3. "MacPherson’s Lament" There's some come here tae see me hung And some tae buy my fiddle But afore that I dae part wi' her I'd brak' her through the middle Then he took his fiddle into both of his hands And he brak' it o'er a stone Said, Nae ither hands shall play on thee When I am deid and gane

5. James MacPherson (1675–1700) was a Scottish outlaw, famed for his Lament or Rant, a version of which was rewritten by the Scottish poet, Robert Burns. The original version of the lament is alleged to have been written by MacPherson himself in prison on the eve of his execution. ScottishRobert BurnsScottishRobert Burns

6. There's some come here tae see me hang And some tae buy my fiddle But afore that I dae part wi' her I'd brak' her through the middle He took his fiddle into both of his hands And he brak' it o'er a stone Said, Nae ither hands shall play on thee When I am deid and gane

7. A text (and there are many variations) of "MacPherson’s Lament or Rant" follows: I've spent my life in rioting, Debauch'd my health and strength, I squander'd fast, as pillage came, And fell to shame at length. Chorus: Sae rantingly, sae wantonly, Sae dauntingly gaed he; He play'd a tune, and danc'd it roon' Below the gallows-tree. My father was a gentleman, Of fame and honor high, Oh mother, would you ne'er had borne The son so doom'd to die. Chorus Ach, little did my mother think When first she cradled me That I would turn a roving boy And die on the gallows tree Chorus Farewell, yon dungeons dark and strong, The wretch's destinie! M'Pherson's time will not be long On yonder gallows-tree. Chorus O what is Death but parting breath? On many a bloody plain I've dar'd his face, and in this place I'll scorn him yet again. Chorus But vengeance I never did wreak, When pow'r was in my hand, And you, dear friends, no vengeance seek, It is my last command. Chorus Forgive the man whose rage betray'd MacPherson's worthless life; When I am gone, be it not said, My legacy was strife. Chorus It was by a woman's treacherous hand That I was condemned tae dee Aboon a ledge at a windae she stood And a blanket she threw o'er me Chorus Untie these bands frae aff o' my hands And gie tae me my sword There's no a man in a' Scotland But I'll brave him at his word Chorus There's some come here tae see me hang And some tae buy my fiddle But afore that I dae part wi' her I'd brak' her through the middle Chorus He took his fiddle into both of his hands And he brak' it o'er a stone Said, Nae ither hands shall play on thee When I am deid and gane Chorus Now farewell light, thou sunshine bright, " And all beneath the sky! May coward shame distain his name, The wretch that dares not die! Chorus A reprieve was coming o'er the brig o' Banff Tae set MacPherson free, But they pit the clock a quarter afore And they hanged him from a tree. Chorus Sae rantingly, sae wantonly, Sae dauntingly gaed he; He play'd a tune, and danc'd it roon' And they hanged him from a tree. When I am deid and gane