Songs about one of the most controversial of mankind’s attempt to balance the scales: the death penalty. Studies point to the fact that at least one in 25 people sentenced to the death penalty in the U.S. are innocent and yet the death penalty is legal in 32 states. In China, corporate fraud can be punishable by death…if it were the case here, our government would probably be on the straight and narrow. But I digress. The music this week will explore the long walk to eternity through the eyes of the condemned; the knowledge of the eventuality of the executioner’s song is clarity. And we’ve got country from a whole host of obscure characters, some blues and boogie, along with just a little bit of folk and bluegrass. A hundred years of the hangman’s rope in reflection.

No.
1	Artist	Title	Album	Buy
2	Johnny Cash	I Hung My Head	American IV: Man Comes Around
3	Gurf Morlix	Theyre Hangin Me Tonight	The Executioner's Last Songs, Volume 3
4	Johnny Bond	At Dawn I Die	The Hangman's Blues: Prison Songs In Country Music (1956-1972)
5	Marty Robbins	The Hanging Tree	All-Time Greatest Hits
6	Peter, Paul & Mary	Hangman	See What Tomorrow Brings
7	Marty Stuart	Hangman	Ghost Train: The Studio B Sessions
8	Ralston Bowles and May Erlewine-Bernard	Hangman	Dear Jean: Artists Celebrate Jean Ritchie
9	Cowboy Copas	Hangman Boogie	Hillbilly Boogie Box [Disc 4]
10	The Pine Valley Cosmonauts & Puerto Muerto	The Hangman's Song	The Executioner's Last Songs, Vol. 1
11	Al Dean	Hangman	The Hangman's Blues: Prison Songs In Country Music (1956-1972)
12	Leadbelly	Gallows Pole	Too Late, Too Late – Vol. 12 – 1917-48
13	Furry Lewis	Judge Harsh Blues	Furry Lewis 1927 – 1929
14	Brownie McGhee	Hangman's Blues	The Folkways Years (1945-1959)
15	Blind Lemon Jefferson	Hangman's Blues	Complete Recordings Vol. 3
16	Blind Lemon Jefferson	Electric Chair	Blues Images Presents 1920's Blues Classics, Vol. 13
17	Lonesome Johnny	Death Row	The Hangman's Blues: Prison Songs In Country Music (1956-1972)
18	Jimmy Minor	Death Row	The Hangman's Blues: Prison Songs In Country Music (1956-1972)
19	Porter Wagoner	(I Heard That) Lonesome Whistle	The Hangman's Blues: Prison Songs In Country Music (1956-1972)
20	Dave Alvin	Sonora's Death Row	West of the West
21	Lee Hazelwood	The Girl On Death Row	Twisted Tales From The Vinyl Wastelands Volume 2
22	Johnny Cash	The Mercy Seat	American III: Solitary Man
23	Bessie Smith	Send Me To The Lectric Chair	Empress Of The Blues Volume 2: 1926-1933 (CD A, 1926-1928)
24	Booker T. & the MG's	Hang 'Em High	The Very Best of Booker T. & the MG's
25	Hoyle Miller	Twelve Years On Death Row	The Hangman's Blues: Prison Songs In Country Music (1956-1972)
26	Steve Earle	Walking Down Death Row	If I Had A Song: The Songs Of Pete Seeger, Vol. 2
27	The Blue Sky Boys	Story Of The Knoxville Girl	Absolutely Bluegrass
28	Bob Dylan	Seven Curses	The Bootleg Series, Vols. 1-3 : Rare And Unreleased, 1961-1991 [Disc 2]
29	Joan Baez	Geordie	The First 10 Years
30	The Pine Valley Cosmonauts & Dean Schlabowske	Gary Gilmore's Eyes	The Executioner's Last Songs, Vol. 1