--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: it’s not until the third verse that “The…" description: "\"“it’s not until the third verse that “The Hanging Tree” begins to get unnerving. You realize the singer of the song is the dead murderer. He’s still in..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8db/suzanne-collins-60_hanging_it-s-not-until-the-third-verse-that-the_2476633.jpg" --- # it’s not until the third verse that “The Hanging Tree”… ![“it’s not until the third verse that “The Hanging Tree” begins to get unnerving. You realize the singer of the song is the dead murderer. He’s still in the hanging tree. And even though he told his lover to flee, he keeps asking if she’s coming to meet him. The phrase Where I told you to run, so…” quote by Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8db/suzanne-collins-60_hanging_it-s-not-until-the-third-verse-that-the_2476633.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8db/suzanne-collins-60_hanging_it-s-not-until-the-third-verse-that-the_2476633.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8db/suzanne-collins-60_hanging_it-s-not-until-the-third-verse-that-the_2476633.jpg) > ““it’s not until the third verse that “The Hanging Tree” begins to get unnerving. You realize the singer of the song is the dead murderer. He’s still in the hanging tree. And even though he told his lover to flee, he keeps asking if she’s coming to meet him. The phrase Where I told you to run, so we’d both be free is the most troubling because at first you think he’s talking about when he told her to flee, presumably to safety. But then you wonder if he meant for her to run to him.”” [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reveals how a song’s narrative perspective shifts when the singer is the antagonist, creating deep unease. **In simple terms:** The song feels creepy because the murderer sings about his own fate. Key Takeaway Recognize how perspective changes emotional impact. Themes storytelling psychology music terror Mood thoughtful uneasy Type literary critical When to use this quote - reading analysis - film adaptation - song critique Key Concepts narrative voice emotional manipulation Questions to Reflect On - What does this reveal about empathy for villains? - How does perspective shape our fear? A Different Perspective The twist may alienate listeners expecting a heroic tone. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Trees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trees/) ## Related quotes > [“Are you, are you Coming to the tree Where I told you to run, so we’d both be free. Strange things did happen here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/are-you-are-you-coming-to-the-tree-where-i-told-you-to-run-so-we-d/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Are you, are you coming to the tree? Wear a necklace of rope, side by side with me. Strange things did happen here. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/are-you-are-you-coming-to-the-tree-wear-a-necklace-of-rope-side-by/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“Are you, are you Coming to the tree Where the dead man called out for his love to flee. Strange things did happen here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/are-you-are-you-coming-to-the-tree-where-the-dead-man-called-out-for/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“The Hanging Tree” out loud for ten years, because it’s forbidden, but I remember every word. I begin softly, sweetly, as my father did.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/the-hanging-tree-out-loud-for-ten-years-because-it-s-forbidden-but-i/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“Are you, are you Coming to the tree Where they strung up a man they say murdered three Where the dead man called out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/are-you-are-you-coming-to-the-tree-where-they-strung-up-a-man-they-2/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Maybe I'll be like that man in "The Hanging Tree'. Still waiting for an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/maybe-i-ll-be-like-that-man-in-the-hanging-tree-still-waiting-for-an/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“Being older, I began to understand the lyrics. At the beginning, it sounds like a guy is trying to get his girlfriend to secretly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/being-older-i-began-to-understand-the-lyrics-at-the-beginning-it/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“The walnut tree told me when Emeline Margulies turned eighteen. Law-wise in Pennsylvania, a girl burns her ships at eighteen. Her daddy was dead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-lindemuth/the-walnut-tree-told-me-when-emeline-margulies-turned-eighteen-law/) [Clayton Lindemuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-lindemuth/) > [“I think I’d want to be a tree,” I told him, finally. “A tree? Why’s that?” “Because. Everyone loves a tree.” “Ah.” He nodded.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-delucy/i-think-i-d-want-to-be-a-tree-i-told-him-finally-a-tree-why-s-that/) [Jennifer DeLucy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-delucy/) > [“You know that smell, when you put your nose up to a pine tree?" I told her I did perfectly. "No matter how long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramona-ausubel/you-know-that-smell-when-you-put-your-nose-up-to-a-pine-tree-i-told/) [Ramona Ausubel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramona-ausubel/) > [The truths of nature are one eternal change, one infinite variety. There is no bush on the face of the globe exactly like another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/the-truths-of-nature-are-one-eternal-change-one-infinite-variety/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [“God made a garden for man and woman and he told them 'Do not eat the fruit from that tree.' A serpent visited the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-hustle/god-made-a-garden-for-man-and-woman-and-he-told-them-do-not-eat-the/) Mickey Hustle > [Behold the crucifix; what does it symbolize? Pallid incompetence hanging on a tree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-szandor-lavey/behold-the-crucifix-what-does-it-symbolize-pallid-incompetence/) [Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) > [“Instinctively I reached out and could feel that the object was a shoe; no it was a heavy boot. And then looking up, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/captain-hank-bracker-suppresed-i-rise/instinctively-i-reached-out-and-could-feel-that-the-object-was-a-shoe/) [Captain Hank Bracker, "Suppresed I Rise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/captain-hank-bracker-suppresed-i-rise/) > [If bad decorating was a hanging offense, there'd be bodies hanging from every tree!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/if-bad-decorating-was-a-hanging-offense-there-d-be-bodies-hanging/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) ## More by Suzanne Collins > [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [KEEP CALM and HAVE A SUGAR CUBE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/keep-calm-and-have-a-sugar-cube/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [A furious Peeta hammers Haymitch with the atrocity he could become party to, but I can feel Haymitch watching me. This is the moment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/a-furious-peeta-hammers-haymitch-with-the-atrocity-he-could-become/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“The same goes for the other captured tributes, Johanna and Enobaria.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/the-same-goes-for-the-other-captured-tributes-johanna-and-enobaria/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [I don't know how to say it exactly. Only...I want to die as myself. Does that make any sense?' he asks. I shake my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-don-t-know-how-to-say-it-exactly-only-i-want-to-die-as-myself-does/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [He never lets go of Annie's hand. Not when they walk, not when they eat. I doubt he ever plans to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/he-never-lets-go-of-annie-s-hand-not-when-they-walk-not-when-they-eat/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“I want to interrupt the taping and beg Finnick’s forgiveness for every false thought I’ve ever had about him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-want-to-interrupt-the-taping-and-beg-finnick-s-forgiveness-for/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [I pound on the glass, screaming my head off. Everyone ignores me except for some Capitol attendant who appears behind me and offers me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-pound-on-the-glass-screaming-my-head-off-everyone-ignores-me-except/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Because it doesn't matter anymore, and because I'm so desperately lonely I can't stand it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/because-it-doesn-t-matter-anymore-and-because-i-m-so-desperately/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Then I dive into my tent before I do something stupid like cry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/then-i-dive-into-my-tent-before-i-do-something-stupid-like-cry/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“¡Es que no quiero que me conozcan! ¡Ya me están quitando el futuro! ¡No pueden llevarse también lo que me importaba en el pasado!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/es-que-no-quiero-que-me-conozcan-ya-me-est-n-quitando-el-futuro-no/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“I act delighted, but I have zero interest in these Capitol people. They are only distractions from the food.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-act-delighted-but-i-have-zero-interest-in-these-capitol-people-they/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Mostly we just add to the piles of rainbow glass that's been blown off the exteriors of the cany-colored buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/mostly-we-just-add-to-the-piles-of-rainbow-glass-that-s-been-blown/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [You're punishing him over and over for things that are out of his control. Now, I'm not saying you shouldn't have a fully loaded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/you-re-punishing-him-over-and-over-for-things-that-are-out-of-his/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“But the significant difference between Thirteen and the Capitol are the expectations of the populace. Thirteen was used to hardship, wheras in the Capitol,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/but-the-significant-difference-between-thirteen-and-the-capitol-are/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) [Explore all 1,709 Suzanne Collins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) ## More Hanging quotes > [We were so poor as kids. I didn't even see a bathtub, running water, hot water, commode - we didn't have any of that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-robertson/we-were-so-poor-as-kids-i-didn-t-even-see-a-bathtub-running-water-hot/) [Phil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-robertson/) > [On 'Workaholics,' I feel like I'm just hanging out with my buddies being filmed, but on 'Mindy,' I'm around professional funny people who act.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anders-holm/on-workaholics-i-feel-like-i-m-just-hanging-out-with-my-buddies-being/) [Anders Holm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anders-holm/) > [I've been working with a holistic specialist, trying to bring my body into balance, and part of making that happen is putting my mom's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corbin-bernsen/i-ve-been-working-with-a-holistic-specialist-trying-to-bring-my-body/) [Corbin Bernsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corbin-bernsen/) > [“hangover is better than hanging…!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-a-samuel/hangover-is-better-than-hanging/) [felix a samuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-a-samuel/) > [The thing about 'Doctor Who' is it's chased around the world, so there's 50 fans hanging out at every location.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-riley/the-thing-about-doctor-who-is-it-s-chased-around-the-world-so-there-s/) [Tom Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-riley/) > [We've never managed, either one of us, to get all the way into life. We're hanging on to the outside for all we're worth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bowles/we-ve-never-managed-either-one-of-us-to-get-all-the-way-into-life-we/) [Paul Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bowles/) > [You don't even want to look in the mirror after you've had a baby, because your stomach is just hanging there like a Shar-Pei.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-crawford/you-don-t-even-want-to-look-in-the-mirror-after-you-ve-had-a-baby/) [Cindy Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-crawford/) > [I think there's a lot of wonderful comics that leave you hanging in a state of apprehension or anxiety before alleviating that tension with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-think-there-s-a-lot-of-wonderful-comics-that-leave-you-hanging-in-a/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) > [“music puts me in touch with life's energy and death still hanging like an old crow on the vines of my mind”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanna-abi-akl/music-puts-me-in-touch-with-life-s-energy-and-death-still-hanging/) [Hanna Abi Akl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanna-abi-akl/) > [I moved to L.A. and really didn't dig living there until I found places like Koreatown and Little Tokyo. I really like hanging out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-stump/i-moved-to-l-a-and-really-didn-t-dig-living-there-until-i-found/) [Patrick Stump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-stump/) > [If I told my 14-year-old self that I'd be hanging out with Keith Richards talking about records, my head would've exploded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-neville/if-i-told-my-14-year-old-self-that-i-d-be-hanging-out-with-keith/) [Morgan Neville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-neville/) > [“You can't move forward if you're still hanging on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-fitzmaurice/you-can-t-move-forward-if-you-re-still-hanging-on/) [Sue Fitzmaurice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-fitzmaurice/) > [“Hanging on to stuff doesn’t keep us more connected to people, places, or past moments. Our memories do that, so we can let go.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-meeker/hanging-on-to-stuff-doesn-t-keep-us-more-connected-to-people-places/) [Meg Meeker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-meeker/) > [When I write songs, it's very random. I get influenced by the most random things! Sometimes it just comes to me in my sleep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roshon-fegan/when-i-write-songs-it-s-very-random-i-get-influenced-by-the-most/) [Roshon Fegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roshon-fegan/) > [For instance, I always have one hanging in Budapest in the mayors office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-curtis/for-instance-i-always-have-one-hanging-in-budapest-in-the-mayors/) [Tony Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-curtis/) Browse all 538 Hanging quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“it’s not until the third verse that “The Hanging Tree” begins to get unnerving. You realize the singer of the song is the dead murderer. He’s still in the hanging tree. And even though he told his lover to flee, he keeps asking if she’s coming to meet him. The phrase Where I told you to run, so we’d both be free is the most troubling because at first you think he’s talking about when he told her to flee, presumably to safety. 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