Tom Dooley

Shaq Jackson8-29-103rd BlockEnglish V Honors

Stanza 1

Hang down your head, Tom Dooley, Hang down your head and cry; Hang down your head, Tom Dooley, Poor boy, you’re bound to die.   Description: In this stanza, the author speaks about Tom

Dooley and how Tom should feel sorry for himself. The author uses words like “poor boy” to express his sorrow for Tom Dooley. He also says “you’re bound to die” to show how Tom is a condemned man.

  Rhyme Scheme: A,B,A,B  

Stanza 2 I met her on the mountain, There I took her life; Met her on the mountain, Stabbed her with my knife.   Description: In this stanza, the author describes the

crime that Tom committed. This is the reason why Tom is a condemned man. In today’s society, he would be on death row.

  Rhyme Scheme: C,D,C,D  

Stanza 3 Hang down your head, Tom Dooley, Hang down your head and cry; Hang down your head, Tom Dooley, Poor boy, you’re bound to die.   Description: This is a refrain back to the first

stanza. It is repeated here to emphasize the fact that he is going to die.

  Rhyme Scheme: A,B,A,B  

Stanza 4

This time tomorrow, Reckon where I’ll be; Hadn’t a-been for Grayson, I’d a-been in Tennessee.   Description: In the stanza, the author explains how he

had other affairs but because of his respect for Tom he is going to the hanging. A man named Grayson told him about it on short notice. The author also uses country dialect like “reckon” and “hadn’t” to show how the country genre of the song.

  Rhyme Scheme: E,G,F,G

Stanza 5 Hang down your head, Tom Dooley, Hang down your head and cry; Hang down your head, Tom Dooley, Poor boy, you’re bound to die.   Description: In this stanza, the author repeats the

first stanza to keep the reader up to date. The authorities still have not hanged Tom yet and the author is telling Tom to get ready.

  Rhyme Scheme: A,B,A,B  

Stanza 6

This time tomorrow, Reckon where I’ll be; Down in some lonesome valley, Hangin’ from a white oak tree.   Description: In this stanza the author uses imagery to give

a description of the setting at the hanging. He uses words like “white oak tree” and “lonesome valley” to show where most hangings were done back in that time period. They haven’t hanged Tom yet but his death is fast approaching.

  Rhyme Scheme: E,G,H,G  

Stanza 7

Hang down your head, Tom Dooley, Hang down your head and cry; Hang down your head, Tom Dooley, Poor boy, you’re bound to die.   Description: In this stanza, the

author refrains to the first stanza to reiterate the fact that Tom is going to die.

Stanza 8

Hang down your head, Tom Dooley, Hang down your head and cry; Hang down your head, Tom Dooley, Poor boy, you’re bound to die.   Description: This stanza is the same as

the last one. The author is restating what is going to happen to Tom.

 

Stanza 9

Poor boy, you’re bound to die; Poor boy you’re bound to die; Poor boy, you’re bound to die.   Description: This is the author’s

closing stanza, this is Tom’s final reminder from the author. He repeats it to restate the fact the Tom is surely going to die.

Purpose of Poem:

To inform Tom Dooley that he is going to die. The song writer also spoke about Tom Dooley as a condemned man.

Tone of Poem:

The tone is mostly sad and sorrowful because the writer uses words like “lonesome” and “cry.” The song also has a slow Tempo.

Imagery:

White oak tree and lonesome valley are some of the images the author displays to illustrate the setting of the hanging.

Speaker:

The Kingston Trio (Lead Singer) Native countryman of the South

Audience (Country and Western): The audience would probably be the

people back at home because they will be present at the hanging. The writer will be there too.