The Canary/M'Pherson's Farewell
For other versions of this work, see M'Pherson'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 dantingly gaed he.
He play'd a spring, and danc'd it ⟨round⟩
Below the gallows-tree
The wretch's destiny!
M'Pherson's time will not be long
On yonder gallows-tree,
Sae rantingly, sae wantonly,
Sae dantingly gaed he.
He play'd a spring, and danc'd it ⟨round⟩
Below the gallows-tree
O 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!
Sae rantingly, &c.
On many a bloody plain
I've dar'd his face, and in this place
I scorn him yet again!
Sae rantingly, &c.
⟨Untie⟩ these bands from off my hands,
And bring to me my sword,
⟨And⟩ there's not a man in all Scotland,
But I'll brave him at a word.
Sae rantingly, &c.
And bring to me my sword,
⟨And⟩ there's not a man in all Scotland,
But I'll brave him at a word.
Sae rantingly, &c.
⟨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.
Sae rantingly, &c.
⟨I⟩ die by treacherie:
⟨It burns⟩ my heart I must depart
And not avenged be.
Sae rantingly, &c.
⟨Now⟩ farewell, light, thou sunshine bright,
And all beneath the sky!
⟨May⟩ coward Shame aye stain his name,
The wretch that dares not die!
Sae rantingly, &c.
And all beneath the sky!
⟨May⟩ coward Shame aye stain his name,
The wretch that dares not die!
Sae rantingly, &c.