Story
Jack Hall was a criminal who, as a young boy, was sold to a chimney sweep for a guinea. In later life he became a notorious highwayman. In 1707 he was arrested along with Stephen Bunce and Dick Low for a burglary committed at the house of Captain Guyon, near Stepney. All three were convicted and hanged at Tyburn on December 7, 1707. The song was made popular in the 1850s with the adaptation Sam Hall by English comic minstrel, C.W. Ross. The melody was also used for the song called Captain Kidd, who was executed for piracy in London in 1701. Comparisons should also be made with the song about Admiral Benbow, who was wounded in action off the West Indies in 1702.
Recordings
Steeleye Span recorded Jack Hall on their album Tempted and Tried (1989). It was also released as B-side of the single The Fox (1990).
The Group Sex Poets also recorded a slightly modified version of the song, which was re-interpreted by front man Sean Patrick McDonald in 2010 and released on their debut EP The Jack Hall EP (2011).
Sam Carter recorded Jack Hall on his 2012 album No Testament, with Sam Sweeney of the British folk group Bellowhead on violin. The duo also performed the song live on Jools Holland's Later program on 17th October 2012.