The Massacre of Glencoe took place on 13 February 1692 during the aftermath of the Jacobite rising of 1689. Scottish Secretary of State, Lord Stair demanded that all Highland clans swear an oath of allegiance to King William and Queen Mary by 1 January 1962. The MacDonald’s of Glencoe were late in taking the oath, but letters have since emerged that suggests that Lord Stair wished to make an example of the Clan long before they missed the deadline.

Around 30 members of Clan MacDonald were brutally murdered by Clan Campbell, acting as Government forces on orders of King William. Clan Campbell had billeted with Clan MacDonald for around two weeks, accepting fine Highland hospitality. And in an act of treachery, murdered the MacDonalds in the morning. Many more MacDonald clan members fled and perished in the harsh winter snow. The brutality of the Massacre shocked Scottish society and became a Jacobite symbol of post-1688 oppression.

Jim McLean, of Paisley, wrote the piece in 1963 in traditional Scottish style as a political and folk ballad. 

Oh, cruel wis the snaw that sweeps Glen Coe 

And covers the grave o Donald 

Oh, cruel wis the foe that raped Glen Coe 

And murdered the house o MacDonald 

They cam in a blizzard, we offered them heat 

A roof ower their heids, dry shoes for their feet 

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

And they slept in the house o MacDonald 

They cam fae Fort William wi murder in mind 

The Campbell’s had orders King William had signed 

“Pit aa tae the sword” these words underlined 

“And leave nane alive caad MacDonald” 

They cam in the night when the men were asleep 

This band o Argyles, through snaw saft and deep 

Like murdering foxes amangst helpless sheep 

They slaughtered the house of MacDonald 

Some died in their beds at the haun o the foe 

Some fled in the nicht and were lost in the snaw 

Some lived tae tell him wha struck the first blow 

But gaen wis the house o MacDonald