MacPherson's Lament
Music Player
Summary
The tune of this song is said to have been composed by James MacPherson, the night before his execution in November 1700. As the noose was placed around his neck he played on his fiddle, the tune to which Burns's words are set. Born of an aristocratic father and beautiful gypsy mother, MacPherson was an outlaw of the Robin Hood mould taking only from the rich and acting as the champion of the poor. It is said that he played the tune on his gallows and when none of his clan took up his offer on the fiddle if they would play it at his wake, he broke it and jumped to his death.
Lyrics
MacPherson's Rant
Words by Robbie Burns
Tune Traditional
Fareweel, ye dungeons dark and strang, fareweel,fareweel tae ye,
MacPherson's time will no be lang on yonder gallows tree
Chorus
Sae rantinly and sae wantonly, sae dauntinly gaedhe
For he played a tune and he danced aroon, below the gallows tree
It was by a woman's treacherous hand that I wascondemned tae dee
Above a ledge at a window she sat and a blanket she threw ower me
Chorus
There's some come here tae see me hang, and somecome tae buy my fiddle
But before that I would part wi her I'd brak her through the middle
And he took the fiddle in tae baith o his hands andhe brak it ower a stane
Sayin, nay other hand shall play on thee when I am dead and gane
Chorus
The reprieve was comin ower the Brig o Banff taeset MacPherson free,
But they pit the clock a quarter afore, and they hanged him frae the tree.
Chorus
