A native speaker of Scottish Gaelic, much of his work is in that language.
He attended Gray's School of Art in Aberdeen and did a postgraduate in teaching at Moray House in Edinburgh. He first saw Runrig play in 1973 and was approached one year later to become a member of the band. He later disagreed with his bandmates over several issues, including politics; Pete Wishart later became a Scottish National Party Member of Parliament.
Munro was elected as Rector of the University of Edinburgh in 1991, a position he held until 1994. He contested the Scottish Parliament seat of Ross, Skye and Inverness West at the 1999 election for Labour, but was defeated by Liberal Democrat John Farquhar Munro. This necessitated leaving the band, which he did in 1997, by which time it was well known that he intended to stand for election. In 2001, it was mischievously pointed out in the media that he had lost the race for the title of 'first member of Runrig to be elected to parliament', after Peter Wishart became an SNP MP at Westminster.
In 1996 he gave the prestigious Sabhal Mòr Lecture.
In 1998 Munro was elected as the first rector of the UHI Millennium Institute, a post that lasted 3 years.
Munro now enjoys a successful solo career, as well as working as the director of development at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, a college on Skye. Munro was sacked by the Scottish Football Association from his role of singing the National Anthem following complaints from fans that due to his Unionist political leanings he refused to sing a verse of Flower of Scotland about rising up and being a nation again.
Official website www.donniemunro.co.uk
On The West Side
Donnie Munro Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sometimes not easy to find
Secret love in our lives
But in your eyes
I see the strength of a million smiles
Carrying our fears through the night.
We walk the road
Where I'll walk with you again
On the West Side
We walk the road
We walk the road
Where I'll walk with you again
On the West Side
A white-gloved smile
On a day that so much had died
The changing ways before our eyes
Your love is good
Where the pain it is understood
As broken dreams rush on by.
We walk the road
We walk the road
Where I'll walk with you again
On the West Side
We walk the road
We walk the road
Where I'll walk with you again on the West Side
Yes, I'll walk with you again on the West Side.
The lyrics to Donnie Munro's song "On The West Side" speak of a long and difficult journey, symbolized by a road, that the singer and his partner have been walking together. This journey has not been easy but they have found secret love along the way. The singer sees the strength of a million smiles in his partner's eyes, which gives them the courage to carry their fears through the night. The road they are on represents a path to happiness and fulfillment. The singer is determined to walk this road with his partner, even if it is not always easy to find.
The lyrics also mention a white-gloved smile, which may refer to a funeral or a similar event where much has died. The singer acknowledges that the world is changing around them but his partner's love is solid and dependable, even as their dreams are shattered. The pain they have experienced is understood and they support each other through it. The song ends with the singer affirming his commitment to walking the road with his partner on the West Side, where he knows their love will flourish.
Overall, the lyrics to "On The West Side" convey a message of perseverance in the face of adversity and finding strength in love.
Line by Line Meaning
Our road is long
Our journey through life is a lengthy one
Sometimes not easy to find
At times, it can be challenging to navigate our way through life
Secret love in our lives
Love, though hidden or kept private, plays a significant role in our existence
But in your eyes
However, when I look into your eyes
I see the strength of a million smiles
I see the power and resilience of countless people who have overcome adversity
Carrying our fears through the night.
Their strength gives us the courage to face our own fears and anxieties
A white-gloved smile
A smile so perfect, it looks as if it's been carefully crafted and polished
On a day that so much had died
On a day where there was much loss and sadness
The changing ways before our eyes
We witness the world around us evolving and transforming
Your love is good
Your love is pure and kind
Where the pain it is understood
You comprehend and empathize with the suffering of others
As broken dreams rush on by.
Even though we encounter many obstacles and disappointments, we must continue to persevere and chase our dreams
Where I'll walk with you again
I will journey alongside you once more
On the West Side
In the place where our memories and experiences reside
Yes, I'll walk with you again on the West Side.
Indeed, I will walk alongside you again and relive our shared history.
Contributed by Alexandra M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.