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

Sa rantingly, sa wantingly
And sa dauntingly 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

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"

Sa rantingly, sa wantingly
And sa dauntingly 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

Sa rantingly, sa wantingly
And sa dauntingly gaed he
He played a tune and he danced around
Below the gallows tree