m'pherson's farewell
tune—“m'pherson's rant.”
farewell, ye dungeons dark and strong,
the wretch's destinie!
m'pherson's time will not be long
on yonder gallows-tree.
chorus.—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, &c.
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, &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.
now farewell light, thou sunshine bright,
and all beneath the sky!
may coward shame distain his name,
the wretch that dares not die!
sae rantingly, &c.