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)