Richard Thompson OBE (born 3 April 1949, Notting Hill, London) is a British… Read Full Bio ↴Richard Thompson OBE (born 3 April 1949, Notting Hill, London) is a British singer/songwriter and guitarist. Highly regarded for his guitar techniques, Thompson was awarded the Orville H. Gibson award for best acoustic guitar player in 1991. Similarly, his songwriting has earned him an Ivor Novello Award and, in 2006, a lifetime achievement award from BBC Radio. Thompson made his debut as a recording artist as a member of Fairport Convention in September 1967. He left the group in 1971 and began recording with his wife as Richard & Linda Thompson, before their marriage dissolved in 1983. Since then, Thompson has maintained a critically-acclaimed solo career.

He continues to write and record new material and performs live frequently throughout Canada, the United States, Europe and Australia.

Thompson was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2011 New Year Honours for services to music. On 5 July 2011, the degree of Doctor of Philosophy honoris causa was conferred on Thompson by the University of Aberdeen, in a ceremony at the University's Elphinstone Hall.

Sam Hall
Richard Thompson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Now my name is Samuel Hall,
Samuel Hall, Samuel Hall
Oh my name is Samuel Hall, Samuel Hall
Oh my name is Samuel Hall,
and I hate you one and all
You're a bunch of mucker's all
Blast your eyes.
You're a bunch of mucker's all

Blast your eyes.

Now I killed a man they said
So they said, so they said
Oh I killed a man they said
Yes they said
I killed a man they said
And I left him layin dead
Cause I bashed his bloody head
Blast his eyes.
Caused I bashed his bloody head
Blast his eyes.

Now they put me in the quad
In the quad, In the quad
Oh they put me in the quad, in the quad
Oh they put me in the quad
and they left me there by God
Fastened to a bloody chain rod
Blast there eyes.
Fastened to a bloody chain rod
Blast there eyes.

Now the preacher he did come
He did come, he did come
Oh the preacher he did come he did come
Oh the preacher he did come
And he looked so doggone glum
As he talked of Kingdom Come
Blast his eyes.
As he talked of Kingdom Come
Blast his eyes.

And the sheriff he come too
He come too, he come too
Oh the sheriff he come too he come too
Oh the sheriff he come too
With his yellow boys and blue
Sayin Sam I'll see you through
Blast your eyes.
Sayin Sam I'll see you through
Blast your eyes.

Oh it's up the rope I go I go I go
It's up the rope I go I go
Oh it's up the rope I go
While you critters down below
Are sayin Sam I told you so
Blast your eyes.
Are sayin Sam I told you so
Blast your eyes.

Oh it's swingin I must go
I must go I must go
It's a swingin I must go, I must go
It's a swingin I must go
Just because she loved him so
Just because she loved him so
Blast her eyes.
Just because she loved him so
Blast her eyes.

I must hang until I'm dead
Til I'm dead, Til I'm dead
I must hang until I'm dead
I must hang until dead
Caused I killed a man they said
And left him layin dead
Blast his eyes.

And left him layin dead
Blast his eyes

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song "Sam Hall" tell the story of a man named Samuel Hall, who is on his way to the gallows because he killed someone. Throughout the song, he expresses his hatred towards society and his contempt for those who judge him. The repetition of the line "Blast your eyes" emphasizes his anger and frustration towards his situation. The lyrics also mention the presence of the preacher and the sheriff, who come to see him before his execution. The last verse of the song is particularly poignant as Hall recognizes that he must pay for his crime and that he is hanging because of his own actions.

The song "Sam Hall" is a traditional folk song that dates back to at least the 18th century and has been performed by many different artists throughout history. Richard Thompson's version of the song, however, adds a unique spin, with a bluesy guitar riff and a more aggressive vocal delivery. The song has been interpreted in various ways throughout the years, with some seeing it as a commentary on the state of criminal justice, while others view it as a critique of society's treatment of criminals.

Line by Line Meaning

Now my name is Samuel Hall, Samuel Hall, Samuel Hall Oh my name is Samuel Hall, Samuel Hall Oh my name is Samuel Hall and I hate you one and all You're a bunch of mucker's all Blast your eyes. You're a bunch of mucker's all Blast your eyes.
The singer, Samuel Hall, is introducing himself and expressing his disdain for the people listening to him. He insults them and tells them to go away.

Now I killed a man they said So they said, so they said Oh I killed a man they said Yes they said I killed a man they said And I left him layin dead Cause I bashed his bloody head Blast his eyes. Caused I bashed his bloody head Blast his eyes.
Samuel Hall admits to killing someone and bragging about it. He shows no remorse and insults the person he killed.

Now they put me in the quad In the quad, In the quad Oh they put me in the quad, in the quad Oh they put me in the quad and they left me there by God Fastened to a bloody chain rod Blast there eyes. Fastened to a bloody chain rod Blast there eyes.
The authorities have imprisoned Samuel Hall and he expresses anger and resentment at being confined. He insults and curses those who put him there.

Now the preacher he did come He did come, he did come Oh the preacher he did come he did come Oh the preacher he did come And he looked so doggone glum As he talked of Kingdom Come Blast his eyes. As he talked of Kingdom Come Blast his eyes.
A preacher visits Samuel Hall and talks about religion and the afterlife. Samuel Hall is annoyed and insults the preacher.

And the sheriff he come too He come too, he come too Oh the sheriff he come too he come too Oh the sheriff he come too With his yellow boys and blue Sayin Sam I'll see you through Blast your eyes. Sayin Sam I'll see you through Blast your eyes.
The sheriff visits Samuel Hall and promises to help him, but Samuel Hall responds with anger and insults.

Oh it's up the rope I go I go I go It's up the rope I go I go Oh it's up the rope I go While you critters down below Are sayin Sam I told you so Blast your eyes. Are sayin Sam I told you so Blast your eyes.
Samuel Hall is being sent to the gallows to be hanged. He insults and curses those who are watching him die.

Oh it's swingin I must go I must go I must go It's a swingin I must go, I must go It's a swingin I must go Just because she loved him so Just because she loved him so Blast her eyes. Just because she loved him so Blast her eyes.
As Samuel Hall is being hanged, he insults and curses someone who apparently only loved the person he killed. He shows no remorse for his actions.

I must hang until I'm dead Til I'm dead, Til I'm dead I must hang until I'm dead I must hang until dead Caused I killed a man they said And left him layin dead Blast his eyes. And left him layin dead Blast his eyes
Samuel Hall accepts his fate and admits to the crime for which he is being hanged. He curses the person he killed.

Contributed by Mason S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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Ken Soehn

on Love in a Faithless Country

33w

At a show at the Culch (The Vancouver East Cultural Centre) decades ago, Thompson said the song was inspired by two British serial killers, who seemed to be inspiring each other through the newspapers. Now you know why it sounds so spooky.