Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

M'Pherson's Farewell

Robert Burns

“M'Pherson's Farewell” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 225 1887 · historical text
Public domainScottish songSong lyrics
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from The Poetical Works of Robert Burns, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

Farewell, ye dungeons dark and strong,

The wretch's destinie:

M'Pherson's time will not be long

On yonder gallows tree.

Verse 2

CHORUS.

Sae rantingly, sae wantonly,

Sae dauntingly gaed he;

He play'd a spring and danc'd it round,

Below the gallows tree.

Verse 3

Oh, what is death but parting breath?—

On monie a bloody plain

I've dar'd his face, and in this place

I scorn him yet again!

Sae rantingly, &c.

Verse 4

Untie these bands from off my hands,

And bring to me my sword!

And there's no a man in all Scotland,

But I'll brave him at a word.

Sae rantingly, &c.

Verse 5

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.

Verse 6

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.

Credits

Written by Robert Burns

Words by Robert Burns. Historical text published in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887), “M'Pherson's Farewell”

Every text in this 1887 collected edition is by Robert Burns (1759-1796), who died more than 230 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide; the edition carries a Wikisource PD-old determination and a pre-1931 United States publication.

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-25. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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