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