Sam Hall (song)

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[edit] Song

“Sam Hall” is an old English folk song. Prior to the mid 19th century it was called “Jack Hall”, after an infamous English theif, who was hanged in 1707 at Tyburn. Jack Hall’s parents sold him as a climbing boy for one guinea, which is why most versions of the song identify Sam or Jack Hall as a chimney sweep.

There are many versions of the song that have been collected at different periods. Comic Minstrel C.W. Ross adapted one in the 1850s, and changed the name from “Jack Hall” to “Sam Hall”. The song also appears to have been adapted to fit the region it was sung in; some versions refer to Sam Hall being hung at Tyburn, some at Cootehill. Also it is unclear what, if any, uncouth language was original to the song. Various versions have Sam Hall call his executionors “muckers”, “fuckers”, “buggers”, “muggers”, or “bastards”.

To add to the confusion, the song is associated with the folk song “Captain Kidd”, aka “Robert Kidd”, as William Kidd was executed in the same year. The songs have similar metre and style, and it is unknown which came first.

• Johnny Cash performed the song on Sings the Ballads of the True West (1965) and American IV: The Man Comes Around (2002).

• Clint Eastwood recites it in the movie Two Mules for Sister Sara.

• It is referenced in Jim Thompson's first novel, Now and On Earth.

• Frank Tovey performed the song on his album Tyranny & the Hired Hand.

• The Dubliners performed a version of the song.

The song, performed by Terry Gilkyson, was the main musical theme of the 1956 film Star in the Dust directed by Charles Hall, with John Agar, Mamie van Doren and Charles Boone as Sam Hall in the main roles.

Poul Anderson's 1953 novelette "Sam Hall" features a disgruntled bureaucrat that creates fake records about a rebel named Sam Hall (after the song) that fights against the totalitarian government.

[edit] Comic

• Sam Hall is also adapted to one of the main characters in the Norwegian comic series Malkiel.