The original source for Led Zeppelin's "Gallows Pole" was Leadbelly's "Gallis Pole." "Gallows Pole" on Led Zeppelin III is listed as "Traditional." On some of Leadbelly's recordings, however, songwriting credit is given to Leadbelly and John and Alan Lomax. Alan Lomax, along with his father John, were instrumental in popularizing a wide range of American folk music. Beginning in the 1930s, Alan Lomax produced a great volume of field recordings of folk musicians, focusing in particular on the American South. John and Alan Lomax first recorded Leadbelly while he was in prison and they brought him to national attention. Leadbelly was a master of many styles of music, wrote many songs and adapted many tunes that he had heard over the years. Jimmy Page said that he had heard a version of this song by an obscure folk artist named Fred Gerlach. Where Leadbelly and Fred Gerlach had each played "Gallis Pole" in a 12-string guitar, Led Zeppelin's recording features John Paul Jones on Mandolin and Jimmy Page on Banjo. Credit where credit is due... all info here is from turnmeondeadman.net and the vid is from the Page Plant No Quarter concert