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You are watching: Two hangmen hanging from a tree

I can’t tell you as soon as I an initial heard that the Midwestern country-rock ensemble Mason Proffit, yet I am certain that it was after they disbanded in 1973. In 1975, i became aware of your two principal members – The Talbot Bros. (Terry and also John Michael) v the salvation of their first album ~ Mason Proffit. This album was recorded to meet the band"s contract through Warners. The duo’s LP was one of my favorites and I became familiar with their work; however, I could never uncover their an initial album “Wanted . . . Mason Proffit” the was exit on Happy Tiger Records. The Happy Tiger imprint to be wholly own by the paris Tiger Freight Line and was in company from 1969 come 1971. Mason Proffit videotaped two LPs because that Happy Tiger, one because that Ampex Records, and also two new albums because that Warner Brothers. Warners later on re-released the first two Happy Tiger release in 1974 together “Come and Gone.” top top a pilgrimage to Salem, Virginia wherein my tape was booked because that the weekend in 1986, i finally uncovered a copy the “Wanted . . . Mason Proffit.” at an early stage Saturday morning, i headed the end to surrounding downtown Roanoke and found a vintage documents store. The day i walked away with two other collectibles: Dave Mason’s “Alone Together” in vomit-tone fancy vinyl on Blue Thumb and also John and Yoko’s “Unfinished Music No. 2 – Life with the Lions” ~ above Zapple Records. By the way, the ideal cut on the Lennon/Ono LP was title “Two minute of Silence” – which, together you may guess, was 2 minutes of silence. Mason Proffit obtained notoriety throughout the us by touring v “up-and-coming” acts favor John Denver, the Doobie Brothers, Mac Davis, and also Steely Dan. Their first album created the regional hit “Two Hangmen.”
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Terry Talbot cases that the song was banned by the Federal interactions Commission (FCC); however, having studied broadcasting law, I have actually never encountered a reference to the FCC banning any single record release. Return in the Pacifica case, the FCC cited and fined WBAI brand-new York after airing a George Carlin document in the center of the afternoon.I am guessing that individual programmers self-censored this tune throughout the political fee arena that 1969. One various other reason that didn’t end up being a national hit was due to the fact that Happy Tiger wasn’t a major player in the music promotional world.


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Lyrics

As ns rode into Tombstone on mine horse, his surname was MackI experienced what I’ll relate come you, walk on behind my backIt appears the folks to be up-in-arms, a man now had actually to dieFor believing things that didn’t fit, the regulations they"d set asideThe man’s name was “I’m a Freak”; the finest that might seeHe was the executioner, a hangman similar to meI guess: v he’d seen loopholes native working v his ropeHe’d hung the not correct man numerous times, so currently he turned to hopeHe speak to every the human being from his frame in the squareHe told lock of the things he found, but they didn’t seem come careHe stated the laws were obsolete, a adjust they must demandBut the civilization only go away, that couldn"t understandThe marshal’s surname was “Uncle Sam,” he claimed he’d right this wrongHe’d do the hangman shut his mouth, if it took him all day longHe finally arrested Freak, and also then he sent out for meTo hang a other hangman, native a fellow hangman’s treeIt didn’t take them lengthy to shot him in your court of lawHe to be guilty climate of “thinking,” a crime lot worse 보다 allThey sentenced him to die, so his seeds of assumed can’t spreadAnd infect the small children, that’s what the law had actually saidSo the hangin’ day came ‘round, and he walked as much as the nooseI traction the lever, but before he fell I cut him loseThey referred to as it a conspiracy, and also that I had to dieSo come close ours mouths and also kill our minds, castle hung us side-by-sideAnd currently we’re 2 hangmen, hangin’ from a treeThat don’t bother me, at allTwo hangmen, hangin’ from a treeThat don’t stroked nerves me, in ~ all