Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.
It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.
To inquire about permissions and rates, contact Emily Ezust at
If you wish to reprint translations, please make sure you include the names of the translators in your email. They are below each translation.
Note: You must use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.
Farewell, ye dungeons dark and strong, The wretch's destinie! McPherson's1 time will not be long, On yonder gallows-tree. Sae rantingly, sae wantonly, Sae dauntingly gae'd he: He play'd a spring, and danc'd it round Below the gallows-tree. O what is death but parting breath? On many a bloody plain I've dar'd his face, and in this place I scorn him yet again! Sae rantingly, sae wantonly... Untie these bands from off my hands, And bring to me my sword[;]2 And there 's no a man in all Scotland, But I'll brave him at a word. Sae rantingly, sae wantonly... 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, sae wantonly... 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, sae wantonly...
J. Haydn sets stanzas 1-2, 4-5
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)1 in some editions, "M'Pherson"
2 in some editions, ","
sturt = trouble
Authorship
- by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), title 1: "McPherson's Farewell", title 2: "Song - M'Pherson’s Farewell" [author's text checked 2 times against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)
- by John Linton Gardner (1917 - 2011), "Macpherson's farewell", op. 213 no. 7, published 1993 [ mixed chorus and orchestra ], from A Burns Sequence, no. 7, London : Oxford University Press [sung text not yet checked]
- by (Franz) Joseph Haydn (1732 - 1809), "Macpherson's farewell", Hob. XXXIa:182, JHW XXXII/3 no. 203, stanzas 1-2,4-5 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Francis George Scott (1880 - 1958), "Macpherson's farewell", published 1946 [ baritone and piano ], from Seven songs, no. 7, Bayley & Ferguson [sung text not yet checked]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in Russian (Русский), a translation by Samuil Yakovlevich Marschak (1887 - 1964) [an adaptation] ; composed by Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich.
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CZE Czech (Čeština) (Josef Václav Sládek) , "Mac Phersonovo loučení"
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "L'adieu de McPherson", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2003-11-19
Line count: 28
Word count: 153
Adieu, sombres et puissants donjons, Destinée du misérable ! Le temps de McPherson ne sera pas long, Sur l'arbre-gibet là-bas. Refrain : Extravagant, badinant, Intrépide, il avança : Il joua un printemps, et dansa Sous les arbres-gibets. Oh, qu'est la mort sinon un souffle qui s'en va ? Sur bien des plaines ensanglantées Je l'ai défiée en face, et à cet endroit Je la méprise encore ! Refrain Détachez ces liens de mes mains, Et apportez-moi mon épée ; Et il n'y a aucun homme dans toute l'Écosse Que je ne braverais à l'épée. Refrain J'ai vécu une vie de troubles et de disputes ; Je meurs par traîtrise : Cela me brûle le cœur de partir Et de ne pas être vengé. Refrain Maintenant, adieu lumière, à toi lumineux soleil, et à tout ce qui est sous le ciel ! Que la honte du couard souille le nom Du misérable qui n'ose mourir ! Refrain
Authorship
- Translation from Scottish (Scots) to French (Français) copyright © 2014 by Pierre Mathé, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact:
- a text in Scottish (Scots) by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), title 1: "McPherson's Farewell", title 2: "Song - M'Pherson’s Farewell"
This text was added to the website: 2014-10-22
Line count: 28
Word count: 156