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