MacPherson’s Farewell lyrics
by Hamish Imlach
[Verse 1]
Farewell Ye dark and lonely hills
Farewell beneath the sky
MacPherson's time will na be lang
On yonder gallows high
[Chorus]
Sae rantonly, sae wantonly
Sae dauntingly gaed he
He's played a tune and he danced a-roon
In a'below the gallows tree
[Verse 2]
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
[Chorus]
Sae rantonly, sae wantonly
Sae dauntingly gaed he
He's played a tune and he danced a-roon
In a'below the gallows tree
[Verse 3]
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
[Chorus]
Sae rantonly, sae wantonly
Sae dauntingly gaed he
He's played a tune and he danced a-roon
In a'below the gallows tree
[Verse 4]
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
[Chorus]
Sae rantonly, sae wantonly
Sae dauntingly gaed he
He's played a tune and he danced a-roon
In a'below the gallows tree
[Verse 5]
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
[Chorus]
Sae rantonly, sae wantonly
Sae dauntingly gaed he
He's played a tune and he danced a-roon
In a'below the gallows tree
[Verse 6]
O little did my mother think
When first she cradled me
That I would turn a rovin’ boy
Die on the gallows tree
[Chorus]
Sae rantonly, sae wantonly
Sae dauntingly gaed he
He's played a tune and he danced a-roon
In a'below the gallows tree