Oh cruel is the snow that sweeps Glencoe,
And covers the grave of Donald.
Cruel was the foe that raped Glencoe,
And murdered the house of MacDonald.
They came in the blizzard
We offered them heat,
A roof o'er their head,
Dry shoes for their feet,
We wined them and dined them,
They ate of our meat,
And they slept in the house of MacDonald.
Oh cruel was the snow that swept Glencoe,
And covered the grave of Donald,
And cruel was the foe that raped Glencoe,
And murdered the house of MacDonald.
They came from Fort William with murder in mind,
A Campbell ... which King William had signed.
... these words underlined,
And leave none alive called MacDonald.
Oh cruel was the snow that swept Glencoe,
And covered the grave o' Donald
And cruel was the foe that raped Glencoe,
And murdered the house o' MacDonald.
They came in the night when the men were asleep,
This band of Argylls through snow soft and deep,
Like murdering foxes amongst helpless sheep,
They slaughtered the house o' MacDonald.
Oh cruel was the snow that swept Glencoe,
And covered the grave o' Donald.
And cruel was the foe that raped Glencoe,
And murdered the house o' MacDonald.
Some died in their beds at the hand of 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 o' MacDonald.
Oh cruel was the snow that swept Glencoe,
And covered the grave o' Donald,
And cruel was the foe that raped Glencoe,
And murdered the house o' MacDonald.