Story Behind The Song

This song is about a young woman named Frankie Silver. She is one of the first recorded (and well-known) instances of a woman being hanged in NC, in the county where Jodi grew up. Frankie was hanged in July of 1833 for the alleged ax murder of her husband. She was in her early 20s, and by all accounts probably about 90 pounds. Many people speculated she did it in self defense (rumor was that her husband, Charlie, was violent when he drank) and she couldn't have done it herself. The story goes that as she was getting ready to speak before she was hanged, someone yelled "die with it in you, Frankie."

Song Description

Appalachian story song about a woman hanged for the ax murder of her abusive husband.

Lyrics

It's July in Burke County it must be 90 degrees
The floorboards of the gallows creak beneath her feet
Frankie squints into the crowd, she can make out every face
They remind her of the folks who gathered on her wedding day
Standing in her best dress, and Charlie dressed in black
The priest asked them how long will this love last
Will you...

Take it to the grave, take it to the grave,
In sickness, health, and when hard times come your way
Take it the grave, take it to the grave,
In sickness, health, and when hard times come your way
Will you take it to the grave?

Seasons came and went, now there's another mouth to feed
Charlie falls through the door again, smelling of whiskey
Baby Nancy on her hip, she's lived this scene before
He waves gun, cocks his fist, nods off on the floor
Blood dripping from her lips, her eye blue and black
Runs to her Mama's, swears she's never going back
Mama says...

He'll take you to the grave, take you to the grave
Now it ain't just you, there's another life to save
He'll take you to the grave, take you to the grave
Now it ain't just you, there's another life to save
He'll take you to the grave

Charlie went out hunting, never came back home
They tell the town he ran off, left Frankie all alone
But that ash and bone in her hearth has a different story to tell
Blood under the floorboards sent Frankie off to jail
The trial was swift, the judge all dressed in black
A jury of his peers said she'd hang for her evil act
Now go...

Take her to the grave, take her to the grave
She's a guilty soul, and there's no one else to blame
Take her to the grave, take her to the grave
She's a guilty soul, and there's no one else to blame
Take her to the grave

Hangman's noose is tied
Tight around her throat
Speak, now's the time
Unburden your soul
As she starts to speak, a voice screams
It won't change anything
Take it to the grave
Take it to the grave
Take it to the grave
Take it to the grave, take it to the grave
Close your eyes now, girl, be brave
Take it to the grave
Take it to the grave

July in Burke County, she can't escape the heat
The floorboards of the gallows give way beneath her feet