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