O cruel is the snow that sweeps Glencoe

And covers the grave of Donald

And cruel was the foe that raped Glencoe

And murdered the house o' Macdonald.

 

They came in a blizzard, we offered them heat,

A roof o'er their heads, dry shoes for their feet.

We wined them, dined them, they ate of our meat,

And slept in the house o' Macdonald.

 

Chorus :

And cruel is the snow that swept Glencoe

And covers the grave of Donald

And cruel was the foe that raped Glencoe

And murdered the house o' Macdonald.

 

They came from Fort William with murder in mind,

The Campbells had orders, King William had signed.

Put all to the sword, these words underlined,

And leave non alive called Macdonald.

 

They came in the night when our men were asleep,

This band of Argylls, through snow soft and deep

Like murdering foxes amongst helpless sheep

They murdered the house o' Macdonald.

 

Some died in their beds at the hands o the foe,

Some fled in the night and were lost in the snow

Some lived to accuse him who struck the first blow

But gone was the house of Macdonald.