The Massacre At Glencoe Chords And Lyrics by The Corries
6/8 guitar timing. The story of this song relates to the McDonald Clan being murdered in their beds by the order of the king. The McDonald clan had granted hospitality to the same troops that killed they only days before. The massacre at Glencoe sheet music for violin for beginners included. Words and music written by Jim McLean in 1963. The sheet music and tin whistle notes are included. Return to all of the songs by the Corries .
Chorus
Oh [G]cruel is the snow that [C]sweeps Glen[G]coe
And covers the grave o’ [D]Donald
And [G]cruel was the foe that [C]raped Glen[G]coe
And [C]murdered the [D]house of Mac[G]Donald
They [G]came in a [D]blizzard, we [G]offered them heat
A [D]roof for their heads, dry [G]shoes for their [D]feet
We [G]wined them and [D]dined them, they [G]ate of our [Em]meat
And they [C]slept in the [D]house of Mac[G]Donald
Chorus
They [G]came from Fort [D]William with [G]murder in mind
The [D]Campbell had orders King [G]William had [D]signed
’Put [G]all to the [D]sword’ these [G]words under[Em]lined
And [C]leave none a[D]live called Mac[G]Donald
Chorus
They [G]came in the [D]night when the [G]men were asleep
This [D]band O' Argyles through [G]snow soft and [D]deep
Like [G]murdering [D]foxes a[G]mong helpless [Em]sheep
They [C]slaughtered the [D]house of Mac[G]Donald
Chorus
Some [G]died in their [D]beds at the [G]hand of the foe
Some [D]fled in the night and were [G]lost in the [D]snow
Some [G]lived to a[D]ccuse him that [G]struck the first [Em]blow
But [C]gone was the [D]house of Mac[G]Donald
Chorus
Oh [G]cruel is the snow that [C]sweeps Glen[G]coe
And covers the grave o’ [D]Donald
And [G]cruel was the foe that [C]raped Glen[G]coe
And [C]murdered the [D]house of Mac[G]Donald
They [G]came in a [D]blizzard, we [G]offered them heat
A [D]roof for their heads, dry [G]shoes for their [D]feet
We [G]wined them and [D]dined them, they [G]ate of our [Em]meat
And they [C]slept in the [D]house of Mac[G]Donald
Chorus
They [G]came from Fort [D]William with [G]murder in mind
The [D]Campbell had orders King [G]William had [D]signed
’Put [G]all to the [D]sword’ these [G]words under[Em]lined
And [C]leave none a[D]live called Mac[G]Donald
Chorus
They [G]came in the [D]night when the [G]men were asleep
This [D]band O' Argyles through [G]snow soft and [D]deep
Like [G]murdering [D]foxes a[G]mong helpless [Em]sheep
They [C]slaughtered the [D]house of Mac[G]Donald
Chorus
Some [G]died in their [D]beds at the [G]hand of the foe
Some [D]fled in the night and were [G]lost in the [D]snow
Some [G]lived to a[D]ccuse him that [G]struck the first [Em]blow
But [C]gone was the [D]house of Mac[G]Donald
Chorus
“The Massacre of Glencoe” is a slow, mournful Scottish ballad in G Major, often played with a lilting 6/8 rhythm or slow 3/4 feel.
Below you’ll find a strumming pattern (for that solemn march feel) and a fingerpicking tab that fits all verses.
🎵 The Massacre of Glencoe — in G Major
Tuning: Standard (EADGBE)
Tempo: ~65–70 BPM (slow and steady)
Time Signature: 6/8 (counted “ONE-two-three FOUR-five-six”)
🎸 1. Lyrics with Chords
Chorus
Oh [G]cruel is the snow that [C]sweeps Glen[G]coe
And covers the grave o’ [D]Donald
And [G]cruel was the foe that [C]raped Glen[G]coe
And [C]murdered the [D]house of Mac[G]Donald
Verse
They [G]came in a [D]blizzard, we [G]offered them heat
A [D]roof for their heads, dry [G]shoes for their [D]feet
We [G]wined them and [D]dined them, they [G]ate of our [Em]meat
And they [C]slept in the [D]house of Mac[G]Donald
🎸 2. Strumming Pattern (6/8 Ballad Feel)
A slow, swaying pattern fits beautifully here.
↓ ↓↑ ↓↑
Count: 1 2 3 4 5 6
or in words:
Bass – Down-Up – Down-Up
How to play it:
On beat 1, play the bass note (with thumb or pick)
Beats 2–3, 5–6, gentle down-up brushes on mid/high strings
Keep the feel flowing and sad, not choppy — imagine waves rolling.
Example:
For G, strike 6th string → down-up → down-up
For C, strike 5th string → down-up → down-up
🎶 3. Fingerpicking Tab (for All Verses)
Use this rolling arpeggio pattern:
T – I – M – T – I – M
(Thumb = bass, Index = G string, Middle = B string)
Let each note ring into the next for a rich, mournful sound.
Example Picking (Verse + Chorus)
G
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|----------------|----------------|
A|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|
Oh cruel is the snow that sweeps Glencoe
C
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---1-----|------1---1-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|--2-------------|--2-------------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
And covers the grave o’ Donald
D
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---3-----|------3---3-----|
G|----2---2---2---|----2---2---2---|
D|--0-------------|--0-------------|
A|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
And cruel was the foe that raped Glencoe
G Em C D G
e|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|------2---2-----|------3---3-----|
B|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----1---1---1---|----3---3---3---|----0---0---0---|
G|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|
D|--0-------------|--2-------------|--2-------------|--0-------------|--0-------------|
A|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|
And murdered the house of MacDonald
💡 Performance Tips
🎵 Feel:
Slow, solemn, like a lament.
Let open strings ring; it gives the “bagpipe drone” effect.
🎵 Bass Alternation (for movement):
G: alternate 6th → 4th
C: 5th → 4th
D: 4th → 5th
Em: 6th → 4th
🎵 Optional Ornamentation:
Add gentle hammer-ons (e.g., for C: 0→2 on D string).
On D chord, try lifting and replacing the high E (0↔2) for a D–Dsus4–D feel.
🎵 Ending arpeggio suggestion (final “MacDonald”):
e|--3-----------|
B|----0---------|
G|------0-------|
D|--------0-----|
A|--------------|
E|--3-----------|
Let it ring — mournful and reverent.
“The Massacre of Glencoe” is a slow, mournful Scottish ballad in G Major, often played with a lilting 6/8 rhythm or slow 3/4 feel.
Below you’ll find a strumming pattern (for that solemn march feel) and a fingerpicking tab that fits all verses.
🎵 The Massacre of Glencoe — in G Major
Tuning: Standard (EADGBE)
Tempo: ~65–70 BPM (slow and steady)
Time Signature: 6/8 (counted “ONE-two-three FOUR-five-six”)
🎸 1. Lyrics with Chords
Chorus
Oh [G]cruel is the snow that [C]sweeps Glen[G]coe
And covers the grave o’ [D]Donald
And [G]cruel was the foe that [C]raped Glen[G]coe
And [C]murdered the [D]house of Mac[G]Donald
Verse
They [G]came in a [D]blizzard, we [G]offered them heat
A [D]roof for their heads, dry [G]shoes for their [D]feet
We [G]wined them and [D]dined them, they [G]ate of our [Em]meat
And they [C]slept in the [D]house of Mac[G]Donald
🎸 2. Strumming Pattern (6/8 Ballad Feel)
A slow, swaying pattern fits beautifully here.
↓ ↓↑ ↓↑
Count: 1 2 3 4 5 6
or in words:
Bass – Down-Up – Down-Up
How to play it:
On beat 1, play the bass note (with thumb or pick)
Beats 2–3, 5–6, gentle down-up brushes on mid/high strings
Keep the feel flowing and sad, not choppy — imagine waves rolling.
Example:
For G, strike 6th string → down-up → down-up
For C, strike 5th string → down-up → down-up
🎶 3. Fingerpicking Tab (for All Verses)
Use this rolling arpeggio pattern:
T – I – M – T – I – M
(Thumb = bass, Index = G string, Middle = B string)
Let each note ring into the next for a rich, mournful sound.
Example Picking (Verse + Chorus)
G
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|----------------|----------------|
A|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|
Oh cruel is the snow that sweeps Glencoe
C
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------1---1-----|------1---1-----|
G|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|
D|--2-------------|--2-------------|
A|--3-------------|--3-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
And covers the grave o’ Donald
D
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------3---3-----|------3---3-----|
G|----2---2---2---|----2---2---2---|
D|--0-------------|--0-------------|
A|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
And cruel was the foe that raped Glencoe
G Em C D G
e|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|------0---0-----|------2---2-----|------3---3-----|
B|----0---0---0---|----0---0---0---|----1---1---1---|----3---3---3---|----0---0---0---|
G|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------0-------|--------2-------|--------0-------|
D|--0-------------|--2-------------|--2-------------|--0-------------|--0-------------|
A|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|
E|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|--3-------------|
And murdered the house of MacDonald
💡 Performance Tips
🎵 Feel:
Slow, solemn, like a lament.
Let open strings ring; it gives the “bagpipe drone” effect.
🎵 Bass Alternation (for movement):
G: alternate 6th → 4th
C: 5th → 4th
D: 4th → 5th
Em: 6th → 4th
🎵 Optional Ornamentation:
Add gentle hammer-ons (e.g., for C: 0→2 on D string).
On D chord, try lifting and replacing the high E (0↔2) for a D–Dsus4–D feel.
🎵 Ending arpeggio suggestion (final “MacDonald”):
e|--3-----------|
B|----0---------|
G|------0-------|
D|--------0-----|
A|--------------|
E|--3-----------|
Let it ring — mournful and reverent.
The Massacre Of Glencoe Sheet Music Score In The Key Of G Major With The Guitar Chords
The massacre at Glencoe sheet music for violin
