McPherson's Farewell

Farewell Ye dark and lonely hills

Farewell beneath the sky

MacPherson's time will na be lang

On yonder gallows high

Sae rantonly, sae wantonly

Sae dauntingly gaed he

He's played a tune and he danced a-roon

In a'below the gallows tree

It was by a woman’s treacherous hand

I am condemned tae dee

A'below a ledge at my window she stood

A blanket she threw o’er me

Sae rantonly, sae wantonly

Sae dauntingly gaed he

He's played a tune and he danced a-roon

In a'below the gallows tree

There’s some come here to see me hang

Some to buy my fiddle

But afore that I would part wi’ her

I’ll brak her through the middle

Sae rantonly, sae wantonly

Sae dauntingly gaed he

He's played a tune and he danced a-roon

In a'below the gallows tree

He took the fiddle into both of his hands

Brak it o’er a stane

Sayin' naither a hand shall play on thee

When I am deed and gane

Sae rantonly, sae wantonly

Sae dauntingly gaed he

He's played a tune and he danced a-roon

In a'below the gallows tree

His reprieve was comin’ o’er the brig o’ Banff

To set MacPherson free

But they put the clock a quarter afore

They hanged him tae the tree

Sae rantonly, sae wantonly

Sae dauntingly gaed he

He's played a tune and he danced a-roon

In a'below the gallows tree

O little did my mother think

When first she cradled me

That I would turn a rovin’ boy

Die on the gallows tree

Sae rantonly, sae wantonly

Sae dauntingly gaed he

He's played a tune and he danced a-roon

In a'below the gallows tree