Farewell you dungeons dark and strong, farewell, farewell to thee
That fearsome song will not belong upon the gallows tree

Say rantontly, say wantontly, say dauntently played here
He played a tune and he danced around, below the gallows tree

Oh, little did my mother know when first she cradled me
That I would become a rowen boy and die on the gallows tree

Say rantontly, say wantontly, say dauntently played here
He played a tune and he danced around, below the gallows tree

Untie these bands from off my hands and give to me my board
I've not to leave my great Scotland for a tune before I go

Say rantontly, say wantontly, say dauntently played here
He played a tune and he danced around, below the gallows tree

There's some come here to see me hang and some to steal my fiddle
But before that I do part with her, I'll break her through the middle
He took the fiddle into both his hands, he broke it on his knee
He said “When I am gone no other hands shall ever play on thee”

Say rantontly, say wantontly, say dauntently played here
He played a tune and he danced around, below the gallows tree
He played a tune and he danced around, and they hanged him to the tree