Hangman

Is there a connection between the Queen and Led Zepp versions of "Hangman"?
As far as I know - the Queen vesion was not an original - but a cover version, so if not Leddie - who?

(Unless you have heard the Queen version - there's no point in replying!)

If I can recall, i read it somewhere and got quite giddy. You mean there is nothing to be giddy about?

This is weird - the topic should be "Hangman" - see above, but it registers as "No Subject".

I have no idea about the above reply though! It looks like an answer to another thread!

Even weirder - it registers "Hangman" now! - WEIRD!

John S Stuart wrote:

Is there a connection between the Queen and Led Zepp versions of "Hangman"?
As far as I know - the Queen vesion was not an original - but a cover version, so if not Leddie - who?

(Unless you have heard the Queen version - there's no point in replying!)

I read somewhere that Queen's Hangman was a Wreckage song by Freddie. I've never heard Led Zep's Hangman btw...

It's actually 'Gallows Pole' from Led Zeppelin III, and there is no connection, from what I understand. Queen's chorus of 'Hangman' goes:

"Hangman, hangman, waiting for me
Hang that rope from the highest tree
I don't want to beg for mercy
Hangman, hangman, hangman, I tell you"

But Led Zeppelin's is:

"Hangman, hangman, hold it a little while,
Think I see my friends coming, riding a-many mile."

Perhaps Freddie and Brian, who reportedly wrote the song, were trying to model it after Led Zep's arrangement of Leadbelly's original?

[ Wybren™ ]: "I read somewhere that Queen's Hangman was a Wreckage song by Freddie".

Yes, that is indeed true, but it was a cover version and not an original Mercury composition. Remember Brain May was not in "Wreckage", both he and Roger were really involved with Smile at the time, so it's difficult to see how (but not impossible) it could be a Mercury/May collaboration.

Lester: You are also correct it is "Gallows Pole", but in my mind I was thinking about the line:

"Hangman, hangman, hold it a little while,
Think I see my friends coming, riding a-many mile."

You are also correct regarding the Queen lyric:

"Hangman, hangman, waiting for me
Hang that rope from the highest tree
I don't want to beg for mercy
Hangman, hangman, hangman, I tell you"

So if not connected - they may stem from the same root. I really like your idea though perhaps they
"were trying to model it after... Leadbelly's original?". Unfortunately, I have never heard the Leadbelly version. Do you think this could be the root for both?

John S Stuart wrote:

Yes, that is indeed true, but it was a cover version and not an original Mercury composition. Remember Brian May was not in "Wreckage", both he and Roger were really involved with Smile at the time, so it's difficult to see how (but not impossible) it could be a Mercury/May collaboration.

Remember also that 'Stone Cold Crazy' was originally a Wreckage song, but was eventually credited to May/Mercury/Taylor/Deacon. It's possible, then, that it was originally a Mercury restructuring that Brian later contributed to. It's all speculation, but not out of the question.

I really like your idea though perhaps they "were trying to model it after... Leadbelly's original?". Unfortunately, I have never heard the Leadbelly version. Do you think this could be the root for both?

I, too, have never heard the Leadbelly version either, but it's not entirely out of the question. Keep in mind that Brian restructured 'See What A Fool I've Been' based on a Brownie McGhee and Sonny Terry song, yet he still received the actual credit. This could very likely be the case for 'Hangman', as well.

Peter Hince (aka Ratty) confirmed that Freddie wrote Hangman

It doesn sound very Freddie... Atleast that's what I've always thought (since the first time I heard it anyhow).

heh, I love it. So full of information you are :)

I'm good for something around here!

Actually it is very Freddie-esque in the context of the era. Keep in mind that he wrote it in late 60s or early 70s. Before he composed piano ballads and musichall influenced tracks, he was basically a hard rock / heavy metal composer (Ogre Battle, Liar...)

sounds like Fred borrowed the theme. He did like LED ZEP after all.

First, to follow Sebastian: according to Brian himself he wrote the music and Freddie wrote the words (handwritten letter for proof!)

Second: I have the Leadbelly song (which is indeed called 'Gallows Pole'. It very obviously was an influence to the Zepp song with the same name. But I hear no resembalce whatsoever with Queen's Hangman...

Cheers

With all respect to Ratty, he came to Queen years after Hangman was written so... he only knows what he maybe was told about it.