- Farewell ye dungeons dark and strong, farewell, farewell to thee
MacPherson’s time will no be long on yonder gallows tree
Sae rantinly, sae wantonly, sae dauntin'ly gaed he
He played a tune and he danced it roon' abune the gallows tree .
- It was by a woman's treacherous hand, that I was condemned to dee
Below a ledge at a window she stood, And a blanket she threw o' er me .
Chorus.
- The Laird o' Grant, that Highland sant, that first laid hands on me
He played the cause on Peter Broon, to let Macpherson dee .
Chorus
- There's some come here to see me hanged, and some to buy my fiddle
But before that I do part wi' her, I'll brak her thro' the middle .
Chorus
- Unite these bands from off my hands, and gie to me my sword,
An' there’s no’ a man in all Scotland, but I’ll brave him at a word .
Chorus
- The reprieve was comin' o'er the brig o' Banff, to let Macpherson free
But they pit the clock a quarter afore, and hanged him to the tree
Chorus
- He took the fiddle into both o’ his hands, and broke it o’er a stone
Says, "there's nae ither hand shall play on thee, when I am dead and gone" .
Chorus
- little did my mother think, when first she cradled me
That I would turn a rovin' boy, and die on the gallows tree .
Chorus
