Macpherson's Farewell (2)

Fareweel ye dungeons dark and strong
Fareweel, fareweel to thee
MacPherson's song will not be long
Upon the gallows tree.

Chorus:
Sae rantonly, sae wantonly,
Sae dauntingly played he.
He played a tune and he danced a-roon,
Below the gallows tree.

It was by a woman's treacherous hand
That I was condemned to die
Below a ledge at a window she stood
And a blanket she threw o'er me.

Chorus

The Laird o'Grand that Highland sant
That first laid hand on me
He played the cause on Peter Bron
To let MacPherson dee.
R Chorus

Untie these bands from off my hands
And gie to me my sword
An' there's no' a man in all Scotland
But I'll brave him at a word.

Chorus

There's some come here to see me hang,
And some to buy my fiddle
But before that I do part wi' her
I'll brake her thro' the middle

Chorus

He took the fiddle into both his hands
And he broke it o'er a stone
Says, There's na ither hand shall play on thee
When I am dead and gone

Chorus

O little did my mother think
When first she cradled me
That I would turn a rovin' boy
And die on the gallows tree.

Chorus

The reprieve was comin' o'er the brig o' Banff
To let MacPherson free;
But they pit the clock a quarter before
And hanged him to the tree.

Chorus