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