The self-effacing star downplayed her crooning at various points along the promotional trail. She talked about how mortified she was to film the scene, where Katniss warbles one of her late father’s ballads, “The Hanging Tree.” She told David Letterman that when she sang she sounded like “a tone-deaf Amy Winehouse” (before engaging in an intentionally horrendous Christmas carol duet with the late-night host).
A few days later, on Saturday Night Live, she and co-stars Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson “surprised” host Woody Harrelson where the four performed a ditty together — but not before some ribbing about Lawrence’s pipes. “I don’t think anyone wants to hear me sing… When I sing, I sound like a deer caught that’s been in a fence,” she said, to which Hemsworth piled on: “I would say it’s more like a dog that’s been hit by a truck.”
That was all for laughs, sure, but here’s the thing: Her acoustic performance of “The Hanging Tree” in Mockingjay is nothing to mock. It’s an impressive, riveting performance, and it makes for one of the film’s most potent moments.
The audio from the scene made its way online Friday, and you can hear it here:
