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)