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