As confirmed in “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” Lucy Gray Baird is indeed the writer of the haunting “Hanging Tree” song. The lyrics and tune are directly inspired by the execution at the hanging tree of Arlo Chance. Chance, in an act of rebellion, however misguided, caused the deaths of three individuals during an attack intended to disrupt or shut down the coal mining operations in District 12.
This act of defiance, however futile, served as a stark reminder to Coriolanus Snow of the simmering rebellion beneath the surface of District 12. Lucy Gray, deeply connected to the people and rebellious spirit of District 12, found herself artistically moved by these events.
The first two verses of the song offer a direct, literal account of Arlo Chance’s execution. A man was indeed hanged for the deaths of three, and in his final moments, he called out to “Lil,” urging her to flee. The “strange things” that happened likely allude to the mockingjays echoing Arlo’s last words, a detail that adds to the song’s eerie and unsettling nature.
Verses three and four delve into more nuanced interpretations, showcasing Lucy Gray’s artistic license. “Where I told you to run; so we’d both be free” presents multiple layers of meaning. It could be interpreted as a nod to the ongoing rebellion, a decade after the initial war. “Running” becomes a metaphor for fighting back, embodying the sentiment of “better to die on your feet than live on your knees.” The rebels might be choosing to “run to be free” by striking back in acts of revenge or to keep the embers of rebellion alive, even if through seemingly symbolic gestures.
Alternatively, “run away to be free” could represent a literal desire for escape from oppression. This aligns with Billy Taupe’s plans to flee to the North, seeking freedom from the Capitol’s control.
Verse four, “Wear a necklace of hope; side by side with me,” is often seen as the hanged man inviting Lil to join him in death at the hanging tree, a grim foreshadowing of Lil’s fate in some interpretations. However, considering Lucy Gray’s character and her own aspirations, it can be viewed differently.
Lucy Gray had been contemplating escape for some time. District 12 was not her true home, nor were its people entirely hers in spirit. She seemed to be living out the “prophecy of Lucy Gray,” aiming to disappear without a trace. Yet, she acknowledged she couldn’t achieve this alone. Was she seeking a partner, a lover like Snow, for hope, companionship, or even family? Billy Taupe envisioned a band of rebels fleeing north, clinging to a perhaps false hope of finding refuge.
Was Lucy truly a rebel at heart? Her animosity towards the Capitol is evident when discussing her parents’ fate. Perhaps this shared history, juxtaposed with Snow’s revelation about his father, highlighted the fundamental incompatibility of their connection. Lucy Gray was already planning an escape of some kind, and the “necklace of hope” might symbolize a desperate leap – a choice between two potentially deadly paths, with one at least offering a glimmer of hope.
“Side by side with me” suggests that, at some point, Lucy Gray envisioned Snow as her companion in this new life. Unless she was manipulating Snow to create a love triangle to lure Billy back, Snow was likely in her thoughts as she penned these lyrics. However, reality might have dawned on her.
Her seemingly accepting reaction to Snow’s murder of Mayfair Lipp is telling. While she voiced the “right things” – that he did it to protect her – she may have discerned that his action was primarily self-preservation, an instinctive act to protect himself, revealing a core difference in their motivations.
Perhaps Lucy Gray, pragmatic as she was, understood that their shared “necklace of hope” was more viable if they remained “side by side,” at least for a time. She might have recognized that Snow was not suited for a life on the run or in the wilderness; it would inevitably end poorly for him. His calling was different.
“Trust” becomes a key element. Lucy Gray, astute and observant, likely learned more about Snow than he knew about himself. She trusted his motivations, his calculations, and his actions, even if those motivations were self-serving. This trust allowed her to communicate with him in a coded manner, to guide him, confident in his analytical abilities. Was she “manipulating” him? Perhaps, but it was a calculated manipulation that allowed her to lead him to the munitions stash, possibly as a final test of his loyalty or his true nature.
Her actions and the ensuing discussion about killing three revealed her sharp intellect. Had she suspected Snow’s betrayal of Sejanus? The fact that only Sejanus was arrested strongly suggested Snow’s non-involvement. Lucy Gray was far from naive; her cunning and observational skills were evident. And so, by the lake, she was prepared to “run” to be free, but also, in a way, to set Snow free to pursue his own destiny. He, in a twisted way, gave her the impetus to vanish and become a “ghost,” effectively severing her ties to any organized rebellion.
This naturally leads to the enduring mystery of Lucy Gray’s fate and the persistent theory of Greasy Sae being Lucy Gray in disguise. It also raises the question of the “Hanging Tree” song’s continued existence. With the Covey no longer performing at the Hob, how does the song survive? Perhaps Maude Ivory, with her remarkable memory for songs and tunes, passed it down to her son, who in turn taught it to his daughter, ensuring its longevity.
One final observation – Snow’s complex relationships with maternal figures. Raised by Grandma’am and Tigris, manipulated by Dr. Gaul, and perhaps “played” by Lucy, and later by Coin and Katniss in their own ways. Whenever Snow begins to envision a planned future, circumstances consistently conspire against him. His yearning for power and control is a driving force he constantly struggles to manage.
