An Toll Dubh - Lochaber Gaelic choir, October 2025

A Runrig song by Calum & Rory MacDonald from 1981 (and re-worked with Paul Mounsey in 2003). This choral arrangement by the very well-known Gaelic musician and conductor of the Lochaber Gaelic choir, Mary-Ann Kennedy. See below for the Gaelic text and English translation. AN TOLL DUBH Le èiginn ar n-èirigh às ar suain Rann 1 Taobh cùil an dorais Cha bhi grian Suidh air bòrd Cha bhi biadh is cha bhi fon Taobh cùil an dorais Cha bhi grian Cha bhi biadh is cha bhi fon Sèist Le èiginn ar n-èirigh às ar suain Le èiginn ar n-èirigh às ar suain An Gàidheal sa leabaidh An Gàidheal na shuain Le èiginn ar n-èirigh às ar suain Hoire-eann o hì hin o drò Hoir-eann o hì hin o ho-ro Ro hoir-eann a hin o hì o ho-ro hoir-eann à Rann 2 Thàinig e À Sasainn ann O, thàinig e Le eachaibh luath is iuchair throm Thàinig e À Sasainn ann Le eachaibh luath is iuchair throm Sèist Hoire-eann o hì hin o drò Hoir-eann o hì hin o ho-ro Ro hoir-eann a hin o hì o ho-ro hoir-eann à Rann 3 Air làr san toll-dhubh Cha bhi grian Cha bhi gealach ‘S dubh an oidhche chaidleas sinn Air làr san toll-dhubh Cha bhi grian ‘S dubh an oidhche chaidleas sinn Sèist (x 5) ------------------------------------ THE DUNGEON With difficulty we rise from our slumbers Verse 1 Behind the door There will be no sun Sitting at table There will be no food nor wine Behind the door There will be no sun There will be no food nor wine Chorus With difficulty we rise from our slumbers With difficulty we rise from our slumbers The Gael a-bed The Gael asleep With difficulty we rise from our slumbers Hoire-eann o hì hin o drò Hoir-eann o hì hin o ho-ro Ro hoir-eann a hin o hì o ho-ro hoir-eann à Verse 2 He came From the South O, he came On swift horses and with heavy key He came From the South On swift horses and with heavy key Chorus Hoire-eann o hì hin o drò Hoir-eann o hì hin o ho-ro Ro hoir-eann a hin o hì o ho-ro hoir-eann à Verse 3 On the dungeon floor There will be no sun There will be no moon Dark will be the night as we sleep On the dungeon floor There will be no sun Dark will be the night as we sleep Chorus (x 5)