McPherson's Lament

Farewell, ye dungeons dark and strong, farewell, farewell to thee
McPherson's life will no be long on yonder gallows tree

Sa rantingly, sa wantingly, and sa dauntingly gaed he
He played a tune and he danced around below the gallows tree

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

He took his fiddle in both of his hands, and he broke it o'er a stone
Saying: "There's no other hand shall play on thee when I am dead and gone"

Sa rantingly, sa wantingly, and sa dauntingly gaed he
He played a tune and he danced around below the gallows tree

The reprieve was coming o'er the Brig of Banff, to set McPherson free
But they put the clock a quarter before, and they hanged him from a tree

Sa rantingly, sa wantingly, and sa dauntingly gaed he
He played a tune and he danced around below the gallows tree