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 Wire
Runrig Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And we built up man round the Picts
And the daybreak hammered out warning
To the weak
We dreamed on moor with passion
And on the long lochs bluer than eyes
'Till the mists of bygone ages
I've seen us among thousands
All of one name waiting to run
And when the charge came heather on heartbeat
Steel on gun
The old rock leaves us with fossil
From the ancient pagan rites
From the universal inroads
back to Christ
Transmitting, transmitting
Breaking down the wire
Transmitting, transmitting
Breaking down the wire
As we look out over the morning
And the days of this life's spring
And the joy of Gaelic's lifeblood
Made me sing
Watching your beauty on this journey
With the lick of youth in your eyes
Let us sow this olden heartland
Reap in time
Transmitting, transmitting
Breaking down the wire
Transmitting, transmitting
Breaking down the wire
The lyrics of Runrig's "The Wire" speak of the proud Scottish culture and history, with a focus on the land and people. The opening lines refer to the Ice Age and building humanity around the Picts, referring to Scotland's ancient roots. The daybreak and warning suggest that despite the strength and perseverance of the Scottish people, there have also been struggles and challenges to overcome. This is further emphasized in the lines about dreaming on the moor with passion and longing, the cries of the past echoing through history.
The middle section of the lyrics speaks to the idea of unity and a shared identity, with the lines "I've seen us among thousands / All of one name waiting to run." The charge coming with "heather on heartbeat / Steel on gun" suggests a call to action and a readiness to defend their land and heritage.
The lyrics then touch on the idea of transmission and breaking down barriers, with imagery of the old rock and ancient pagan rites giving way to a return to Christianity. This could be interpreted as a nod to the changing times and a need to adapt, while still respecting and holding onto the traditions of the past.
The final lines of the song focus on appreciation for the beauty of the land and the people, with a call to action to sow and reap in time. Overall, "The Wire" celebrates Scottish pride and identity while acknowledging the struggles and changes that have come with time.
Line by Line Meaning
We listened into the Iceage
We paid attention to the past and the glacial period's lessons it holds
And we built up man round the Picts
We constructed society with knowledge gleaned from the Picts
And the daybreak hammered out warning to the weak
Dawn signaled to those unprepared the dangerous, thrilling challenge waiting ahead
We dreamed on moor with passion
We had aspirations influenced by the openly rugged, wild beauty of the place called home
And on the long lochs bluer than eyes
The nature of Scotland is so strikingly and achingly lovely, reflecting the bluest color in its lochs
'Till the mists of bygone ages heard our cries
Until those clinging to the past stopped and listened to what we had to say
I've seen us among thousands
I have witnessed us united and numbered among many
All of one name waiting to run
All of us with a shared heritage, anticipating a burst of momentum
And when the charge came heather on heartbeat steel on gun
With a rush of adrenaline, running across heather, carrying our weapons
The old rock leaves us with fossil
The ancient landscapes are remnants of past ways of living
From the ancient pagan rites
From the age-old ways of worshipping
From the universal inroads back to Christ
From the transition from all-inclusive beliefs to one focused on Jesus
Transmitting, transmitting breaking down the wire
Sending the message, working to destroy the barriers to communication
As we look out over the morning
Observing the arrival of the day, full of potential
And the days of this life's spring
As time goes on, swiftly and like the blooming of a flower
And the joy of Gaelic's lifeblood made me sing
The contentment that comes from Gaelic being an essential part of our identity
Watching your beauty on this journey
Observing how lovely life is on this path
With the lick of youth in your eyes
With the energetic tenderness you possess in your eyes
Let us sow this olden heartland
Let us cultivate and plant the seeds for a new future
Reap in time
We will obtain our harvest at the right point in time
Transmitting, transmitting breaking down the wire
Sending the message, working to destroy the barriers to communication
Contributed by London N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
mgraebner
on Rise and Fall
and thinking about if he can survive
mgraebner
on Rise and Fall
all these tries of explanation fail if you fail to accept the connotation
this is from a soldier in WW2 fighting in Normandy. trying to reach
Caen thru the bocage (their version of wind-stopping hedges)
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.