MacPherson's Lament

MacPherson's Lament.  Composed by James MacPherson himself in Prison on the eve of his execution for cattle rustling.  Born in 1675, the son of a gypsy woman and a highland laird. James, a fine fiddler, became the Leader of an unlawful gypsy gang plundering the North East of Scotland living off their spoils and sharing them out with the less fortunate.  He was eventually caught in the town of Keith while being chased through the streets by the bailiffs where a woman threw a blanket out of a window trapping James.  He was tried in Banff, found guilty and was sentenced to hang by the magistrates.  On the day of his execution in Banff the magistrates knew there was a reprieve coming from Aberdeen and put the town clock forward by 20 minutes so James could be hanged before the specified time.  On the gallows he played this tune then offered his fiddle to anyone in his clan who would play it at his wake.  When no one came forward to take the fiddle, he broke it then threw it into the crowd.  The broken fiddle now lies in a folk museum near Newtonmore.  The Magistrates were punished for this and the town clock was kept 20 minutes behind the correct time for many years.  Even to this day the town of Macduff has its west facing town clock covered so the people of Banff can't see the correct time!

Lyrics

                      1

Farewell ye dungeons dark and strong

The wretch's destiny

MacPherson's time will nae be lang

On yonder gallows tree

Chorus........

Sae rantinlie an sae wantonlie

Sae dauntinlie gaed he

He played a tune an danced it roun

Below the gallows tree

                                2

Oh what is death but parting breath

On mony a bludy plain

I've daur'd his face and in his place

I scorn him yet again

                                3

Tak aff this bands from aff this hands

And bring to me my sword

There's nae a man in a' Scotland

But I'll brave him at a word

                               4

I've lived a life o sturt and strife

An I die by treacherie

It burns my heart I must depart

An not avenged be

                              5

He's taen his fiddle in his hand

An broke it o'er a stane

Said there's nene on earth shall play on thee

When I'm deed an gone

                             6

Farewell my friends an comrades a'

Farewell my wife an bairns

There's nae repentancein my breast

For the fiddles in my arms

                            7

The laird o' Grant that highland saunt

His might and majesty

He pled the cause o Peter Brown

An lets MacPherson dee

                            8

But the Braco Duff in rage enough

He first laid hands on me

And if that death would not prevent

Avenged would I be

                             9

As for my life I do not care

If justice would take it's place

And bring my fellow plunderers

Unto the same disgrace

                             10

Now farewell light thou sunshine bright

And all beneath the sky

May coward shame distain his name

The wretch that dare not die.

There are several versions of this song, this one being the most popular among folk singers today.  If you have any trouble understanding some of the old Scots language drop me an E-MAIL and I'll try and help out.