Hang Them All

(Tom T. Hall)



"This is a protest song, probably the first one I ever wrote.

It's an interesting song because a lot of (people) took it literally.

And they never heard the last line that says, 'but remember, they're

going to hang you, too'. They missed that."



There's a murderer in your town Mister

There were seven unsolved last year

There's a murderer in your town Mister

How long has he been living here?



If they hang 'em all they get the guilty

If they hang 'em all they cannot miss

If they hang 'em all they get the guilty

Been a lot of problem solved like this.



There's a thief in your town Mister

This morning my milk was gone

There's a thief in your town Mister

How long has this been going on?



If they hang 'em all they get the guilty

If they hang 'em all they cannot miss

If they hang 'em all they get the guilty

Been a lot of problem solved like this.



There's a cheater in your town Mister

Last night I saw him in a bar

There's a cheater in your town Mister

Is that the kind of people you are?



If they hang 'em all they get the guilty

If they hang 'em all they cannot miss

If they hang 'em all they get the guilty

Been a lot of problem solved like this.



There's a hypocrite in your town Mister

I think I caught him in a lie

There's a hypocrite in your town Mister

Are you gonna let that go by?



If they hang 'em all they get the guilty

That's what you say we ought to do

If they hang 'em all they get the guilty

But remember they're gonna hang you too.



If they hang 'em all they get the guilty

If they hang 'em all they cannot miss

If they hang 'em all they get the guilty

Been a lot of problem solved like this...