James McPherson was a fiddler and highwayman who was hanged. As you can tell from the song, he was not pleased about his fate at all. This song is also called McPherson's Lament.

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MacPherson’s Farewell (or Rant)

Fareweel, ye dungeons dark and strong,
Fareweel, Fareweel tae thee.
MacPherson's time will nae be lang
On yonder gallows tree.

CHO: Sae rantin'ly, sae wantonly
Sae dauntin'ly gaed he
He played a tune and danced it roon'
Below the gallows tree.

'Twas by a woman's treacherous hand
That I was condemned to dee.
Below a ledge at a window she stood
And a blanket she threw o'er me.

The Laird o' Grant, that hieland sant
That first laid hands on me,
He played the cause on Peter Broon
Tae let MacPherson free.

Untie these bands frae off my hands
And gie to me my sword.
There's no' a man in all Scotland
But I'll brave him at a word.

There's some come here tae see me hanged
And some to buy my fiddle.
But before I do part wi' her
I'll brak her thro' the middle.

He took the fiddle in both of his hands
And he broke it o'er a stone.
Says,"There's nae ither hand shall play on thee
When I am dead and gone."