Lead singer Paul McKenzie leads a high-energy act which does extensive concert tours, including an eight-month, twenty-three-country tour in a van. On these tours they have shared the stage with Shane MacGowan, Rancid, NOFX, Flogging Molly, The Misfits, and even Metallica.
In addition to their original music, the McKenzies also resurrect old Scottish and Irish favorites, giving them a modern arrangement. Their songs have been used in beer commercials and featured in video games
* Paul McKenzie — vocals
* Dirty Kurt Robertson — guitar, vocals
* Matthew MacNasty — bagpipes real name: Matthew James Hawley
* "Little" Joe Raposo (RKL) — bass guitar
* Sean Sellers (Good Riddance) — war drums
* Mark "Bone" Boland — guitar, vocals
* Dave Gregg (D.O.A) - Guitar
* Gwomper ( Avail, Smoke or Fire.) -Bass, Vocals.
* Gord Taylor ( The Stirling Pipe Band ) --Bagpipes.
* Karl Alvarez ( All, The Descendants.) --Bass.
The Massacre Of Glencoe
The Real McKenzies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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 were 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
That 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
The Massacre of Glencoe is a song by The Real McKenzies that recounts one of the bloodiest episodes in Scottish history. The song tells the story of the MacDonald clan, who welcomed their enemies, the Campbell clan, into their home in Glencoe in the winter of 1692, offering them food, shelter and warmth. However, in the early hours of the morning, the Campbells turned on the MacDonalds and massacred them in their sleep, killing around 40 men, women and children.
The lyrics of the song give a vivid description of the brutal and senseless violence that took place. The first verse describes how the Campbells crept stealthily through the snow-covered landscape, attacking the helpless MacDonalds like "murdering foxes among helpless sheep." The second verse laments the cruel fate of the MacDonalds, who were buried in the snow and left to the mercy of the harsh winter weather. The third verse tells of how the Campbells took advantage of the MacDonalds' hospitality, only to betray them in the most treacherous way possible.
Line by Line Meaning
They came in the night
The attackers arrived during the nighttime
When the men were asleep
The men were asleep and defenseless when the attackers arrived
This band O' Argyles
The attackers were from the Argyle region
Through snow soft and deep
The attackers trudged through deep snow to reach their target
Like murdering foxes
The attackers were ruthless killers like foxes attacking helpless sheep
Among helpless sheep
The attackers targeted defenseless victims
They slaughtered the house of MacDonald
The attackers killed the members of the MacDonald clan and destroyed the clan itself
O Cruel is the snow
The snow is a cruel element in this tragedy
That sweeps Glencoe
The snow covered the area where the tragedy occurred
And covers the grave O Donald
The snow even covers the grave of one of the victims named Donald
And cruel was the foe
The attackers were cruel and heartless
That raped Glencoe
The attackers pillaged and devastated the area of Glencoe
And murdered the house of MacDonald
The attackers killed members of the MacDonald clan and ruined the clan itself
They came in a blizzard
The attackers arrived during a severe snowstorm
We offered them heat
The MacDonalds offered the attackers warmth
A roof o'er their heads
The MacDonalds gave the attackers shelter from the storm
Dry shoes for their feet
The MacDonalds provided the attackers with dry shoes
We wined them and dined them
The MacDonalds treated the attackers to food and drink
They ate of our meat
The attackers even ate the MacDonalds' food
And they slept in the house of MacDonald
The attackers were given a place to sleep in the MacDonalds' home
They came from Fort William
The attackers were from Fort William
Wi' murder in mind
The attackers had the intention to kill
The Campbells had orders
The attackers were following orders from the Campbell clan
King William had signed
The orders to attack came from King William III himself
Put all to the sword
The attackers were instructed to kill every member of the MacDonald clan
These words were underlined
The order to kill was emphasized
And leave none alive called MacDonald
Every person with the last name of MacDonald was targeted for death
Some died in their beds
Some of the MacDonalds were killed while they were sleeping
At the hand of the foe
The attackers killed the MacDonalds
Some fled in the night
Some of the MacDonalds managed to escape in the darkness
And were lost in the snow
Some of the escapees died in the harsh winter conditions
Some lived to accuse him
Some of the survivors spoke out against the attackers
That struck the first blow
The person who started the violence was condemned
But gone was the house of MacDonald
The MacDonald clan was forever destroyed by the attack
Contributed by Josiah F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Lyrics Comment
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
o 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 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
o cruel was the foe that raped glencoe
and murderd the house of Macdonald
They came from fort william with murder in mind
the Campbells had orders king William had signed
put all to the sword
these words were 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 that 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
o cruel was the foe that raped glencoe
and murderd the house of Macdonald
- O cruel is the snow that sweeps glencoe
and covers the grave o donald
o cruel was the foe that raped glencoe
and murderd the house of Macdonald
yes they murderd the house of Macdonald
theymurderd the house of Macdonald
Blixer
Lyrics: (in order)
They came in the night when the men were asleep
That band of Argyles, through snow soft and deep.
Like murdering foxes, among helpless sheep
They slaughtered the house o' MacDonald
Oh cruel is the snow that sweeps Glencoe
And covers the grave o' Donald
And cruel was the foe that raped Glencoe
And murdered the house o' MacDonald
(chorus)
They came through the blizzard, we offered them heat
A roof ower their heads, dry shoes for their feet
We wined them and dined them, they ate o' our meat
And slept in the house O' MacDonald
(chorus)
They came from Fort William with murder mind
The Campbell had orders, King William had signed
put all to the sword, these words underlined
And leave none alive called MacDonald
(chorus)
Some died in their beds at the hands of the foe
Some fled in the night, were lost in the snow.
Some lived to accuse him, what struck the first blow
But gone was the house of MacDonald
(chorus) x 2
daniel green
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
Inspiring Mentor
Lyrics:
Oh cruel is the snow that sweeps Glencoe
And covers the grave o' Donald
And cruel was the foe that raped Glencoe
And murdered the house o' MacDonald
(chorus)
They came through the blizzard, we offered them heat
A roof ower their heads, dry shoes for their feet
We wined them and dined them, they ate o' our meat
And slept in the house O' MacDonald
(chorus)
They came from Fort William with murder mind
The Campbell had orders, King William had signed
put all to the sword, these words underlined
And leave none alive called MacDonald
(chorus)
They came in the night when the men were asleep
That band of Argyles, through snow soft and deep.
Like murdering foxes, among helpless sheep
They slaughtered the house o' MacDonald
(chorus)
Some died in their beds at the hands of the foe
Some fled in the night, were lost in the snow.
Some lived to accuse him, what struck the first blow
But gone was the house of MacDonald
Riley Steidel
I found sheet music for this song on viola, I am so happy right now
Kaitlin Bryce
Where? I'd love to play this too!
bad Ruter
I found this band a few years back watching a deep dive on a song of ice and fire. Their way of explaining the loss of guest right was this amazing band and song ❤️
evelau
I love this song, but am I the only one who finds it weird (though hilarious) how they took an incredibly sad song and made it super upbeat?
Best of Movie Analysis and Video Essays
obviously not
Jack Meyers
That's how humor works, it makes things like this easier to deal with.
Lyrics Comment
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
o 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 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
o cruel was the foe that raped glencoe
and murderd the house of Macdonald
They came from fort william with murder in mind
the Campbells had orders king William had signed
put all to the sword
these words were 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 that 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
o cruel was the foe that raped glencoe
and murderd the house of Macdonald
- O cruel is the snow that sweeps glencoe
and covers the grave o donald
o cruel was the foe that raped glencoe
and murderd the house of Macdonald
yes they murderd the house of Macdonald
theymurderd the house of Macdonald
Coca Loca
This is the most cheerful song that describes dishonorable, cowardly slaughter I've ever heard.
Parintachin
Listen to more ska music
wasalater
there should be a ska version lol.