Sam Hall

A traditional song which also appears under the name "Jack Hall", this song's earliest known textual recording is in 1719. It chronicles the hanging of a young London chimney sweep by the name of Jack Hall who was sentenced to be executed for burglary in 1701. The song has made its way through the folk communities of the world.

### Factoids

A book chronicling Jack Hall was written in 1708, titled *Memoirs of the Right Villanous Jack Hall*; a copyright-free version of the book can be found here.

Other versions of the song, originating around the same time, replace "Sam Hall" with "Captain Kidd" or "Admiral Benbow", and the verses tell of those individuals' (often fictionalized) exploits.

## Lyrics

These lyrics are based on the version performed by the Longest Johns on their livestreams.

>
> Oh me name it is Sam Hall, chimney sweep, chimney sweep,
>
> Oh me name it is Sam Hall, chimney sweep,
>
> {Oh me name it is Sam Hall, and I robbed both great and small,}
>
> {And me neck shall pay for all, when I die, when I die.}
>
> {And me neck will pay for all, when I die.}
>
>
>
> All on the King's highway night and day, night and day,
>
> All on the King's highway night and day,
>
> {All on the King's highway I've robbed lords and ladies gay,}
>
> {And me neck will pay for all, when I die, when I die.}
>
> {And me neck will pay for all, when I die.}
>
>
>
> I've a hundred pounds in store, that's no joke, that's no joke,
>
> I've a hundred pounds in store, that's no joke,
>
> {I've a hundred pounds in store and I'll rob for hundreds more}
>
> {And me neck shall pay for all, when I die, when I die.}
>
> {And me neck shall pay for all, when I die.}
>
>
>
> At the trial they told me, “You shall die. You shall die.”
>
> At the trial they told me, “You shall die.”
>
> {And they flung me into jail where I'll drink no more strong ale,}
>
> {And me neck will pay for all, when I die, when I die.}
>
> {And me neck will pay for all, when I die.}
>
>
>
> They drove me up Tyburn hill in a cart, in a cart,
>
> They drove me up Tyburn hill in a cart,
>
> {They drove me up Tyburn hill, that's where I made my will.}
>
> {The best of friends must part; fare ye well, fare ye well,}
>
> {The best of friends must part; fare ye well.}
>
>
>
> 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 fixed the rope.}
>
> {But ne'er a word said I coming down, coming down,}
>
> {But ne'er a word said I coming down.}
>
>
>
> Oh me name it is Sam Hall, chimney sweep, chimney sweep,
>
> Oh me name it is Sam Hall, chimney sweep,
>
> {Oh me name it is Sam Hall, and I robbed both great and small,}
>
> {And me neck shall pay for all, when I die, when I die.}
>
> {And me neck will pay for all, when I die.}
>
>
>
>
>

## Recordings

#### Full Band Streams

* The Longest Johns and Friends, March. w/Sam Brookes (22 Mar 2019)
* The Longest Johns Streamtember (4 Sep 2019)
* The Longest Johns Early Octobermas (2 Oct 2019)
* Spooktober Spectacular and Farewell to Anna Livestream (30 Ocb 2019)
* TLJ Christmas Party!! (18 Dec 2019)
* Welcome to a New Decade with The Longest Johns (22 Jan 2020)
* Live Stream, All aboard the Good Ship Valentine(ish) with The Longest Johns (19 Feb 2020)
* It's a stream! A Live stream! With The Longest Johns! (13 May 2020)
* Album Launch Party! Cures What Ails Ya, Available June 10th (Preorder Now) (10 Jun 2020)
* It's hot! Stream was a bad choice... Or was it? (24 Jun 2020)
* We Built This Stream(y) on Shant and Folk (11 Nov 2020)
* We're Going to Wellermania! (14 Apr 2021)
* STREAM (4 Aug 2021)
* Stream of Mushroom Soup (A day early to fit around touring) (23 Nov 2021)
* Ex-Stream Sports (15 Feb 2022)
* Stream Girls (27 Apr 2023)

#### Chill Streams

* JD & Andy Chilltime - 13/01/2020
* We all get songs in Chillbury Town! With Andy and JD - 06/04/2020
* It's music stream time, everybody loves music stream time... - 11/05/2020

#### Gaming Streams

* Sing and Sail 2: Damp Boogaloo - 25/05/2020
* Sea of Sings (and probably thieves) - 26/06/2020
* Yarr harr fiddley dee and all that. Sea of Sings! - 28/09/2020
* Sea of Sings! Yarr and all that... - 16/10/2020
* Bananas! Boil ’em, mash ’em, stick ’em in a stew... - 25/10/2021

1. ↑ https://www.fresnostate.edu/folklore/ballads/LL05.html