McPherson's Lament

By: Irish Traditional

Verse 1

Farewell ye dungeons dark and strong. Farewell, farewell to thee; McPherson's life will not be long On yonder gallows tree.

Chorus 1

Sae rantingly, sae wantonly, and sae dauntingly gaed he; He played a tune and he danced around below the gallows tree.

Verse 2

Take off these bands from off my hands And give to me my sword, For there's not a man in all Scotland But I'd brave him at his word.

Verse 3

There's some come here for to see me hung, And some to buy my fiddle; But before that I do part with her, I'll break her through the middle

Verse 4

He took his fiddle in both his hands, And he broke it o'er a stove, Saying, there's nay ither hand shall play on thee When I am dead and gone.

Verse 5

The reprieve was coming o'er the Brig of Baniff, For to set McPherson free; But they put the clock a quarter before, And they hanged him from a tree.