They're Hanging Him For Paying His Taxes
Mikal Hrafspa (Mikal the Ram) 
Notes from Mikal: 
This was written to the tune "Nancy Hogan's Goose, and is one of 
the few filks I am guilty of.... 



One verse
and chorus.wav (354K).ra (108K)
RealAudio PlayerEntire Song.wav (1.95M).ra (596K)They're 
Hanging Him For Paying His Taxes is performed by Mikal the Ram 
Please refer to Cantaria's Copyright information

Come gather all ye fellows 
And lift a cup to memory 
Of a common working fellow 
Much the same as you and me 

He was a simple goose-herd 
A poor but happy working man 
When the King's guard came to see him 
And gather taxes in this land 

Chorus 
They've got him in the dungeon 
They say in duty he's been lax 
Oh, they're going to hang the goose-herd 
Because he tried to pay his tax 

When the guards came calling 
The goose-herd said he'd try to pay 
But he hadn't any money 
To send off in the usual way 

So he went out to his goose-pens 
To choose the finest in his herd 
And he told the waiting guardsmen 
He'd like to give the King the bird 

Chorus 

The captain's face was livid 
"You cannot speak so of the king" 
So they took him to the Baron 
To have Peer explain the thing 

But the goose-herd was determined 
He was a man true to his word 
"If I cannot pay in money 
Then I shall give the King the bird" 

Chorus 

Oh the Baron took to shouting 
"A court of nobles should convene 
To keep this peasant quiet 
And keep such rabble from our king" 

So they gathered all the peerage 
But still the man would not be swerved 
"If I cannot pay may taxes 
Then I should give the King the bird" 

Chorus 

They were ready for a lynching 
When in the King's own herald came 
He cried out he had the answer 
Keep silence in the King's own name 

He approached the goose-herd kindly 
"You see you poorly chose your words 
It is not the proper etiquette 
To try to give the King the bird" 

Then the goose-herd seemed to brighten 
As if a light came to his head 
"If I cannot give the king the bird 
I'll give the queen a goose instead" 

Chorus