Fareweel ye dark and lonely hills
Fareweel, beneath the sky
MacPherson’s time will no be long
On yonder gallows high
Sae rantonly, sae wantonly
Sae dauntingly played he
He’s played a tune and he’s danced it a-roon
Below the gallows tree

It was by a woman’s treacherous hand
I am condemned tae dee
Below a ledge at my window she stood
A blanket she threw o’er me
Sae rantonly, sae wantonly
Sae dauntingly played he
He’s played a tune and he’s danced it a-roon
Below the gallows tree

There’s some come here to see me hang
Some to buy my fiddle
But afore that I would part wi’ her
I’ll brak her thro’ the middle
Sae rantonly, sae wantonly
Sae dauntingly played he
He’s played a tune and he’s danced it a-roon
Below the gallows tree

He took the fiddle into both of his hands
Broke ot o’er a stone
Says, naither a hand shall play on thee
When I am dead and gone
Sae rantonly, sae wantonly
Sae dauntingly played he
He’s played a tune and he’s danced it a-roon
Below the gallows tree

The reprieve was comin’ o’er the brig o’ Banff
To set MacPherson free
But they pit the clock a quarter afore
And hanged him to the tree
Sae rantonly, sae wantonly
Sae dauntingly played he
He’s played a tune and he’s danced it a-roon
Below the gallows tree

O little did my mother think
When first she cradled me
That I would turn a rovin’ boy
Die on the gallows tree.
Sae rantonly, sae wantonly
Sae dauntingly played he
He played a tune and he danced a-roon
Below the gallows tree