Verse
Fm
Come closer to the fireside;
G#
pull in your chair
D#
I've a story to tell you;
Fm
faint hearted beware
Fm
It's a tale of tragic sorrow
G#
and the dark deeds of love
D#
I'm the only man here knows the tale,
Fm
and I'll tell you all I know.
[Verse 2]
Fm
This talk of John MacNaghten
G#
and his darling Mary Ann
D#
And how he came to hang that day
Fm
in the town of Strabane
Fm
It's true that he shot Mary Ann;
G#
put her in the grave
D#
Yet every lady in the land
Fm
prayed that he'd be saved.
[Verse 3]
Fm
MacNaghten was a charming rogue;
G#
the finest knew his name
D#
He dealt the cards with noble folk
Fm
and played the gambler's game
Fm
But the lure of pleasant parlours
G#
and ladies grand and fair
D#
Took all his money and his land
Fm
and left him to despair.
[Verse 4]
Fm
Now with a heart that was as low
G#
as a man's heart can go
D#
He went to his old friend Andrew Knox
Fm
and told him all his woe
Fm
"Come in, come in," Knox said to him.
G#
"You're welcome my good man.
D#
Come meet my wife Honoria
Fm
and my daughter Mary Ann."
[Verse 5]
Fm
Now Mary Ann was just fifteen
G#
with beauty seldom seen
D#
With golden hair and skin so fair
Fm
which nothing could exceed.
Fm
MacNaghten bowed and took her hand;
G#
she curtsied gracefully.
D#
He vowed to marry Mary Ann
Fm
and so their fate was sealed
[Verse 6]
Fm
Miss Knox was soon enchanted
G#
with MacNaghten's worldly way
D#
As hand in hand they strolled the land
Fm
that would all be hers someday
Fm
She said she'd gladly be his wife
G#
if her father would agree
D#
But he said he'd rather see her dead
Fm
than in MacNaghten's company
[Verse 7]
Fm
MacNaghten's mind swung with rage
G#
as he formed his final plan:
D#
He'd kill the MP Andrew Knox
Fm
and take his Mary Ann.
Fm
The coach was bound for Dublin town,
G#
the Knoxes all on board.
D#
In Strabane he made his stand
Fm
with a pistol and a sword.
[Verse 8]
Fm
MacNaghten thought that Mary Ann
G#
was seated on the right.
D#
He shot three times through the left;
Fm
the bullets pierced her side.
Fm
Andrew Knox then fired two shots;
G#
MacNaughten quickly fled.
D#
He was now a hunted man
Fm
and Mary Ann was dead.
[Verse 9]
Fm
MacNaghten soon was caught and tried;
G#
they sentenced him to die.
D#
His words of love for Mary Ann
Fm
brought tears to the ladies' eyes.
Fm
On the gallows he was proud and brave;
G#
he spoke no final words.
D#
He put the rope around his neck
Fm
and he jumped off with great force.
[Verse 10]
Fm
But the rope broke with a mighty crack
G#
and he fell down to the ground.
D#
The soldiers they all turned their backs
Fm
and the people gathered round.
Fm
They called out to MacNaghten to
G#
take the chance and run
D#
But he climbed back on the gallows
Fm
as the crowd stood still and stunned.
[Verse 11]
Fm
It was then he spoke his final words;
G#
his voice was cracked and dry.
D#
There was silence in the winter air
Fm
and a strange look in his eye.
Fm
He said that he would rather die
G#
than live his life in shame.
D#
He'd rather die than let
Fm
Half-Hanged MacNaghten be his name!
[Verse 12]
Fm
Now the hanging of MacNaghten
G#
and the death of Mary Ann
D#
Is known by rich and poor alike
Fm
all across the land.
Fm
They say it's because of the love of gold
G#
that Mary Ann Knox died,
D#
2x
But you know now the story's told
Fm
they both were killed by pride.