I tell a tale about the night Hamish and I met at the folk club held on a Tuesday in the Windmill Hotel, Arbroath. It was a dreadful night, freezing cold and snowing like mad. Hardly anyone turned up so we spent the night chewing the fat, laughing loads and drinking huge volumes of Tennants lager! What a lovely fellow Hamish was.
This is a great song with a strong story and performed superbly which reminds me of that night in about 1968 - well over 40 years ago.
Interesting choice of film. I was expecting something more like pictures of the area round about Banff (was McPherson not from somewhere near there?), but your choice film of Scotland in general from British Pathe is good too.
In the words of Thomas Carlyle, this is "a wild, stormful song, that dwells in ear and mind with strange tenacity," and it is especially so in Hamish Imlach's rendition. Thanks for sharing.
bigmanio you never fail to surprise me. You keep posting songs that defined my childhood and with songwriters like Hamish and tunes like MacPhersons Rant in your childhood you have one of the best starts in life you can have. Thank you very much for posting.
I agree with you wholeheartedly! Someone told me to listen to Hamish years ago but at the time I was playing rock and I always thought folk singers were a bit wishy-washy. I wuz certainly wrong in Imlach's case!
what i mean is the man played a great song fantastically well and you all manage to bitch at each other in your comments obout his performance and how utterly utterly scottish that is. instead of agreeing that he was really really good at what he did
Sorry, br, but I've looked back all comments on here and can't find one where anyone was bitching or saying anything other than the man was brilliant.
James McPherson and his band of robbers terrorised the markets of Banff, Elgin and Forres. He and his band would march in with a piper at their head.
He was finally hanged in Banff in 1700.
A reprieve was sent but didn't arrive in time, mainly because the town clock was brought forward and thus the execution.
McPherson is said to have composed the farewell 'rant' himself, delivered it from the gallows, then broken his fiddle. The broken fiddle still exists, so they say.
@nacho1560 Just as I remembered the story! (although I wouldn't have been able to remember all the details on my own). Think the singer might have died before I was born, but my Dad remembers him and he says he was a good man by all accounts.
I tell a tale about the night Hamish and I met at the folk club held on a Tuesday in the Windmill Hotel, Arbroath. It was a dreadful night, freezing cold and snowing like mad. Hardly anyone turned up so we spent the night chewing the fat, laughing loads and drinking huge volumes of Tennants lager! What a lovely fellow Hamish was.
This is a great song with a strong story and performed superbly which reminds me of that night in about 1968 - well over 40 years ago.
TonyTheDriver100 3 months ago
@iheart Thanks mate.
Madradin 3 months ago
Anybody Know who plays the fiddle ?
Madradin 5 months ago
@Madradin It's Bobby Campbell
iheartfuzzyfelt79 3 months ago
Interesting choice of film. I was expecting something more like pictures of the area round about Banff (was McPherson not from somewhere near there?), but your choice film of Scotland in general from British Pathe is good too.
robsargent4 10 months ago
Slainte agus Eireann go brach
BrodEirennach90 1 year ago
I'm thankful to have heard him live around the pubs in Glasgow in the '60's.
Matt Mcginn was fantastic also..
Lanarkshirelassie 1 year ago
In the words of Thomas Carlyle, this is "a wild, stormful song, that dwells in ear and mind with strange tenacity," and it is especially so in Hamish Imlach's rendition. Thanks for sharing.
StanTheStoic 1 year ago
you still make me wani to get naked and dance
MurrayanaTheSmoke 1 year ago 3
The great Hamish Imach. Thanks for the images too.
sirhope 1 year ago
Did Motherwell reat exist in Lanarkshire
MurrayanaTheSmoke 1 year ago
bigmanio you never fail to surprise me. You keep posting songs that defined my childhood and with songwriters like Hamish and tunes like MacPhersons Rant in your childhood you have one of the best starts in life you can have. Thank you very much for posting.
thistlewarrior 1 year ago
Excellent post, as always! Love Hamish Imlach, McPherson's Farewell, and your marvelous vids! Many many thanks!
LindsayCurran 1 year ago
His version of Sonny's Dream is the best there is. Great video btw
thyjennif 1 year ago
Sincerely enjoyed this ...makes one realize how little of the history one knows..! Looking forward to your next video..
Dezmau 2 years ago
The best rendition of this sang that the world will ever offer.
Hamish was brilliant.
nacho1560 2 years ago 12
I agree with you wholeheartedly! Someone told me to listen to Hamish years ago but at the time I was playing rock and I always thought folk singers were a bit wishy-washy. I wuz certainly wrong in Imlach's case!
jockhamish 1 year ago
Great song and singer,not many good folkers left
dangledoop 2 years ago 5
Played as it should be...
147Brownbear 2 years ago 2
nice 1, bigmanio
keepthechangebob 2 years ago 2
what i mean is the man played a great song fantastically well and you all manage to bitch at each other in your comments obout his performance and how utterly utterly scottish that is. instead of agreeing that he was really really good at what he did
br131 2 years ago 3
Sorry, br, but I've looked back all comments on here and can't find one where anyone was bitching or saying anything other than the man was brilliant.
You must have been drunk when you imagined it.
nacho1560 2 years ago
yes yes right earthy and real...bless that man
1778owen 2 years ago 2
what pish youse all talk in your comments
br131 2 years ago 2
Hamish Imlach must be one of the most underrated folk singers of his time.
I only discovered him recently. What a perfect voice for this one, McPherson's Farewell.
My favourite is Cold Liver Oil and Orange Juice, a real classic.
nacho1560 3 years ago 17
James McPherson and his band of robbers terrorised the markets of Banff, Elgin and Forres. He and his band would march in with a piper at their head.
He was finally hanged in Banff in 1700.
A reprieve was sent but didn't arrive in time, mainly because the town clock was brought forward and thus the execution.
McPherson is said to have composed the farewell 'rant' himself, delivered it from the gallows, then broken his fiddle. The broken fiddle still exists, so they say.
nacho1560 3 years ago 3
@nacho1560 Just as I remembered the story! (although I wouldn't have been able to remember all the details on my own). Think the singer might have died before I was born, but my Dad remembers him and he says he was a good man by all accounts.
robsargent4 10 months ago
Hamish Imlach is such an excellent singer and guitar player
SelfProtection95 3 years ago 3
Best song ever.
I have to say, honestly and no exaggeration, this song moved my soul and changed my life.
slgworker 3 years ago 3
It's a great song indeed but who is McPherson?
Japanologe 2 years ago
Great song, great singer.
ormerrod 3 years ago
My favourite Hamish Imlach number . Thanks very much . Sad that the man passed away too early .
IrishDubliner99 3 years ago 3
Excellent! One of my favorite versions! Cheers!
Ganjus 3 years ago 3
goin by your name id say it wasn't worth reading ;)
caomhin1 3 years ago 2
gies peace
jollyroger1990 3 years ago 2
great add to western culture, thank you!
hswatnik 3 years ago
What a treat! Thank you so much for this.
DunedinDancer 4 years ago 4
From one Dunedinite to another , the Corries play a cracker of this one
meanbrianmean 3 years ago