The Wedding
Runrig Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴

he air was swaying round the first guitar I remember
We crossed the river by the Ostrum wall 'neath the stars
To where the wedding filled the hall
My father sang a song
Crossing the river, caught in the rain
Crossing the rhythm, caught in the rain

Chased Cathy round the trestles at the edge of the eightsome
We watched the lovers round the lodge at the edge of the sea
White lights and wooden boards
We watched the village take the floor
Crossing the river, caught in the rain
Crossing the rhythm, caught in the rain

There is so much I could say to you, but
Tonight I'm sticking to the past like glue
When life gets tough, when times get hard
You have to know exactly who you are
Arm in arm, hand in hand
You take this woman, you take this man
Spirit dancing evermore
Endless circles round the floor

Last night I drove my children down by the river
Past the windows of the hall and the dusts of our years
Then the radio came on
They said "someone's playing our song"
Crossing the river, caught in the rain
Crossing the rhythm, caught in the rain





Crossing the river, caught in the rain
Crossing the rhythm, caught (caught, caught) in the rain

Overall Meaning

The Runrig's song, "The Wedding," is rich in metaphor and storytelling. The lyrics describe a wedding ceremony, where the singer remembers his past, singing of his father's song, and his own memories of chasing Cathy around the trestles at the edge of the eightsome. The song's imagery draws on nature - in the third stanza, the singer reminds the couple that they must know who they are when times are tough, and that they are to move forward in the endless circles around the dance floor to the music of the spirit.


The song's first stanza describes the anticipation of the wedding - the air is swaying around the first guitar, and the crossing of the river is a metaphor for moving towards the wedding, caught in the rain of emotions. The second stanza describes the wedding itself - the singer watches the lovers round the lodge at the edge of the sea, while the village takes the floor under white lights and wooden boards. The wedding is a celebration of life and love, and the endless circles around the floor are a metaphor for the never-ending cycle of life and love.


Overall, "The Wedding" is a poignant reminder of both the joys and pains of life, and of the importance of staying connected to our roots and memories to find our way forward.




Contributed by Caleb R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

Colin Souter


on Dust

to a different way of life

IMHO, the line by line meaning given, strongly underplays the significance of the words, “Lowland Scots with English habits, brought me to its Lowland manners.” It speaks to the cultural loss of the Gaels’ way of life in favour of a creeping transition to an alien society with alien values imported by those who have abandoned their own, in favour of becoming “English”. It resonates with an incredible strength for anyone who rejects Westminster politics/corruption and supports Scottish independence.

More Versions