Let Him Dangle

Lyrics

Bentley said to Craig, "Let him have it, Chris"

They still don't know today just what he meant by this

Craig fired the pistol, but was too young to swing

So the police took Bentley and the very next thing

Let him dangle, let him dangle

Let him dangle, let him dangle

Bentley had surrendered, he was under arrest

When he gave Chris Craig that fatal request

Craig shot Sidney Miles, he took Bentley's word

The prosecution claimed as they charged them with murder

Let him dangle, let him dangle

Let him dangle, let him dangle

They say Derek Bentley was easily led

Well what's that to the woman that Sidney Miles wed?

Though guilty was the verdict, and Craig had shot him dead

The gallows were for Bentley and still she never said

Let him dangle, let him dangle

Let him dangle, let him dangle

Well, it's hard to imagine it's the times that have changed

When there's a murder in the kitchen that is brutal and strange

If killing anybody is a terrible crime

Why does this bloodthirsty chorus come 'round from time to time?

Let him dangle

Not many people thought that Bentley would hang

But the word never came, the phone never rang

Outside Wandsworth Prison there was horror and hate

As the hangman shook Bentley's hand to calculate his weight

Let him dangle, let him dangle

Let him dangle, let him dangle

Well, it's hard to imagine it's the times that have changed

When there's a murder in the kitchen that is brutal and strange

If killing anybody is a terrible crime

Why does this bloodthirsty chorus come 'round from time to time?

Let him dangle

From a welfare state to society murder

"Bring back the noose" is always heard

Whenever those swine are under attack

But it won't make you even, it won't bring him back

Let him dangle, let him dangle

Let him dangle, let him dangle

Let him dangle, let him dangle

Let him dangle, let him dangle

String him up...

Credits

• Written by: D.P.A. MacManus
• Produced by: Elvis Costello, Kevin Killen and T Bone Burnett
• Musicians:

Elvis Costello - vocals

Marc Ribot - guitars

Benmont Tench - piano

Jerry Scheff - bass

Jerry Marotta - drums

Michael Blair - Chinese drum, Oldsmobile hubcap

Discography

Albums:

• Spike, 1989
• Spike (Deluxe Edition), Rhino, 2001
• This section may be incomplete.

Singles:

• This section may be incomplete.

Collections:

• Album Name, Year
• This section may be incomplete.

Alternate Versions:

• Let Him Dangle (demo)

Spike (Deluxe Edition), Rhino, 2001

• This section may be incomplete.

Soundtracks:

• none

Various Artists collections:

• none

Covers

Recorded by:

• none
• This section may be incomplete.

Performed by:

• none
• This section may be incomplete.

Bootlegs

• This section is incomplete.