4:22
Hang Me, Oh Hang Me, 2007
Traditional
This Saskatoon country-rock band is clearly influenced by Gram Parsons, Son Volt, and traditional country bluegrass. This song is a cover made famous by Dave Van Ronk, that came to more prominence when Oscar Isaak sang it in Inside Llewyn Davis. Some sites claim the song is a Van Ronk original, but this site says it's much older, and points to a 1961 recording by one Sam Hinton. Anyhoo, this is the lament of a world-weary gambler or outlaw. "Hang me, oh hang me / So I'll be dead and gone / I wouldn't mind the hanging, boys / I'll be waiting 'round here too long." The guitar, harmonies, and drums are all pure alt-country sound. The band puts their own spin on the lyrics, using fragments of the old ones and some apparently new. I love the guitar work, but the whole band is masterful here. I always like to see the new young bucks (never you mind that this came out 18 years ago; I'm old) breathe new life into the traditional tunes.