Thirteen Turns

Some walk miles to seek me out
To take away their ills, their pain
But now they walk to Gallows Hill
To see me hang in wind and rain

That woman with the bright blue eyes
Hate and fear upon her face
I helped to birth her only son
She clutches now in fierce embrace

Take her to the Gallows Hill
Through mud and rain and evening chill
Fold the rope with double bite
Thirteen turns now, make it tight

Walk her barefoot up the track
Below the storm clouds swelling black
Fold the rope with double bite
Thirteen turns now, make it tight

That boy with the unruly hair
Last month a fever gripped him tight
The willow bark I offered
Kept him safe and saw him through the night

Take her to the Gallows Hill
Through mud and rain and evening chill
Fold the rope with double bite
Thirteen turns now, make it tight

Walk her barefoot up the track
Below the storm clouds swelling black
Fold the rope with double bite
Thirteen turns now, make it tight

That man with weather-beaten face
He visited in early spring
Healed aching limbs with snowdrops dried
But now he comes to watch me swing

Take her to the Gallows Hill
Through mud and rain and evening chill
Fold the rope with double bite
Thirteen turns now, make it tight

Walk her barefoot up the track
Below the storm clouds swelling black
Fold the rope with double bite
Thirteen turns now, make it tight

Some walk miles to seek me out
To take away their ills, their pain
But now they walk to Gallows Hill
To see me hang in wind and rain