The Ghosts of Glencoe

by Archie Graham
(Glasgow Scotland)

The Ghosts of Glencoe
The bard arrived within the house
The seer sat down with them
A dram to warm his heart was given
A meal for hunger’s pangs
People gathered close to him
His voice reached deep within
He told the story of the Ghosts
The Ghosts of ole Glencoe
Winter’s blanket covered all
Its wind so biting cold
To MacIan’s home the redcoats came
Captain Campbell led them there
Hospitality they did claim
MacIan welcomed them
Shelter from the blizzards blast
Food and drink as well
Warm the beds they made for them
Sharing all they had
Macdonald ever a gentleman
Their every need did tend
Unknown to him his fate was sealed
His trust would broken be
Major Fergusson dispatches brought
For Captain Campbell to obey
Dalrymple ‘Master of Stair’ had penned
King William he did sign
An example made they all did need
The MacDonalds chosen were
The Oath they’d signed, but they’d been late
So death it was for them
All males of 70 or less
Put to the sword, none spared
The homes to burn, destroy the clan
In ink the orders stood
A horror that would stain the land
Murder under Trust
To eat and dine, to shelter there
And then to slay their hosts
Within the snow clad highland homes
Evil dwelt therein
Death disguised as friends did sleep
Before the warm log fires
Meals they ate and drinks did share
The MacDonald entertained
Two weeks they stayed as guests therein
Tended hand and foot
Until the day of evil came
When treachery revealed
As night did fall the shots rang out
Screams filled night’s cold air
Blood did flow upon the moors
White snows ran red with blood
Smells of sweat and blood were thick
Carnage everywhere
MacIan slain in his bed
His wife was murdered too
Blades did clash and steel did ring
As reason fled into the night
Blood red drops on whitened snow
The smell of fire and shot
O the evil that prevailed
O the horrors seen
Men’s senses dulled and calloused now
Treachery so vile
Women, children, old and young
Fell beneath the sword
Burn the houses, slay all life
The orders did declare
Yet some were warned and some escaped
Through the snow clad hills
Wild the wind and freezing snow
Yet better that than sword
Thirty-eight were slain there
Another forty froze
Muskets shots did echo round
While blood spurted on the snow
Satan wrote upon Glenlyon’s heart
When all was said and done
His whisky could not blot the deed
Ghosts did haunt his dreams
Every night they came to him
The Ghosts of auld Glencoe
Screaming in the night to him
The dead of auld Glencoe
Captain Campbell heard each scream
Haunted by his deeds
The evil replayed every night
The Ghosts did follow him
Twas then the bard did stop his tale
He sipped his dram he rose and left
The wind it howled as he did leave
Then silence did prevail