This is the first song I was ever taught at primary school in Leith around 1970. I've been singing it ever since and reckon The Corries do it more justice than most others I've heard. Superb performance!
Farewell ye dungeons dark and strong The wretches destiny, MacPhersons time will no be lang On yonder gallow's tree It was by a woman's treachorous hands That I was condemned to dee She stood uben a windae ledge And a blanket threw o'er me Sae rantingly, sae wantonly Ans sae dauntingly gaed he He played a tune and he danced around Below the gallow's tree Oh what is death, but parting breath On mony a bloody plain I've daur'd his face, and in his place I scorn him yet again So tak these bands fae aff my hands Gae to me my sword There's nae a man in a' Scotland But I'll brave him at a word Now farewell light thou sunshine bright And all beneath the sky May coward shame disdain his name The wretch that dare not die
I have a dear friend in North Carolina whose maiden name was MacPherson. Her family has been here in the new world since before the revolution, so she is long removed from her Scots ancestors, but I can't wait to point her to this! She will be charmed!
Ja nie mieszkam w Waszym kraju, ale bardzo lubię Szkocję, jej historię, pieśni i piosenki oraz prawie wszystko co ze Szkocją związane. I don't live in your country, but I really like Scotland, its history, songs and songs and almost everything related to Scotland. Pozdrawiam serdecznie - Best wishes
I'm pleased to meet you my kin from a Highland macpherson named James macpherson after my ancestors did you know that clunny our clan chief followed prince Charlie to basel Switzerland guess what I'm a Highland macpherson married to an amazing woman from basel history repeats itself
She will be charmed indeed. She will also find out that we landaed in south Carolina we decided it was too bloody warm and moved north! Canada there we went!
@BlindKakashi Folksongs are like that. There are about twenty verses to this song, about fourteen of which I have actually heard in recordings, and have never heard a version with more than eight verses at once. Some are traditional, some written by Walter Scott, some written by Robert Burns. It's public domain, and people are free to sing as they like! That's why it's called folk, it travels by word of mouth.
great version...first heard it by john meadows...who played Job during the last season of the Book of Job at Pine Mtn. State Park, after a 20 year run. he did an acapella version in the newspaper office one afternoon.
Верните мне мой добрый меч! Верните мой доспех! Пусть выйдет десять храбрецов я одолею всех! Так весело без страха, шел к вистлеце он. В последний час, в последний пляс пустился Макферсон. (Русский вариант)
What happened to this verse. "I have lived a life, o' straught and strife I die by treachery, It burns my heart, that I must depart, An no avenged be".
yeah, pretty much "give it hell!" like alba said. but i'm liking the idea of inventing a noun meaning too! is it a bird? is it a plane? no, it's a laldy!
they never ever got to play that instrument that mcpherson used to make the song because he broke it up so no one would ever play it on that again, pretty good i think i can see his logic in this act of destroying his guitar
still, the change in words change the meaning. In the original version, MacPherson sounds like a kind of mortal Jesus, in this he sounds like he's a bloodthirsty bandit, not a noble thief like Robin Hood
Not only music also society, values and views are changing. Of course there is a lot of commercialised trash out here...but that's the way the world is turning right now. The only thing we can argue about is if the "progress" or change is a "good" or a "bad" one.
I feel bad because Jamie MacPherson's father was killed by rievers.. and us Armstrongs were rievers... but Jamie was also an outlaw. Who cares it's a bloody damn good song!
Sorry lads that I can't give any better rating, but since I heard the Scocha-Version of this song I have to say I prefer that one. This one is not bad at all, it is good, but there is a better version out there...
Sorry, but Scottish and Irish history are not intertwined: Scotland and Ireland (pre Act of Union) spent a lot of time at war with one another. For examply, William Wallace fought an Irish invasion (and defeated it bloodily) during his time as Guardian of Scotland, the Scots plantation of Ulster was taken gleefully by the Scots in retaliation for acts against them by the Irish. Just because someone in county Clare or Clackmannanshire sings the same song, that doesn't make them the same people
Scotspikeman no Irish invaded Scotland during william's reign and he invaded Ireland to fight the lordship of Ireland i.e England and their Norman vassals
Hope your still around 10 years later to receive this comment your .. Your talking utter pish pal,hopefully since then you’ve not being making up shit and posting it as the truth, in these days of unlimited information ignorance is a choice, choose wisely!
Didn't they change/omit some of the lyrics? If I remember correctly, the version that either MacPherson or Burns wrote (I forget which I read) said that he didn't want to be avenged, but don't the Corries say that he did? They do this with a good amount of songs, and while I love listening to them, it just is confusing to me.
dont fuck wi the macphersons my dads name was murdoch which is scottish for "sea warrior" he came from the islands and he was a diamond he was in the british army and was feart of fuck all
I appreciate your historical attitude, mate, but dont call Britons "Bretons", because this may confuse many people without or little knowledge of British history. Also, endless discussions about very well researched and known story of Ulster settlers of Dal Riata and their later role in Scottish history...And the source of Scot name...etc. Its all useless, because what counts is...well, the sheer beauty of ANY Gaelic/Irish/Pictish/Celtic culture, language...and particularly music. Long live Alba
This is the first song I was ever taught at primary school in Leith around 1970. I've been singing it ever since and reckon The Corries do it more justice than most others I've heard. Superb performance!
It brings me back to my Scottish roots xx makes me want to cry 😢
The Corries rendition of McPherson’s Rant is proudly the song of the Clan.
Farewell ye dungeons dark and strong
The wretches destiny,
MacPhersons time will no be lang
On yonder gallow's tree
It was by a woman's treachorous hands
That I was condemned to dee
She stood uben a windae ledge
And a blanket threw o'er me
Sae rantingly, sae wantonly
Ans sae dauntingly gaed he
He played a tune and he danced around
Below the gallow's tree
Oh what is death, but parting breath
On mony a bloody plain
I've daur'd his face, and in his place
I scorn him yet again
So tak these bands fae aff my hands
Gae to me my sword
There's nae a man in a' Scotland
But I'll brave him at a word
Now farewell light thou sunshine bright
And all beneath the sky
May coward shame disdain his name
The wretch that dare not die
Absolutely superb. This is proper music - better than the tripe you hear today.
I have a dear friend in North Carolina whose maiden name was MacPherson. Her family has been here in the new world since before the revolution, so she is long removed from her Scots ancestors, but I can't wait to point her to this! She will be charmed!
May God keep you in his holy keeping Roy.
They were always so special to me. Still are.
Oh how I miss these guys,
Ah! Roy & Ronnie.....the sweet, sweet memories. Happy days!
Being a MacPherson myself, living in a far away country, I must say this song makes me proud of my heritage, and of who I am.
Ja nie mieszkam w Waszym kraju, ale bardzo lubię Szkocję, jej historię, pieśni i piosenki oraz prawie wszystko co ze Szkocją związane.
I don't live in your country, but I really like Scotland, its history, songs and songs and almost everything related to Scotland.
Pozdrawiam serdecznie - Best wishes
I'm pleased to meet you my kin from a Highland macpherson named James macpherson after my ancestors did you know that clunny our clan chief followed prince Charlie to basel Switzerland guess what I'm a Highland macpherson married to an amazing woman from basel history repeats itself
I love that my ancestors were the macphersons
sae rantingly, sae wantonly,
ans sae dauntingly gaed he,
he played a tune and he danced aroond
below the gallow's tree
pure class
Music is always changing, but change doesn't necessarily equal progress.
I absolutely love the expression on Ronnie's face during the verse beginning at 1.43. Quality!
She will be charmed indeed. She will also find out that we landaed in south Carolina we decided it was too bloody warm and moved north! Canada there we went!
@BlindKakashi
Folksongs are like that. There are about twenty verses to this song, about fourteen of which I have actually heard in recordings, and have never heard a version with more than eight verses at once. Some are traditional, some written by Walter Scott, some written by Robert Burns. It's public domain, and people are free to sing as they like! That's why it's called folk, it travels by word of mouth.
great version...first heard it by john meadows...who played Job during the last season of the
Book of Job at Pine Mtn. State Park, after a 20 year run. he did an acapella version in the newspaper office one afternoon.
Holy hell, those Scots are some rough and tough fellers. It is a beautiful tune but when you parse it out. Man, they ain't messing around!
I love the whole story, you can’t believe it was illegal in Scotland at one time to be an Egyptian/gypsy
Scottish and Irish travellers have a separate heritage to the Roma people. Traveller and Roma are not the same. They each have their own culture
Just learned to play this great tune on my accordian !
My name sake James macpherson I'm so proud to carry that name
Yes, love this!
BRILLIANT.
This was one of the first versions of this I learned.
always loved the CORRIES
Crackin song.
fantastic !!
Phuckin awesome,
Per Mare Per Terram
THE BEST
Great stuff !
So true!
one of my favorites. MAN, ronnie has a head of hair.
Верните мне мой добрый меч! Верните мой доспех! Пусть выйдет десять храбрецов я одолею всех!
Так весело без страха, шел к вистлеце он.
В последний час, в последний пляс пустился Макферсон.
(Русский вариант)
@uo8am
Yes, like i quoted - a Scots/Ulster tune.
no such thing as Scots/Ulster ya weirdo
What happened to this verse. "I have lived a life, o' straught and strife
I die by treachery, It burns my heart, that I must depart, An no avenged be".
despot1: The lines you quote are sung in another Corries version of this song.
yeah, pretty much "give it hell!" like alba said. but i'm liking the idea of inventing a noun meaning too! is it a bird? is it a plane? no, it's a laldy!
burns burns burns
we usually find that the first version of a song you hear is always the best
they never ever got to play that instrument that mcpherson used to make the song because he broke it up so no one would ever play it on that again, pretty good i think i can see his logic in this act of destroying his guitar
Fiddle.
@seonidh
It's a Scots/Ulster connection- which apples to much of our history.
my comment was directed at the language some choose to us on you tube...not this great song sung by two great men..
Thanks for the information about "Laldy!" Now I know. And I loved the bird and plane stuff. I get a lot of good laughs off Ytube.
the corries made it a great scottish song go on the corries
Terrific!pleqsr provide full lyrics
wow...its like a bathroom wall on utube....
Shouldn't it be "Gie to me my sword"?
@SammyEnglish
This is from Scotland Banff/ Mcduff pure Scotland the North East of Scotland the finest place in the world
still, the change in words change the meaning. In the original version, MacPherson sounds like a kind of mortal Jesus, in this he sounds like he's a bloodthirsty bandit, not a noble thief like Robin Hood
Not only music also society, values and views are changing. Of course there is a lot of commercialised trash out here...but that's the way the world is turning right now. The only thing we can argue about is if the "progress" or change is a "good" or a "bad" one.
I feel bad because Jamie MacPherson's father was killed by rievers.. and us Armstrongs were rievers... but Jamie was also an outlaw. Who cares it's a bloody damn good song!
@mrbonedigger : don't understand why you received the thumbs down for referencing that this is a Burns work; are many ignorant to this fact?
@1qaud
Sae rantin'ly, sae wantonly, and sae dauntin'ly gaed he
He played a tune, and danced it roond, below the gallows tree
@mrbonedigger : Don't understand why you are getting thumbs down for referencing this as a Burns work. Are many ignorant to this fact?
Brilliant. Love the lacklustre clapping at 2:08 - gie it laldy wumman!
Sorry lads that I can't give any better rating, but since I heard the Scocha-Version of this song I have to say I prefer that one. This one is not bad at all, it is good, but there is a better version out there...
A good Ulster-Scots song
get fucked
Rabbie Burns at his best
thank f--k for tv,wan o the best things on YT is the corries live :)
Sorry, but Scottish and Irish history are not intertwined: Scotland and Ireland (pre Act of Union) spent a lot of time at war with one another. For examply, William Wallace fought an Irish invasion (and defeated it bloodily) during his time as Guardian of Scotland, the Scots plantation of Ulster was taken gleefully by the Scots in retaliation for acts against them by the Irish. Just because someone in county Clare or Clackmannanshire sings the same song, that doesn't make them the same people
Scotspikeman no Irish invaded Scotland during william's reign and he invaded Ireland to fight the lordship of Ireland i.e England and their Norman vassals
Hope your still around 10 years later to receive this comment your .. Your talking utter pish pal,hopefully since then you’ve not being making up shit and posting it as the truth, in these days of unlimited information ignorance is a choice, choose wisely!
Is this the song that the Scots sing in the film "Waterloo"?
These men are irreplaceable.
Didn't they change/omit some of the lyrics? If I remember correctly, the version that either MacPherson or Burns wrote (I forget which I read) said that he didn't want to be avenged, but don't the Corries say that he did? They do this with a good amount of songs, and while I love listening to them, it just is confusing to me.
👍
Anyone know where this Venue is
also, do you know any other versions with the traditional lyrics?
is this song about big elf ?
This song is about James MacPherson.
Alba gu bràth
lmao... it's a scotish Kenny Rogers.
if having a higher in history makes you an expert then, im a world renowned physicist and designer
Music is in a steady progress like every Art. Only because you like this song and think that this is "proper music" doesnt make your claim right :D
dont fuck wi the macphersons my dads name was murdoch which is scottish for "sea warrior" he came from the islands and he was a diamond he was in the british army and was feart of fuck all
Paul MacPherson: murdoch in Scottish Gaelic means "sea battle."
Too right it doesn't: To all the americans commenting on these songs, try and do some research instead of relying on what your mate told you.
I appreciate your historical attitude, mate, but dont call Britons "Bretons", because this may confuse many people without or little knowledge of British history. Also, endless discussions about very well researched and known story of Ulster settlers of Dal Riata and their later role in Scottish history...And the source of Scot name...etc. Its all useless, because what counts is...well, the sheer beauty of ANY Gaelic/Irish/Pictish/Celtic culture, language...and particularly music. Long live Alba