They came in the night
When the men were asleep
This band O' Argyles
Through snow soft and deep
Like murdering foxes
Among helpless sheep
They slaughtered the house of
MacDonald

O Cruel is the snow
That sweeps Glencoe
And covers the grave O Donald
And cruel was the foe
That raped Glencoe
And murderd the house of
MacDonald

They came in a blizzard
We offered them heat
A roof o'er their heads
And dry shoes for their feet
We wined them and dined them
They ate of our meat
And they slept in the house of
MacDonald
O Cruel is the snow
That sweeps Glencoe
And covers the grave O Donald
And cruel was the foe
That raped Glencoe
And murderd the house of
MacDonald

They came from Fort William
Wi' murder in mind
The Campbells had orders
King William had signed
Put all to the sword
These words underlined
And leave none alive called
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 of
MacDonald
O Cruel is the snow
That sweeps Glencoe
And covers the grave O Donald
And cruel was the foe
That raped Glencoe
And murderd the house of
MacDonald