Togaibh na drochaidean, leagaibh na ballachan,
Togaibh na drochaidean làidir le gràdh;
Togaibh na drochaidean, leagaibh na ballachan,
Fàiltichibh coigrich le biadh agus blàths.
Fuadaichibh suarachas, cleachdaibh an carthannas,
Seachnaibh na marsantan reiceas a’ ghràin;
Bithibh nur taicearan, togaibh na h-eallaichean,
Lasaibh a’ chagailt le teine na fàilt’.
Eadar na culturan, tuigse seach amharas,
Eadar na dùthchannan, bannan na bàidh;
Togaibh na truaghain à tonnan na tanalaich,
Sìnibh an làmh bheir gu tìr iad gu slàn.
Togaibh na drochaidean, leagaibh na ballachan,
Togaibh na drochaidean làidir le gràdh;
Faicibh an saoghal a’ caoineadh le aintighearnas -
Bithibh nur cabhsair air an coisich luchd cràidht’.
Build the bridges, tear down the walls,
Build those strong bridges with love;
Build the bridges, tear down the walls,
Welcome strangers with food and warmth.
Exile meanness, be charitable,
Avoid the sales of the hate-merchants;
Be supporters, lift up the burdens,
Light the hearth with the welcome fire.
Between cultures, understanding not doubt,
Between nations, ties of friendship;
Lift the poor souls from the shallows,
Offer the hand that will bring them safe to land.
Build the bridges, tear down the walls,
Build those strong bridges with love;
See the world weeping from oppression –
Be a causeway on which those in pain may walk.

A call-out for understanding, love and support between peoples and cultures, particularly appropriate in Gaelic, given the current half-Gael POTUS with a fixation for walls and whose mother would have understood every word. 
 
Donald Meek has a passion for writing and uses Facebook and his blog extensively to share his work - from the most elegant elegies to the most frivolous of limericks. Ever since we worked together on a documentary for BBC ALBA, we have found ourselves very much on the same creative wavelength. As soon as I saw this lyric, I knew how I wanted to set it to music - Donald issued the challenge to me on FB and I was very happy to get stuck in. I sang it as a surprise for him on the occasion of the book launch of his first poetry collection.