Celtic Lyrics Corner > Artists & Groups > Old Blind Dogs > Live > MacPherson's Rant

   
Live MacPherson's Rant
   
Credits: a) MacPherson's Rant - traditional; arranged by Old Blind Dogs
b) The Winging - Jonny Hardie
   
Appears On: Close To The Bone; Live
   
Language: Scots-English
   

Lyrics:

Oh fareweel, ye dungeons dark and strong
A lang fareweel tae thee
MacPherson's time will no' be lang
Oh on yonder gallows tree

'Twas by a woman's treacherous hand
I was condemned tae dee
She ca'ed me o'er tae the window sill
And a blanket she threw o'er me

Chorus:
Sae rantin'ly an' sae dauntin'ly
Sae wantonly gaed he
He played a tune and danced it 'roon
Below the gallows tree

The Laird o' Grant, oh that hieland sant
When he first laid hands on me
He pleads the cause o' Peter Broon
Ach, let MacPherson dee

"Untie these bands frae off my hands
Bring tae me my sword
There's no a man in a' Scotland
But I'll brave him at a word"

(Chorus)

"There's some come here for tae see me hanged
Some to buy my fiddle
But before I do part wi' her
I'll brak it to her middle"

He ta'en the fiddle into both his hands
Brak it o'er a stane
"There's no anither man's gonna play on her
Fan I am dead and gane"

(Chorus)

"Oh little did my mither think
When first that she cradled me
That I would turn tae the rovin' trade
And I'd hang on gallows tree"

A reprieve was comin' o'er the brig o' Banf
For tae set MacPherson free
They put the clock there a quarter afore
And they hanged him frae the tree

(Chorus)