Six favourite songs (1)/McPherson's Farewell
M'PHERSON’S FAREWELL.
Farewell, ye dungeons dark and strong,
The wretch’s destiny;
M‘Pherson’s time will not be long,
On yonder gallows tree.
Sae rantingly, sae wantonly,
Sae dauntingly gaed he;
He play’d a spring, and danc’d it round,
Below the gallows tree.
Oh what is death but parting breath?
On many a bloody plain
I’ve dar’d his face, and in this place
I scorn him yet again.
Untie these bands from off my hands,
And bring to me my sword;
And there’s no a man in a’ Scotland,
But I’ll brave him at a word.
I’ve liv’d a life of sturt and strife,
I die by treacherie;
It burns my heart I must depart
And not avenged be.
Now farewell light, thou sunshine bright,
And all beneath the sky;
May coward shame distain his name,
The wretch that dares not die.
Sae rantingly, sae wantonly,
Sae dauntingly gaed he;
He play’d a spring, and danc’d it round,
Below the gallows tree.