Elvis Costello - 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

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)