Corey took his medicine, he took it from the high shelf
As he was walking to his cell, he wouldn't say nothing at all
'cause he was doing hard time
Corey took her medicine, she took it from the high shelf
As she was talking to herself, she wouldn't say nothing at all
'cause she was doing hard time
GILES COREY to town:
With the stones stones stacked I'm taking hours of this
They're going to pay for this, they're going to pay for this
Well don't tell me to take it easy, you take it easy
and take what's coming
With the stones stones stacked I'm taking hours of this
They're going to pay for this, they're going to pay for this
'cause little Abby's taking over as undertaker
You turn your back on your friends, now take it back to me
(MARTHA COREY to Giles:
If they, honey, take you from me,
I'm with you babe, I'm still with you
And if I'm hanging high, honey
I'm with you babe, I'm still with you)
It went down, it went down
all around it was a nightmare
I made it, my sweat beading
I can't wake up but it's a nightmare
A showdown in my town
with at beaten path to the Gallows Hill
Well misery, she loves company
but oh my god, my demons hate you
(Giles to Martha): Sad eyes, I think you're bleeding too
well don't look now we're in a nightmare
(Giles to town, to future generations): Hold us up in the Good Light
(Giles to martha) Hold on, (Giles to himself): Hold on
This is a sad folk tale that has a special place in my heart via the family tree.
Back in the somber, puritan community of Salem, Mass in the 1690's, an 11yr old girl named Abigale Williams and some of her friends were overwhelmed with boredom, oppression and very few "unsatinic" ways to have fun. But an exotic slave named Tituba secretly captivated the girls with exciting stories and rituals from where she came. Until one day they were caught in a type of ritual that shocked the town to its puritan core. Presumably, instead of having to cope with the responsibility of having participated at will, Abby and the girls acted possessed by demons. They further deflected blame onto others by claiming the possessed ability to see witches...
The rest is history: a small town sent into mass hysteria with hundreds accused of Witchcraft, and 20 souls executed. Among those killed, an elderly married couple: Giles and Martha Corey. Martha was hung, and Giles was pressed to death under the weight of stones. He left in his wake the folklored "Curse of Giles Corey" which inflicts a heart or blood ailment upon every Salem sheriff ever since. Also among those hung at Gallows Hill: two sisters with the maiden name Towne.
Seven generations later in southern Minnesota, the paths of a surviving Corey man and a surviving Towne woman met again. They were my great great grandparents.
