The Executioner's Song
The neighbouring tyrants in Iran and Syria saw Saddam dragged from the hole in the ground and now they've seen him hanged. That should give them cause to toss and turn in their sleep tonight. As our lullaby, we've chosen Hangman's Blues by Blind Lemon Jefferson, from the Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 3, a series of 78s made for Snapper Records in 1928 in Chicago.
Hangman's rope sho' is tough and strong
Hangman's rope sho' is tough and strong
They gonna hang me because I did something wrong
Mean ole hangman is waitin' to tighten up that noose
Mean ole hangman is waitin' to tighten up that noose
Lord, I'm so scared I'm trembling in my shoesJury heard my case and they said my hands was red
Jury heard my case and they said my hands was red
And judge he sentenced me be hanging till I'm deadCrowd 'round the courthouse and the time is going fast
Crowd 'round the courthouse and the time is going fast
Soon a good-for-nothin' killer is gonna breathe his last
His hands was red all right.
Comments
Dear Eamonn,
isn't this a very simplistic view on the execution of Saddam? Just a case of crime and (capital) punishment like we know it from the old testament or old blues bards? We all agree that Saddam is a criminal, a tyrant. From a practical and political point of view it was the most simple solution for the US and the Iraqi Government. Any other solution would have shown the complexities and the dilemma of the war in Iraq.
Saddam in prison in Iraq? Well, there are enough supporters who could free him!
Saddam in an American prison? This would look as if the Iraqi government was a puppet of the US. A trial at an international court? - A clash of civilizations.
Quite something... And we haven't even touched the discussion yet if capital punishment is a just measure to make someone pay for his crimes! - Probably not!
My 94-year-old father was very moved by the pictures of the execution on the news. He said: Capital punishment is no solution, they should have made him work. My dad had his share of totalitarianism in his life!
Of course we all love these old blues songs. They sound like ancient truth. They send shivers up our middle class spines. But they surely are no answer or piece of comment on the death of Saddam.
Best
Gregor
Posted by: Gregor | January 2, 2007 12:49 PM