ye murderers, go down.
For Christie was the murderer, and the judge and jury too.
Sayin', Go down, ye murderers, go down.