Sam Hall lyrics
The Irish DescendantsOh, 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've robbed both great and small
And me neck will pay for all, when I die, when I die
And me neck will pay for all, when I die
I have 20 pounds in store, that's not all, that's not all
I have 20 pounds in store, that's not all
I have 20 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 brought me to Cootehill in a cart, in a cart
Oh, they brought me to Cootehill in a cart
Oh, they brought me to Cootehill, there 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
Oh, and ne'er a word I spoke, tumblin' down, tumblin' down
Oh, and ne'er a word I spoke, tumblin' 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 hate 'yas one and all
You're a bunch of muggers all, damn your eyes, damn your eyes
You're a bunch of muggers all, damn your eyes...
Song Details
Music & Lyrics: Traditional English Folk
Brief: The song is about a criminal - supposedly a chimney sweep who was condemned to death by hanging for committing a burglary in 1707. A comic minstrel by the name of W.G. Ross adapted the song, changing the name from Jack Hall to Sam Hall.
In the Irish version, he was taken to Cootehill in County Cavan to die whilst the English version takes him to Tyburn in the county of Middlesex.
There are several versions of the song which have been used throughout the three main regions of Ireland, England and the United States with changes in lyrics depending on the adaptation.
Category: Folk Song
Covers: The Irish Descendants (featured), The Corrib Folk, Blarney Folk, Cu Chulainn, Connemara, Paddy Reilly, Brier, Marie O'Brien, Cobblestones, The Dubliners, Johnny Cash.
