McPherson's Lament

Farewell ye dungeons dark and strong Farewell, farewell to thee McPherson's life will no' be long On yonder gallows-tree So rantin'ly so wantin'ly So dauntin'ly gaed he He played a tune and he danced aroond Below the gallows-tree There are some who come to see me hung And some to buy me fiddle But before that I do part with her I'll break her through the middle So rantin'ly so wantin'ly So dauntin'ly gaed he He played a tune and he danced aroond Below the gallows-tree He took the fiddle in both of his hands And broke it o'er a stone Sayin' there's no other hand shall play on thee when I am dead and gone So rantin'ly so wantin'ly So dauntin'ly gaed he He played a tune and he danced aroond Below the gallows-tree The reprieve was coming o'er the Brigg of Banff To set McPhersons free But they put the clock a quarter before And they hanged him from a tree So rantin'ly so wantin'ly So dauntin'ly gaed he He played a tune and he danced aroond Below the gallows-tree