THE SONS OF GLENCOE
(Massacre, 13th Feb., 1692)  As sung by MacGregor Kennedy

Ye loyal MacDonalds awaken, awaken,
Why sleep ye sae soundly in face of the foe?
The clouds pass away and the dawn it is breaking,
But when shall awaken the sons of Glencoe?

Ye lay down to rest with your thoughts on the morrow,
Nor dreamt that lives visions were melting like snow,
But daylight has dawned on the silence of sorrow,
And ne'er shall awaken the sons of Glencoe.

The winds howl a warning, the red lightning flashes,
They heap on the faggots a welcome to show,
But traitors are brooding on death o'er the ashes,
Now cold are the hearths of the sons of Glencoe.

O dark was the omen that brought to our sheiling,
The Black-hearted Campbell wi' treacherous smile,
We gave them our food with a brother's own feeling,
For when we believed there was truth in Argyle.

My clansmen strike boldly, let none of you count
On the mercy of cowards who wrought us such woe.
The wail of their spirits when heard on the mountain,
Must surely awaken the sons of Glencoe.

O cruel as adders, ye struck us while sleeping,
But vengeance shall haunt ye wherever ye go.
Our loved ones lie murdered, no sorrow nor weeping
Can ever awaken the sons of Glencoe.

Note - The Sons of Glen Coe survived despite the machinations of English politicians and their Scottish tools and appeared in arms for Scotland in 1715, 1719, and in the Forty-five. Today their descendants still work for a free and independent Scotland.

Learn more about the Massacre here!