Story behind the song… Macpherson's Rant

by Paul Kelbie

If you visit Banff in the North East of Scotland and gaze across the mouth of the River Deveron to neighbouring Macduff you’ll see the impressive Doune Kirk standing tall overlooking the Moray Firth.

Look closely and it becomes obvious the 215-year-old church has an unusual clock tower - it tells the time on only three sides. The place on the west side of tower where a clock face should be, overlooking Banff, is blank.

Macduff Parish Church aka the Doune Kirk

Photo Dg-505 CC BY 3.0

Local legend has it that this is a deliberate slight by the residents of Macduff against their neighbours for their complicity in the death of a popular local outlaw with a reputation of being something of a Robin Hood figure

James Macpherson was born in 1675, the illegitimate son of a local laird and a gypsy girl, who grew up to be a man of “beauty, strength and stature rarely equalled”. He was reputed to be both a skilled swordsman and equally fine fiddle player.

In addition to having a passion for the ladies Macpherson also had an eye for a main chance and he became the leader of a gang of roving freebooters with a tendency to steal from the rich.

Broken Fiddle cafe on Straight Path, near the execution site

Photo by Ulrich Hartmann CC BY-SA 2.0

According to one writer of the time he never hurt or robbed widows, orphans or the distressed - only those who could afford to be parted from a little of their wealth.

As such Macpherson found favour among ordinary folk but incurred the wrath of rich lairds and land owners throughout Banffshire and as far north as Elgin and Forres, especially Alexander Duff of Braco, father of the 1st Earl of Fife.

In 1700 MacPherson and his men were ambushed by Braco’s men in Keith. As they passed through the town a woman threw a blanket from a window over the young outlaw, which prevented him drawing his sword, and he was captured and taken to Banff.

His trial on 8 November in front of Sheriff Nicholas Dunbar, who was allegedly a close friend of Duff’s, was quick and decisive. He was found guilty of being a gypsy, vagabond and thief and sentenced to hang.

View of Banff from the Macduff side of the River Deveron

Photo by Anne Burgess CC BY-SA 2.0

Imprisoned in Banff tollbooth awaiting execution the condemned man wrote a lament on his fiddle, now known as Macpherson’s Rant, while his friends tried to secure a pardon for him.

On market day, Friday 16 November 1700, Macpherson was taken from the jail to the gallows where, as a final request, he played his fiddle for the last time and offered it to the crowd. When nobody came forward to take the instrument he smashed it across his knee and threw it away.

According to folklore Macpherson’s friends had indeed been successful in getting him a reprieve. However, Alexander Duff is said to have spotted the messenger carrying the pardon galloping along the route from Turriff to Banff. He immediately ordered the town clock to be put forward 15 minutes so the 2pm execution could go ahead before the messenger arrived.

Duff House, Banff built by 1st earl of Fife and son of Alexander Duff of Braco

Photo by Mussklprozz CC BY-SA 3.0

It is widely believed the town’s magistrates were reprimanded for their actions and the town clock was kept 15 minutes fast for many years afterwards.

When the residents of neighbouring Macduff built their new Parish Church and clock tower more than 100 years later, in 1805, they made sure the people of Banff couldn’t see the correct time. Scots have long memories!

Robert Burns later wrote his own words to the tune composed by Macpherson and the song has since become a staple of the traditional music scene. It can be heard in this month’s Musical Correspondent performed by the foot-tapping Gaelic band Trail West.

Macduff Parish Church from the Banff side of the River Deveron

Photo by Dg-505 CC BY 3.0

This months show, exclusive to Scotland Correspondent, is presented by Tom Morton and includes performances from the highly talented duo Lynsey Aitken & Ken Campell, Blazin’ Fiddles, Michael Marra, Runrig and Mary Ann Kennedy. There are also tracks from Tidelines; Camera Obscura, Idlewild, Lau, Martin Bennet, Karine Polwart and Nahoo.

You can hear the latest podcast, and all previous shows, on the Radio Page at www.scotlandcorrespondent.com

The Musical Correspondent - an hour of great music at www.scotlandcorrespondent.com