MacPherson's Rant

Fareweel, ye dungeons dark and strong

A lang fareweel tae thee

MacPherson's time will no' be lang

On yonder gallows tree

'Twas by a woman's treacherous hand

That I was condemned tae dee

She ca'ed me o'er tae the window sill

And a blanket she threw o'er me

Chorus:

Sae rantin'ly an' sae dauntin'ly

Sae wantonly gaed he

He played a tune and danced it 'roon

Below the gallows tree

The Laird o' Grant, oh that hieland sant

That first laid hands on me

He pleads the cause o' Peter Broon

Ach, let MacPherson free

"Untie these bands frae off my hands

An' bring tae me my sword

There's nae a man in a' Scotland

I'll brave him at a word"

(Chorus)

"Oh there's some come here tae see me hanged

And some to buy my fiddle

But before I do part wi' her

I'll brak thro' her the middle"

He ta'en the fiddle into both his hands

He's brak it o'er a stane

Sayin', "No anither hand will play on thee

When I am dead and gane"

(Chorus)

"Oh little did my mither think

When first that she cradled me

That I would turn tae the rovin' trade

And die on gallows tree"

Reprieve was comin' o'er the brig o' Banf

Tae set MacPherson free

They put the clock aye a quarter 'fore

And they hanged him frae the tree

(Chorus)