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Mc Pherson​’​s Rant

from Tales of Love War & Death by Hanging by Ray Cooper

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about

James Mc Pherson was hung in the market square of Banff Scotland in 1700. On the scaffold he sang, danced, played a jig and then broke his fiddle over a stone. Although a notorious gang leader, robber (and folk singer), he seems to redeem himself through the panache he shows in the face of death.
However, maybe he was playing for time? Due to be hung at noon, he was expecting a last minute pardon and when, at a quarter to, a rider was seen approaching, one of the townsmen climbed the clock tower and moved the hands forward so they could hang him before the messenger arrived. Down went the trap and Mc Pherson became a song.

lyrics

Mc Pherson's Rant

Farewell ye life ye sunshine bright
Ye dungeons dark and strang
Mc Pherson's time will not be long
Below these gallows I'll hang

Some of you came to see me die
And some to buy my fiddle
But before that I do part from here
I'll break her down the middle

Then he took his fiddle in both hands
And he smashed her over a stone
He said there's not another man than me
Will play thee when I'm gone

Rantingly, so rantingly, so wantonly went he
He played a tune then he danced aroon'
Below the gallows tree

Untie these bands from off my hands
And give to me my sword
For there's not a man in all Scotland
But I'll brave him at his word

The reprieve was coming o'er the brig of Banff
For to set Mc Pherson free
When they put the clock a quarter before
And hanged him to the tree

Rantingly, so rantingly, so wantonly went he
He played a tune then he danced aroon'
Below the gallows tree

Farewell ye life ye sunshine bright
And all beneath the skies
For in this place I'm ready to
Mc Pherson's time to die.

Rantingly, so rantingly, so wantonly went he
He played a tune then he danced aroon'
Below the gallows tree.

Traditional, arranged Ray Cooper

credits

from Tales of Love War & Death by Hanging, released October 1, 2010

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all rights reserved

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about

Ray Cooper image

Ray Cooper UK

Ray Cooper is a singer/songwriter and multi instrumentalist currently residing in the depths of Sweden where he moved in 2000. He left Oysterband in 2013 after a year in which they picked up 3 BBC2 Folk Awards and appeared live on the "Later..with Jools Holland' show. Since then he has carved out a successful solo career.

Photo by Kerstin Maier ... more

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