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Literary
March 2, 1844
New York Daily Tribune
New York, New York County, New York
What is this article about?
Satirical poem by Thomas Dunn English, from the Irish Citizen, deriding the festive public spectacle of hangings, the law's hypocrisy in committing murder, and the clergy's endorsement of capital punishment as Levitical law.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
From the Irish Citizen.
THE GALLOWS-GOERS
BY THOMAS DUNN ENGLISH,
Up and make ready, we lovers of fun!
Now that the Sheriff has work to be done.
On with your holiday dress and be gay!
Some may go hunting with guns; and a few,
Business with pleasure he mingles to-day.
Rods in their hands, little fish may pursue :
Ours is the sport which is sanctioned by law
We go a hanging, a hanging! Hurrah!"
Two months ago, on a rare, drunken bout,
Liquor which maddened him—yonder's the spot.
As for the place where the liquor he got—
Billy, his comrade, the criminal slew;
Murder's a deed that is vile, without doubt
Sunumy, who keeps it, approves of the law—
Ergo, the law will turn murderer too.
He goes for hanging—for hanging! Hurrah!
Bright shines the sun on the place where you see
Yonder tall gallows substantial and bare;
Wait a few hours and a fellow will be
Gathered in groups at the gallows, behold
Dancing fandangoes of fun in the air.
Parents and children, maids, wives, young and old,
Waiting the time when the halter shall draw—
They go for hanging—for hanging! Hurrah!
Pickpockets plenty are—mark how they go
Business is business, and people must know
Slyly and coolly to work at their trade.
Swearing and fighting and kicking, the crowd
Too much attention to that can't be paid.
Utter their blasphemous curses aloud—
Righteous example is set by the law—
Good comes from hanging—from hanging! Hurrah!
Look at the criminal! please ye to look!
There is the priest with his gown and his book—
Standing beside him the hangman you see;
Thanks to the priests who the hangman befriend.
Galloping gaily they go to the tree.
Choking such knaves as 't were labor to mend.
Hanging, they say, is Levitical law
Cheers for the clergy—they're Christians! Hurrah!
Firmly and proudly the culprit looks round,
Holding his head with a satisfied air:
Murmurs applauding go over the ground—
Down pops the priest with the felon to prayer.
"How interesting his looks are!" says Ann;
"Yes," answers Sal, "and he'll die like a man!"
Elegant talk for young maidens, but—pshaw!
Shout for the hanging—the hanging! Hurrah!
Prayers are all finished, and now for the fun;
Over his features the cap has been drawn;
Ketch and his comrade, the preacher, get down,
Crack! goes the whip, and the wagon moves on.
Wonderful sight for the Christian to see;
Merrily dancing on nothing is he.
Though there's no fiddle a hornpipe to saw,
Light are his leaps—he's a hanging! Hurrah!
After the rope has been severed in twain,
Home go the people, and joyfully sing ;
Heaven will receive whom the gallows has slain—
Does not the clergyman settle the thing?
Home go the people, and talk of it all,
Children in nursery, servants in hall :
Bob hangs the cat in the manner he saw
Hung at the gallows God's image—Hurrah!
Rouse ye, good clergymen, servants of God;
Stand by my side while I fight for your faith;
Hanging preserves us from shedding of blood;
Remedy like it there never was one.
Rally your forces, thump pulpits and be
Clerical guards of the good gallows-tree;
What if our Saviour denounces the law?
You go for hanging—for hanging! Hurrah!
THE GALLOWS-GOERS
BY THOMAS DUNN ENGLISH,
Up and make ready, we lovers of fun!
Now that the Sheriff has work to be done.
On with your holiday dress and be gay!
Some may go hunting with guns; and a few,
Business with pleasure he mingles to-day.
Rods in their hands, little fish may pursue :
Ours is the sport which is sanctioned by law
We go a hanging, a hanging! Hurrah!"
Two months ago, on a rare, drunken bout,
Liquor which maddened him—yonder's the spot.
As for the place where the liquor he got—
Billy, his comrade, the criminal slew;
Murder's a deed that is vile, without doubt
Sunumy, who keeps it, approves of the law—
Ergo, the law will turn murderer too.
He goes for hanging—for hanging! Hurrah!
Bright shines the sun on the place where you see
Yonder tall gallows substantial and bare;
Wait a few hours and a fellow will be
Gathered in groups at the gallows, behold
Dancing fandangoes of fun in the air.
Parents and children, maids, wives, young and old,
Waiting the time when the halter shall draw—
They go for hanging—for hanging! Hurrah!
Pickpockets plenty are—mark how they go
Business is business, and people must know
Slyly and coolly to work at their trade.
Swearing and fighting and kicking, the crowd
Too much attention to that can't be paid.
Utter their blasphemous curses aloud—
Righteous example is set by the law—
Good comes from hanging—from hanging! Hurrah!
Look at the criminal! please ye to look!
There is the priest with his gown and his book—
Standing beside him the hangman you see;
Thanks to the priests who the hangman befriend.
Galloping gaily they go to the tree.
Choking such knaves as 't were labor to mend.
Hanging, they say, is Levitical law
Cheers for the clergy—they're Christians! Hurrah!
Firmly and proudly the culprit looks round,
Holding his head with a satisfied air:
Murmurs applauding go over the ground—
Down pops the priest with the felon to prayer.
"How interesting his looks are!" says Ann;
"Yes," answers Sal, "and he'll die like a man!"
Elegant talk for young maidens, but—pshaw!
Shout for the hanging—the hanging! Hurrah!
Prayers are all finished, and now for the fun;
Over his features the cap has been drawn;
Ketch and his comrade, the preacher, get down,
Crack! goes the whip, and the wagon moves on.
Wonderful sight for the Christian to see;
Merrily dancing on nothing is he.
Though there's no fiddle a hornpipe to saw,
Light are his leaps—he's a hanging! Hurrah!
After the rope has been severed in twain,
Home go the people, and joyfully sing ;
Heaven will receive whom the gallows has slain—
Does not the clergyman settle the thing?
Home go the people, and talk of it all,
Children in nursery, servants in hall :
Bob hangs the cat in the manner he saw
Hung at the gallows God's image—Hurrah!
Rouse ye, good clergymen, servants of God;
Stand by my side while I fight for your faith;
Hanging preserves us from shedding of blood;
Remedy like it there never was one.
Rally your forces, thump pulpits and be
Clerical guards of the good gallows-tree;
What if our Saviour denounces the law?
You go for hanging—for hanging! Hurrah!
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
Poem
What themes does it cover?
Political
Moral Virtue
Religious
What keywords are associated?
Hanging
Gallows
Execution
Satire
Clergy
Law
Murder
Public Spectacle
What entities or persons were involved?
By Thomas Dunn English
Literary Details
Title
The Gallows Goers
Author
By Thomas Dunn English
Key Lines
Up And Make Ready, We Lovers Of Fun!
Now That The Sheriff Has Work To Be Done.
On With Your Holiday Dress And Be Gay!
Some May Go Hunting With Guns; And A Few,
Business With Pleasure He Mingles To Day.
Rods In Their Hands, Little Fish May Pursue :
Ours Is The Sport Which Is Sanctioned By Law
We Go A Hanging, A Hanging! Hurrah!
Ergo, The Law Will Turn Murderer Too.
He Goes For Hanging—For Hanging! Hurrah!
They Go For Hanging—For Hanging! Hurrah!
Good Comes From Hanging—From Hanging! Hurrah!
You Go For Hanging—For Hanging! Hurrah!