Runrig began in 1973 as a three-piece named the "Run Rig Dance Band", its members comprising Calum Macdonald and Rory Macdonald, and their friend, accordionist Blair Douglas. The line-up played its first gig at the Kelvin Hall in Glasgow. Donnie Munro joined the following year and the band started to expand outside its native Skye. Douglas left the band in late 1974 and was replaced by Robert Macdonald, with Campbell Gunn joining for a brief spell in 1976. This line-up continued until 1978, when Blair Douglas re-joined and multi-instrumentalist Malcolm Jones became guitarist, both displacing Macdonald. This lasted until the following year when Douglas left again to pursue a solo career. 1980 saw the arrival of drummer Iain Bayne (ex-New Celeste) and 1981 that of keyboard player Richard Cherns. Cherns left in February 1986 and was replaced by ex-Big Country member Peter Wishart. This formed what became known as the classic line-up for the next 11 years.
In 1997, lead singer Donnie Munro left the band for a career in politics, but later resumed his musical career to become a solo artist. The remaining members contemplated splitting up, but after a long search they replaced Donnie with Canadian singer-songwriter Bruce Guthro. This issue has divided Runrig's fan base; some argue that the loss of Donnie's highly distinctive vocals and his ability to sing in both Gaelic and English has not been truly compensated for by Bruce, whose vocal style is much lighter and who is not a Gaelic speaker. Others claim that the fact that Bruce has such a different voice has allowed Runrig to evolve musically in ways that it might not have done were Donnie still with them.
In 2001, Peter Wishart, the band's keyboard player, left after being elected Member of Parliament for the constituency of Tayside North for the Scottish National Party. Brian Hurren stepped in to take Wishart's place in the band.
The band "pulled down the curtain" on their 45 year career with a final concert in Stirling on 18th August 2018, titled "The Last Dance".
Membership
- Bruce Guthro (Lead vocals, guitar)
- Rory Macdonald (Songwriter, bass, vocals)
- Calum Macdonald (Songwriter, percussion)
- Malcolm Jones[ (Guitars, pipes, accordion)
- Iain Bayne (Drums)
- Brian Hurren (Keyboards, vocals)
Past members
- Donnie Munro (Lead vocals, guitar)
- Peter Wishart (Keyboards)
- Richard Cherns (Keyboards)
- Blair Douglas (Accordion, keyboards)
- Robert Macdonald (Accordion)
- Campbell Gunn (Vocals)
The Wedding
Runrig Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴
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
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
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.
Colin Souter
on Dust
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.