The Go Set - Macpherson's Rant lyrics

Farewell, ye dungeons dark and strong Farewell, farewell to thee MacPherson's rant will no be long Upon the gallows-tree Sae rantingly, sae wantonly Sae dauntingly gaed he And he sang a tune And danced around Below the gallows-tree ‘Twas by a woman’s treacherous hand I was condemned to die Beneath a ledge at a window she stood And a blanket she threw o’er me Sae rantingly, sae wantonly Sae dauntingly gaed he And he sang a tune And danced around Below the gallows-tree The Laird o’ Grant, that hieland sant That first laid hands on me He played the cause on Peter Broon Tae let MacPherson free Untie these bands frae off my hands And gie to me my sword There’s no’ a man in all Scotland But I’ll brave him at a word There’s some come here tae see me hanged

And some to buy my fiddle But before I do part wi’ her I’ll brak her thro’ the middle He took the fiddle in both hands And he broke it o’er a stone Says,”There’s nae ither hand shall play on thee When I am dead and gone.” Sae rantingly, sae wantonly Sae dauntingly gaed he And he sang a tune And danced around Below the gallows-tree O little did my mother think When first she cradled me That I would turn a rovin’ boy And die on the gallows tree The reprieve was comin’ o’er the brig o’ Banf Tae let MacPherson free But they set the clock a quarter past four And hanged him tae the tree Sae rantingly, sae wantonly Sae dauntingly gaed he And he sang a tune And danced around Below the gallows-tree