Language   

MacPherson's Lament

Hamish Imlach
Back to the song page with all the versions


OriginalVersione di Robert Burns da www.robertburns.org
MACPHERSON'S LAMENT

Farewell, ye dungeons dark and strong, farewell, farewell to thee
McPherson's life will no be long on yonder gallows tree

Sae rantinly, sae wantonly, and sae dauntonly gaed he
He played a tune and he danced around below the gallows tree

There's some come here for to see me hung, and some to buy my fiddle
But before that I do part with her, I'll break her through the middle

Sae rantinly, sae wantonly, and sae dauntonly gaed he
He played a tune and he danced around below the gallows tree

He took his fiddle in both of his hands, and he broke it o'er a stone
Saying: "There's no other hand shall play on thee when I am dead and gone"

Sae rantinly, sae wantonly, and sae dauntonly gaed he
He played a tune and he danced around below the gallows tree

The reprieve was coming o'er the Brig of Banff, to set McPherson free
But they put the clock a quarter before, and they hanged him from a tree

Sae rantinly, sae wantonly, and sae dauntonly gaed he
He played a tune and he danced around below the gallows tree

M'PHERSON'S FAREWELL

Farewell, ye dungeons dark and strong,
The wretch's destinie!
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.

O, what is death but parting breath?
On many a bloody plain
I've dared his face, and in this place
I scorn him yet again!

Sae rantingly, sae wantonly,
Sae dauntingly gaed he;
He play'd a spring, and danc'd it round,
Below the gallows-tree.

Untie these bands from off my hands,
And bring me to my sword;
And there's no a man in all Scotland
But I'll brave him at a word.

Sae rantingly, sae wantonly,
Sae dauntingly gaed he;
He play'd a spring, and danc'd it round,
Below the gallows-tree.

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, sae wantonly,
Sae dauntingly gaed he;
He play'd a spring, and danc'd it round,
Below the gallows-tree.

Now farewell light, thou sunshine bright,
And all beneath the sky!
May coward shame distain his name,
The wretch that dares not die!


Back to the song page with all the versions

Main Page

Note for non-Italian users: Sorry, though the interface of this website is translated into English, most commentaries and biographies are in Italian and/or in other languages like French, German, Spanish, Russian etc.




hosted by inventati.org