I didn't want to sing on my own so I TRIED to blend my voice with the original by Sigur Rós.

Hope you enjoy it anyway!

The Rains Of Castamere (Sigur Rós Cover)

The Hanging Tree
OST The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1
Originally sing by Jennifer Lawrence

The Hanging Tree

In listening to 'The Hanging Tree' I originally sang of a dark ending to the song. Now I present to you a more full and complete tale, one that was hidden within four songs of 'The Hunger Games: Songs From District 12 and Beyond' as well as 'The Hanging Tree'. Before you listen, it would do you well to read the lyrics, especially who sings what parts, and I shall enclose the tale right at the bottom. I am but an amateur singer (hence the lack of musical instrumentation or layering/harmonising) so I hope you judge me first on my storytelling and musical arrangement before my vocal quality. Thank you and enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESI0Lxo6ciA


The Daughter of Abraham (Present):
I remember tears streaming down your face
When you said, I'll never let you go
When all those shadows almost killed my light
I remember you begged, don't leave me here alone
But all that's dead and gone has passed tonight


Village Folk (Future):
Are you, are you
Coming to the tree
They've strung up a man
They say he's murdered three.
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met at midnight
In the hanging tree.


Narration of The Past:
Abraham took Isaac's hand and led him to the lonesome hill.
While his daughter hid and watched,
She dared not breathe, she was so still.
Just as her father cried for the slaughter,
Abraham's daughter raised her bow.
And when he saw her, armed for the slaughter,
Abraham's daughter raised her voice.


Village Folk (Future):
Are you, are you
Coming to the tree
Where a good man called out
For his love to flee.
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met at midnight
In the hanging tree.


The Daughter of Abraham (Past):
Mama's been crying in the kitchen
Sister's been afraid of the dark
I've been gatherin the pieces of all these shattered hearts
I don't care where you go to
I don't care where you land
Just get out of here daddy as fast as you can
Daddy can you hear the devil drawing near
Only mercy is this one, run Daddy run


Village Folk (Present):
Are you, are you
Coming to the tree
Where I told you to run,
So we would both be free.
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met at midnight
In the hanging tree


Isaac or Abraham (Past):
Come away little light
Come away to the darkness
In the shade of the night I’ll come looking for you
Come away little light
Come away to the darkness
To the ones appointed to see it through
I am calling for you
They are coming for you


The Daughter of Abraham (Present):
Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You'll be alright
No one can hurt you now
Come morning light
You and I'll be safe and sound



Full Story (which also explains why I chose these lyrics and arranged it as such):
The Daughter of Abraham, a young woman from District 12, is first seen reminiscing on the events that had unfolded that very day, a little in shock that all that has happened (Verse 1). The villagers begin singing of a local folk legend passed down from one generation to the next about the mysterious fate of a man and his family (as spread out over Verses 2, 4, and 6, each verse giving a short, truncated version of what actually happened. The song of course refers to The Daughter of Abraham and her family). 

The Daughter of Abraham was being courted in secrecy by a young man named Isaac, a relationship which was disapproved of by her father, Abraham. One day, he caught Isaac visiting his daughter and in a fit of rage, dragged him away to a tree on a hill top to be killed. The Daughter of Abraham followed the two men, armed with her bow and arrow and before Abraham could kill Isaac, she readies an arrow and tells him to stop (Verse 3). The Daughter of Abraham recites all her father's sins allegorically against her, her mother and sister *'afraid of the dark'* and warns him to flee, the only mercy she was willing to show him, or she would shoot him where he stood (Verse 5).

In the next part, YOU must choose if you want this to be a happy tale or a sad one.

Sad Ending:
Abraham taunts his daughter, saying if she kills him, she will be no better than him *via the allegory of light and darkness as earlier suggested in Verse 1 and now in this verse, the darkness being something her sister fears as sang in Verse 5* and that she would not get away with the murder because the villagers only saw him as a well-to-do, respectable and beloved citizen of the village (Verse 7). However, as he is distracted, Isaac realises too that he does not want his love's soul to be tainted so he manages to overpower Abraham and accidentally kills him. Before he can flee, the other villagers find out and apprehend him and sadly, Isaac is executed by hanging. The Daughter of Abraham returns to the hanging tree at midnight, cutting down Isaac's body from the tree, thanking him for his ultimate sacrifice for saving her and her family and wishing him peace, cradling his limp form as she weeps over him (Verse 1 and 8).

Happy Ending:
Abraham swears to give her a beating after he is done with Isaac but before he can lay a blow on her love, she shoots her father straight in the head and he keels over dead. Isaac tells her to leave the life that she knows *light* and runaway with him towards an uncertain future *darkness* and to bring her mother and sister with them because the villagers would know it was her who killed Abraham (Verse 7). They arrange to meet at midnight beneath this tree, where they will hang Abraham from the tree and leave a note saying how he 'destroyed' the lives of his family *three* through his wicked ways. As the Daughter of Abraham prepares to leave her home for the final time with her family, she sings a sweet melody to her sister to comfort her that there will be better days ahead, even if they might seem uncertain and 'dark' *a fear her sister has as suggested in Verse 5* before they all leave the village with Isaac.


I've had to change some lyrics here and there but they were not entirely drastic. Of course I do not own any of these lyrics (but do take credit for the mash up and the idea/story behind it ;) ) so here are the incredible artists whose songs I borrowed!

From "The Hunger Games: Songs of District 12 and Beyond"
"Safe and Sound" by Taylor Swift featuring The Civil Wars
"Abraham's Daughter" by Arcade Fire
"Run Daddy Run" by Miranda Lambert featuring Pistol Annies
"Come Away to the Water" by Maroon 5 featuring Rozzi Crane

From "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1" Original Motion Picture Score
"The Hanging Tree"

The Hanging Tree (A Tale From District 12)

XO by Beyoncé Knowles, Ryan Tedder and steroid Nash
As covered by John Mayer, with John Mayer original for backing.

I do not own any rights to the song and if requested by either recording label, I will take it down. This was purely meant as an avenue for me to express myself.

XO (John Mayer Cover)

(Disclaimer: The rights of the respective songs belong to each of the original creators. And yes, I know this isn't the original meaning of the song, it's my interpretation and mashup ;))
(Please note I do not have professional recording equipment, though I will own any "crap singing" comments :p )
Modified lyrics and arrangement: David Goei


Epilogue:
The war is over; Winter has come and gone, yet not without its toll.

Jon Snow now sits upon the Iron Throne, with Tyrion Lannister as Hand of The King, and the Stark Sisters as Council. He reigns alone.

In a quiet village somewhere, a dashing sellsword waits for his wife and children to fall asleep before taking his seat by the fireplace, singing a forlorn cantata to a woman who will never hear it.


Jenny of Oldstones and The Lovers' Lost Refrains

Verse 1:
High in the halls of the kings who are gone
“Jenny” still dances with ghosts
The ones she has lost and the ones she has found
And the ones who had loved her the most

Sellsword’s Refrain:
Are you going to Riverlands Cairn?
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
Remember me to one who lives there
She once was a true love of mine.

Verse 2:
The ones who'd been gone for so very long
She couldn't remember their names
They spun her around on the damp old stones
Spun away all her sorrow and pain
And she never wanted to leave
Never wanted to leave
Never wanted to leave
She never wanted to leave

Sellsword’s Refrain:
Ask if she’s found her that sacred land,
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
Gazing out West to watch the sunrise
She remains a true love of mine

Verse 3:
They danced through the day and into the night 
Through snow that swept through the hall
From winter to summer, and winter again
'Til the walls did crumble and fall
She never wanted to leave
She never wanted to leave
She never wanted to leave
She never wanted to leave

Sellsword’s Refrain:
Dear, when thou has finished thine task
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Beckon and I your hand will ask
You are still the true love of mine

“Jenny”s Refrain:
Lions and Stags,
Dragon wings,
Things I almost remember,
And a song someone sings,
Once upon a Khalasar.
Someone holds me safe and warm,
Horses prance through a desert storm,
Figures dancing gracefully across my memory
Far away,
Long ago,
Glowing dim as an ember,
Things my heart used to know,
Things it yearns to remember
And a song someone sings
Once upon a Khalasar