Empty Glens

"Empty Glens"
Single by Runrig
from the album Proterra
B-side	"Running To The Light"
Released	2003
Studio	Castlesound Studios, Edinburgh, Scotland
Label	Ridge Records (UK) Columbia Records (Germany)
Songwriter(s)	C. Macdonald R. Macdonald
Producer(s)	Calum Malcolm
Runrig singles chronology
"Wall of China" (2001) "Empty Glens" (2003) "Clash of the Ash" (2007)

"Empty Glens" is a 2003 single released by Scottish celtic rock band Runrig, released as the lead and only single from their twelve studio album Proterra (2003), which they released together with Scottish musician Paul Mounsey. It was released via Ridge Records in the United Kingdom and by Columbia Records in Germany, where it achieved moderate commercial success, debuting at number ninety-three on the German Singles Charts in August 2003.^[1]

"Empty Glens" lyrically focuses on the transition away from churches and religion, and the reduced significance and role that religion has in the modern word. It notes that with the decline in religion and churches, the world appears to be moving "towards a more scientific world".^[2]

Critical reception

Ultimate Guitar reviewed "Empty Glens", citing it as one of the "good songs" on the Proterra album, alongside "Proterra" and "Day Of Days". The review further commented that "Empty Glens", together with "Proterra" and "Day of Days" are "are all alive with the sound of Runrig".^[3]

Commercial performance

Commercially, "Empty Glens" received moderate success in Germany, where it debuted at number ninety-three and stayed on the German Singles Charts for one week.^[4]

Track listing

CD single (Europe)

1. "Empty Glens" (Radio Remix) – 3:31^[5]
2. "Empty Glens" (Album Version) – 3:49
3. "Running to the Light" (Radio Edit) – 3:26
4. "Wall of China" (Live Version) – 4:42

CD single (UK)

1. "Empty Glens" (Radio Remix) – 3:29^[6]
2. "The Old Boys" – 5:13
3. "Wall of China" (Live Version) – 4:41

CD single (Germany)

1. "Empty Glens" (Radio Remix) – 3:31^[7]
2. "Empty Glens" (Album Version) – 3:49
3. "Running to the Light" (Radio Edit) – 3:26
4. "Wall of China" (Live Version) – 4:42

Chart performance

Chart (2003)	Peak position
Germany (Official German Charts)[8]	93

References

1. "Offizielle Deutsche Charts". www.offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
2. "Proterra Review". Ultimate Guitar. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
3. "Proterra Review". Ultimate Guitar. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
4. "lescharts.com - Runrig - Empty Glens". lescharts.com. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
5. Empty Glens (European CD single). Runrig. Columbia Records, Ridge Records. 2003. 5 099767 414927.
6. Empty Glens (UK CD single). Runrig. Columbia Records, Ridge Records. 2003. 5024545268126.
7. Empty Glens (German CD single (Promo)). Runrig. Columbia Records, Ridge Records. 2003. 00162.
8. "Runrig – Empty Glens" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.