Hi. FullSet (Irish band) does a killer version of this and I have gotten most of the lyrics from them, but it needs cleaning up. Anyone have the lyrics?

Half-Hanged McNaughton (per FullSet)

HALF-HANGED McNAUGHTON

Come closer to the fireside; pull in your chair
I've a story to tell you; the entire tale beware
It's a tale of tragic sorrow and dark days as well
I'm the only man here knows the tale, and I'll tell you all I know.

This talk of John MacNaghten and his darling Mary Ann
And how he came to hang that day in the town of Strabane
It's true that he shot Mary Ann; put her in the grave
Yet every lady in the land prayed that he'd be saved.

MacNaghten was a charming rogue; the finest knew his name
He dealt the cards to noble folk and played the gambler's game
But the lure of pleasant parlours and ladies grand and fair
Took all his money and his land and left him to despair.

Now with a heart that was as low as a man's heart can go
He went to his old friend Andrew Know and told him all his woe
"Come in, come in," Knox said to him. "You're welcome my good man.
Come meet my wife Honoria and my daughter Mary Ann."

Now Mary Ann was just fifteen with beauty seldom seen
With golden hair and skin so fair [which nothing bad had seen]
MacNaghten bowed and took her hand and [kissed it gracefully]
He vowed to marry Mary Ann and so their fate was sealed.

Miss Knox was so enchanted with MacNaghten's worldly way
As hand in hand they strolled the land that would all be hers someday
She said she'd rather be his wife if her father would agree
But he said he'd rather see her dead than in MacNaghten's company

MacNaghten's mind [??] to forge his final plan
Of [?? ] killing Andrew Knox and taking Mary Ann
The coach was bound for Dublin town; the Knoxes all on board.
In Strabane he made it stop with a pistol and a sword

MacNaghten thought that Mary Ann was seated on the right
He shot three times through the left and the bullets pierced her side
Andrew Knox then fired two shots; MacNaughten quickly fled
He was now a hunted man and Mary Ann was dead.

MacNaghten soon was caught and tried; they sentenced him to die
His words of love for Mary Ann brought tears to the ladies' eyes
On the gallows he was tied [ ??]; spoke no final words
He put the rope around his neck and he jumped off with great force.

But the rope broke with a mighty crack and fell down to the ground
The soldiers they all turned their backs and the people gathered round.
They called out to MacNaghten to take the chance and run
But he climbed back on the gallows as the crowd sat still and stunned

It was then he spoke his final words; his voice was cracked and dry
There was silence in the winter air and a strange look in his eye.
He said that he would rather die than live his life in shame;
He'd rather die than have Half-Hanged MacNaghten be his name!

Now the hanging of MacNaghten and the death of Mary Ann
Is known by rich and poor alike all across the land
They say it's because of love of gold that Mary Ann Knox died
But you know now the story's told they both were killed that night.

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lI09QTlDWmE)