The Gallis Pole by Leadbelly

Author eyjolfur88

Tuning: C F A# D# G C

About this tab version

Lyrics and song structure according to version from the album "Leadbelly Vol. 1 1939-1940," with spoken parts removed. Intro from Leadbelly's version, rest of tab as arranged by Mike Russo in his Folk Seattle video recording.

The song structure and lyrics follow Leadbelly's version from the album "Leadbelly Vol. 1 1939-1940,"
with spoken parts removed.

Listen to Leadbelly's recording to hear the rythm and strumming pattern. Most of this tab makes use of Mike
Russo's arrangement of this song from his Folk Seattle recording (his guitar is tuned a halfnote higher 
than Leadbelly's) - see https://youtu.be/rm64F1qItg4?t=8m5s . The intro is based on Leadbelly's version.


[Intro]

 c|-----------------------------0---|---------------------0---0-------|
 G|-------0-----0---------------0---|-------0-----0-------0---0-------|
D#|-1---2-----2-----2---1-------1---|-1---2-----2-----2---------------|
A#|-------------------------2-------|-----0-----------------------2---|
 F|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
 C|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

 c|-----------------------------0---|---------------------------------|
 G|-------0-----0---------------0---|-----0---------------------------|
D#|-1---2-----2-----2---1-------1---|-1-2-----2---1-------------------|
A#|-------------------------2-------|-----------------2---------------|
 F|---------------------------------|---------------------2-----------|
 C|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

 c|---3p2-0---3p2-0-----------------|-----0-0-----------0-------------|
 G|---2---0---2---0-----------------|-----0-0-----------0-------------|
D#|---2-------2---------------------|-----1-1-----------1-------------|
A#|-----------------------------1---|-2-----------1---2---------------|
 F|-0-------0-------0---2-----------|---------2-----------2-----------|
 C|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

 c|---3p2-0---3p2-0-----------------|-----0-0-------------0-0---------|
 G|---2---0---2---0-----------------|-----0-0-------------0-0---------|
D#|---2-------2---------------------|-----1-1-------------1-1---------|
A#|-----------------------------1---|-2-----------1---2-----------1---|
 F|-0-------0-------0---2-----------|---------2---------------2-------|
 C|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

 c|---0-4-0-3/4---0---0-4-0-3/4---0-|-----0-0-------------0-0-----0-0-|
 G|---0-0-0-0-0---0---0-0-0-0-0---0-|-----0-0-------------0-0-----0-0-|
D#|-----4---3/4---------4---3/4-----|-----1-1-------------1-1-----1-1-|
A#|-2-------------------------------|-2-----------1---2---------------|
 F|---------------------------------|---------2---------------2-------|
 C|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|


[Verse 1]

 Father, did you bring me the silver?  Father, did you bring me the gold?
 c|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|
 G|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|
D#|-1-------2---1-------1-1---1-1-1-|-1-------2---1-------1-1---1-1-1-|
A#|-----------------2---------------|-----------------2---------------|
 F|-------------------------2-------|-------------------------2-------|
 C|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

 What did you bring me, dear father?  To keep me from the gallows pole?  Yeah,
 c|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|-----0-0---0---0-----------3p2-0-|
 G|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|-----0-0---0---0-----------2---0-|
D#|-1-------2---1-------------1-1-1-|-1-------2---1-------------2-----|
A#|-----------------2---------------|-----------------2---------------|
 F|-------------------------2-------|---------------------0-----------|
 C|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

           what did you?                 Yeah,          
 c|---3p2-0---3p2-0-----0-0---0---0-|-----------3p2-0---3p2-0---3p2-0-|
 G|---2---0---2---0-----0-0---0---0-|-----------2---0---2---0---2---0-|
D#|---2-------2---------1-1---------|-----------2-------2-------2---0-|
A#|-----------------2-----------1---|-2-------------------------------|
 F|-0-------0---------------2-------|-----0-----------0-------0-------|
 C|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

     what did you?                What did you bring me, keep me from the gallows 
 c|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|-----3-3---3p2-0---3p2-0---3p2-0-|
 G|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|-----2-2---2---0---2-------2-----|
D#|-----1-1-------------1-1---1-1-1-|-----2-2---2-------2-------2-----|
A#|-2-----------1---2---------------|---------------------------------|
 F|---------2---------------2-------|-0-------0-------0-------0-------|
 C|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

   pole?
 c|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|
 G|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|
D#|-----1-1-------------1-1---1-1-1-|
A#|-2-----------1---2---------------|
 F|---------2---------------2-------|
 C|---------------------------------|


[Verse 2]

 Mother, did you bring me the silver?  Mother, did you bring me the gold?
 c|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|
 G|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|
D#|-1-------2---1-------1-1---1-1-1-|-1-------2---1-------1-1---1-1-1-|
A#|-----------------2---------------|-----------------2---------------|
 F|-------------------------2-------|-------------------------2-------|
 C|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

 What did you bring me, dear mother?  Keep me from the gallows pole?  Yeah,
 c|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|-----0-0---0---0-----------3p2-0-|
 G|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|-----0-0---0---0-----------2---0-|
D#|-1-------2---1-------------1-1-1-|-1-------2---1-------------2-----|
A#|-----------------2---------------|-----------------2---------------|
 F|-------------------------2-------|---------------------0-----------|
 C|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

                what did you?           Yeah,
 c|---3p2-0---3p2-0-----0-0---0---0-|-----------3p2-0---3p2-0---3p2-0-|
 G|---2---0---2---0-----0-0---0---0-|-----------2---0---2---0---2---0-|
D#|---2-------2---------1-1---------|-----------2-------2-------2---0-|
A#|-----------------2-----------1---|-2-------------------------------|
 F|-0-------0---------------2-------|-----0-----------0-------0-------|
 C|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

    what did you?                What did you bring me, keep me from the gallows
 c|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|-----3-3---3p2-0---3p2-0---3p2-0-|
 G|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|-----2-2---2---0---2-------2-----|
D#|-----1-1-------------1-1---1-1-1-|-----2-2---2-------2-------2-----|
A#|-2-----------1---2---------------|---------------------------------|
 F|---------2---------------2-------|-0-------0-------0-------0-------|
 C|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

   pole?
 c|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|
 G|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|
D#|-----1-1-------------1-1---1-1-1-|
A#|-2-----------1---2---------------|
 F|---------2---------------2-------|
 C|---------------------------------|


[Verse 3]

   Son, I brought you some silver     Son, I brought you some gold
 c|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|
 G|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|
D#|-1-------2---1-------1-1---1-1-1-|-1-------2---1-------1-1---1-1-1-|
A#|-----------------2---------------|-----------------2---------------|
 F|-------------------------2-------|-------------------------2-------|
 C|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

Son, I brought you a little of everything  Keep you from the gallows pole  Yeah,
 c|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|-----0-0---0---0-----------3p2-0-|
 G|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|-----0-0---0---0-----------2---0-|
D#|-1-------2---1-------------1-1-1-|-1-------2---1-------------2-----|
A#|-----------------2---------------|-----------------2---------------|
 F|-------------------------2-------|---------------------0-----------|
 C|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

                 I brought it           Yeah, 
 c|---3p2-0---3p2-0-----0-0---0---0-|-----------3p2-0---3p2-0---3p2-0-|
 G|---2---0---2---0-----0-0---0---0-|-----------2---0---2---0---2---0-|
D#|---2-------2---------1-1---------|-----------2-------2-------2---0-|
A#|-----------------2-----------1---|-2-------------------------------|
 F|-0-------0---------------2-------|-----0-----------0-------0-------|
 C|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

    I brought it                 I brought you, keep you from the gallows 
 c|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|-----3-3---3p2-0---3p2-0---3p2-0-|
 G|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|-----2-2---2---0---2-------2-----|
D#|-----1-1-------------1-1---1-1-1-|-----2-2---2-------2-------2-----|
A#|-2-----------1---2---------------|---------------------------------|
 F|---------2---------------2-------|-0-------0-------0-------0-------|
 C|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

   pole
 c|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|
 G|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|
D#|-----1-1-------------1-1---1-1-1-|
A#|-2-----------1---2---------------|
 F|---------2---------------2-------|
 C|---------------------------------|


[Verse 4]

 Wife, did you bring me the silver?  Wife, did you bring me the gold?
 c|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|
 G|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|
D#|-1-------2---1-------1-1---1-1-1-|-1-------2---1-------1-1---1-1-1-|
A#|-----------------2---------------|-----------------2---------------|
 F|-------------------------2-------|-------------------------2-------|
 C|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

What did you bring me, dear wifey?  Save me from the gallows pole?  Yeah,
 c|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|-----0-0---0---0-----------3p2-0-|
 G|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|-----0-0---0---0-----------2---0-|
D#|-1-------2---1-------------1-1-1-|-1-------2---1-------------2-----|
A#|-----------------2---------------|-----------------2---------------|
 F|-------------------------2-------|---------------------0-----------|
 C|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

              what did you?              Yeah, 
 c|---3p2-0---3p2-0-----0-0---0---0-|-----------3p2-0---3p2-0---3p2-0-|
 G|---2---0---2---0-----0-0---0---0-|-----------2---0---2---0---2---0-|
D#|---2-------2---------1-1---------|-----------2-------2-------2---0-|
A#|-----------------2-----------1---|-2-------------------------------|
 F|-0-------0---------------2-------|-----0-----------0-------0-------|
 C|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

  what did you?           What did you bring me, keep me from the gallows
 c|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|-----3-3---3p2-0---3p2-0---3p2-0-|
 G|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|-----2-2---2---0---2-------2-----|
D#|-----1-1-------------1-1---1-1-1-|-----2-2---2-------2-------2-----|
A#|-2-----------1---2---------------|---------------------------------|
 F|---------2---------------2-------|-0-------0-------0-------0-------|
 C|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

   pole?
 c|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|
 G|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|
D#|-----1-1-------------1-1---1-1-1-|
A#|-2-----------1---2---------------|
 F|---------2---------------2-------|
 C|---------------------------------|


[Solo]

 c|---0-4-0-3/4-------0-3-0---0-3-0-|---0-4-0-3/4---3/4-0-4-0-3/4---0-|
 G|---0-0-0-0-0---5---0-0-0---0-0-0-|---0-0-0-0-0---0-0-0-0-0-0-0---0-|
D#|-----4---3/4---0-----3-------3---|-----4---3/4---3/4---4---3/4-----|
A#|-2-------------5-----------------|---------------------------------|
 F|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
 C|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

 c|---3p2-0---3p2-0---3p2-0---3p2-0-|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|
 G|---2---0---2---0---2---0---2---0-|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|
D#|---2-------2-------2-------2-----|-----1-1-------------1-1---1-1-1-|
A#|---------------------------------|-2-----------1---2---------------|
 F|-0-------0-------0-------0-------|---------2---------------2-------|
 C|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

 c|---3p2-0---3p2-0---3p2-0---3p2-0-|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|
 G|---2---0---2---0---2---0---2---0-|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|
D#|---2-------2-------2-------2-----|-----1-1-------------1-1---1-1-1-|
A#|---------------------------------|-2-----------1---2---------------|
 F|-0-------0-------0-------0-------|---------2---------------2-------|
 C|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

 c|---0-4-0-3/4---0---0-4-0-3/4---0-|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|
 G|---0-0-0-0-0---0-5-0-0-0-0-0---0-|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|
D#|-----4---3/4-----0---4---3/4-----|-----1-1-------------1-1---1-1-1-|
A#|-2---------------5---------------|-2-----------1---2---------------|
 F|---------------------------------|---------2---------------2-------|
 C|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
   
 c|-----4-0-3/4---3/4p0-3/4p0-3/4p0-|-----4-0-3/4---3/4p0-3/4p0-3/4p0-|
 G|-5---0-0-0-0---0-0p0-0-0p0-0-0p0-|-5---0-0-0-0---0-0p0-0-0p0-0-0p0-|
D#|-0---4---3/4---3/4---3/4p0-3/4p0-|-0---4---3/4---3/4---3/4p0-3/4p0-|
A#|-5-------------------------------|-5-------------------------------|
 F|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
 C|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

 c|---3p2-0---3p2-0---3p2-0---3p2-0-|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|
 G|---2---0---2---0---2---0---2---0-|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|
D#|---2-------2-------2-------2-----|-----1-1-------------1-1---1-1-1-|
A#|---------------------------------|-2-----------1---2---------------|
 F|-0-------0-------0-------0-------|---------2---------------2-------|
 C|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

 c|---3p2-0-----------3p2-0---------|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|
 G|---2---0-2p0-2p0---2---0-2p0-2p0-|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|
D#|---2-----2p0-2p0---2-----2p0-2p0-|-----1-1-------------1-1---1-1-1-|
A#|---------------------------------|-2-----------1---2---------------|
 F|-0---------------0---------------|---------2---------------2-------|
 C|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

 c|---0-4-0-3/4-------0-4-0-3---0---|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|
 G|---0-0-0-0-0---0---0-0-0-0---0---|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|
D#|-----4---3/4---1-----4---3---1---|-----1-1-------------1-1---1-1-1-|
A#|-2-------------2-----------------|-2-----------1---2---------------|
 F|---------------------------------|---------2---------------2-------|
 C|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

 c|-----------------------------0---|---------------------0-----0-0-0-|
 G|-------0-----0---------------0---|-------0-----0-------0-----0-0-0-|
D#|-1---2-----2-----2---1-------1---|-1---2-----2-----2---1-----1-1-1-|
A#|-------------------------2-------|---------------------------------|
 F|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
 C|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

 c|-----------------------------0---|---------------------------3p2-0-|
 G|-------0-----0---------------0---|-----0---------------------2---0-|
D#|-1---2-----2-----2---1-------1---|-1-2-----2---1-------------2-----|
A#|-------------------------2-------|-----------------2---------------|
 F|---------------------------------|---------------------0-----------|
 C|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

 c|---3p2-0---3p2-0-----0-0---0---0-|-----------3p2-0---3p2-0---3p2-0-|
 G|---2---0---2---0-----0-0---0---0-|-----------2---0---2---0---2---0-|
D#|---2-------2---------1-1---------|-----------2-------2-------2-----|
A#|-----------------2-----------1---|-2-------------------------------|
 F|-0-------0---------------2-------|-----0-----------0-------0-------|
 C|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

 c|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|---0-4-0-3/4---0---0-4-0-3/4---0-|
 G|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|---0-0-0-0-0---0---0-0-0-0-0---0-|
D#|-----1-1-------------1-1---1-1-1-|-----4---3/4---------4---3/4-----|
A#|-2-----------1---2---------------|-2-------------------------------|
 F|---------2---------------2-------|---------------------------------|
 C|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

 c|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|
 G|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|
D#|-----1-1-------------1-1---1-1-1-|
A#|-2-----------1---2---------------|
 F|---------2---------------2-------|
 C|---------------------------------|


[Verse 5]

Friends, did you bring me the silver?  Friends, did you bring me the gold?
 c|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|
 G|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|
D#|-1-------2---1-------1-1---1-1-1-|-1-------2---1-------1-1---1-1-1-|
A#|-----------------2---------------|-----------------2---------------|
 F|-------------------------2-------|-------------------------2-------|
 C|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|


What did you bring me, my dear friends?  Keep me from the gallows pole?  Yeah,
 c|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|-----0-0---0---0-----------3p2-0-|
 G|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|-----0-0---0---0-----------2---0-|
D#|-1-------2---1-------------1-1-1-|-1-------2---1-------------2-----|
A#|-----------------2---------------|-----------------2---------------|
 F|-------------------------2-------|---------------------0-----------|
 C|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

              what did you?              Yeah, 
 c|---3p2-0---3p2-0-----0-0---0---0-|-----------3p2-0---3p2-0---3p2-0-|
 G|---2---0---2---0-----0-0---0---0-|-----------2---0---2---0---2---0-|
D#|---2-------2---------1-1---------|-----------2-------2-------2---0-|
A#|-----------------2-----------1---|-2-------------------------------|
 F|-0-------0---------------2-------|-----0-----------0-------0-------|
 C|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

  what did you?           What did you bring me, keep me from the gallows
 c|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|-----3-3---3p2-0---3p2-0---3p2-0-|
 G|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0---0-0-0-|-----2-2---2---0---2-------2-----|
D#|-----1-1-------------1-1---1-1-1-|-----2-2---2-------2-------2-----|
A#|-2-----------1---2---------------|---------------------------------|
 F|---------2---------------2-------|-0-------0-------0-------0-------|
 C|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

   pole?
 c|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0-0-------|
 G|-----0-0---0---0-----0-0-0-------|
D#|-----1-1-------------1-1-1-------|
A#|-2-----------1---2-------2-------|
 F|---------2---------------2-------|
 C|-------------------------0-------|


***********************************
| /   Slide up
| p   Pull-off
***********************************