This is on MacColl's The Legend of Ewan MacColl, with excellent banjo from Peggy Seeger. Many thanks to Kevin Lowe for letting me know about this song.
Here is a .WAV file (328 kb) of the first two verses.
The song is © Copyright 1953 Karl Dallas/EMI Music. Karl is still performing, so if anyone would like him to come and sing, email him on karldallas@blueyonder.co.uk. He has web pages at http://www.geocities.com/BourbonStreet/Delta/9057/ - well worth a visit (though they appear to be down at the moment).
It's of a great adventure, to you that I will tell,
Of how they hanged a half-grown lad and how it all befell.
It was guns and comics, films of war that made his education.
Young Craig and Derek Bentley, they went out in the night,
With gun and knuckleduster just for to see them right.
It was guns and comics, films of war that made his education.
They climbed upon the roof so high and then looked all around
And there they saw the men of law all gathered on the ground.
It was guns and comics, films of war that made his education.
"Look out, we're caught" young Bentley cried, "our robbin' days are done"
"I'll see no prison" Craig replied, "while I've still got my gun".
It was guns and comics, films of war that made his education.
He stood upon the roof so high and he looked all around
And shouted to them, men of law, all gathered on the ground.
It was guns and comics, films of war that made his education.
"Stay down and stay alive" he cried, "keep clear of me" he said.
"Come up that stair another step and you'll go down it dead".
It was guns and comics, films of war that made his education.
He was just a half-grown frightened lad who couldn't read or write,
But standing there with gun in hand he terrorised the night.
It was guns and comics, films of war that made his education.
The men came up to take him down, he pressed the trigger tight,
He shot the first one dead and then jumped down into the night.
It was guns and comics, films of war that made his education.
Young Craig he was a killer, for he shot the p'liceman dead,
But he was just too young to hang, the magistrates they said.
It was guns and comics, films of war that made his education.
At nine o'clock one Wednesday, they took young Bentley out,
And made a noose of hemp and rope and put it round his throat.
It was guns and comics, films of war that made his education.
It's true as you have often heard, that in this land today,
They hang the little criminals and let the big go free.
It was guns and comics, films of war that made his education.