4021. Sam Hall (Traditional English)

Details

Description

This song about an unrepentant criminal condemned to death for robbing the rich to feed the poor was originally called “Jack Hall“, after an infamous English thief, who was hanged in 1707 at Tyburn. His parents sold him as a climbing boy for one guinea, which is why most versions of the song identify him as a chimney sweep.

Lyrics and chords:
E …………………..............…... A …………......….. E ………….........….. B7
Oh, my name it is Sam Hall, chimney sweep, chimney sweep.
E ……………..............………... A …………......….. E
Oh, my name it is Sam Hall, chimney sweep.
…….....…. A ………………………...............….. E …….................……………… B7
Oh, my name it is Sam Hall and I've robbed both great and small
………........ E ……….......…….. A ……....….. E ………....... B7
And my neck will pay for all when I die, when I die,
…….....….. E ………….......…… A ….....……. E
And my neck will pay for all when I die.

I have twenty pounds in store, that's not all, that's not all.
I have twenty pounds in store, that's not all.
I have twenty pounds in store and I'll rob for twenty more
For the rich must help the poor, so must I, so must I,
For the rich must help the poor, so must I.

Oh, they took me to Cootehill in a cart, in a cart.
Oh, they took me to Cootehill in a cart.
Oh, they took me to Cootehill where I stopped to make my will, For the best of friends must part, so must I, so must I.
For the best of friends must part, so must I.

Up the ladder I did grope, that's no joke, that's no joke.
Up the ladder I did grope, that's no joke.
Up the ladder I did grope and the hangman pulled the rope
And ne'er a word I spoke, tumbling down, tumbling down,
And ne'er a word I spoke tumbling down.

Oh my name it is Sam Hall ...

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