Let Him Dangle

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 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 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 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 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 (String him up) --- Let Him Dangle - Elvis Costello