Hello Christy,
It’s a beautiful verse you wrote at the end of Lord Baker. Perfectly fits like it had been lost and you added it back in.
I think you understand that song better than anyone.
I’ve been singing along to the one on Words and Music. The complexity of the phrasing is stunning.
I, dreamt of kittens last night. I was offered a whole litter and I’d no idea how to choose.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
another added verse ( dont tell Mudcat..they’d have calliptions)
“Far away across the ocean
far away upon the tide
his heart forever breaking
for the loss of his Bride”
Valerie felt Jacko’s version of the song (Green Grows The Laurel) was incomplete
so I took a chance with this verse
My introduction to Gordon Lighfoot was from Ken Stuart (remember him?) he used to play sort of easy listening 45 rpm tracks from around 7pm on Radio Eireann. He regularly played Gordon’s music. Including that ‘Edmund Fitzgerald’ track.
Christy's reply
Ken Stewart was a true friend to Songs and Singers..last time I met Ken was on the Bus from Town to Donnybrook..he had a satchel of albums under his arm..he was always prepared to stop and have a chat..to share the latest gems …..thank you for reminding us of the lovely, gentle man
Hazzo2017
November 12, 2022 at 11:56 pm
Location: Feeling like the Rolling Thunder Review took place overhead overnight, Mildura
Bord na Mona man: having finished my daily addiction to politics & sport via TV, I whacked this bloke Moore, C.A. on the airwaves…
Great song! So whimsical & “so – there!” -ish…bounces along on its own air & goes around the room lap after lap…
Home alone so fuck the neighbours – more volume here I come…
US politics- maybe the Yanks aren’t as far gone as we dreaded
Crank it up Christy – the people at the back want to move & be moved
Best wishes,
Danny Harris – sodden Sunraysia
Christy's reply
Nice One Danny..you are the first one to mention that song… until this moment it had passed by unnoticed…I must see if I can squeeze it into the set…( it only gets out when I gig in the short grass)
Christy just wanted to say thank you so so much for singing Beeswing last week and also for giving Hannah the shout out! She couldn’t sleep a wink that night she was so excited to tell everyone in school the next day, and also a thank you to the very kind lady Hilary, who came over to us after and also got one of your plectrums for Hannah for us!. Was an absolutely brilliant gig for a brilliant man, we need more people like Don in the world.Thanks again for a great night
Christy's reply
I glimpsed Hannah in her seat when I called out the request..the look on her face was priceless..I’ll always remember the moment..better than any platinum disk upon the wall
Quick update Christy to say that, along with the fantastic gig last night, all faith in Humanity is fully restored through additional and remarkable acts of kindness.
Continued blessings and love to all!
B
Hi C. I have noticed that Coillte are promoting their wonderful facility in Avondale in Wicklow with a new spectacular Tree Top Walk etc their website is worth a visit they say ” how Coillte is caring for this forest so that it is here for generations to come ” I was reminded of the protest that you headlined in 2013 when the powers that be wanted to sell off the trees !! Here is a clip of you singing and reciting a really powerful poem challenging that decision https://youtu.be/DJswMc6L3q0 Thankfully the protest worked, thank you sincerely for the many times you have stood up and continue to raise important issues. If I recall correctly Scally was there that day also. Beir bua agus beannacht. H
Christy's reply
H…you are the beating heart of the gaggle…I’ve not seen those pages since I put them back in my pocket that Sunday afternoon in 2013..you have resurrected PAUL’s fine Forest Prose which surely is worthy of further consideration…
the fuckers are still selling Ireland out from under us….Trump’s cronies ( the likes of Mr Bob Faith) coming in and seducing our Civil Servants , Planners , Ministers and TDs with corrupting dollars, seducing them to sign off on crass and crazy schemes to build small flats for absentee landlords who’ll squeeze the last drop of profit from transient tenants while homeless people roam the streets in search of dry ground to spread their pathetic cardboard mattresses….Absentee Landlords…Go Away….
Nameless Civil Servants drive the Bus.. Politician’s collect fares but have little or no input as to where the Bus ends up….
Hello Christy,
Have you been polishing up the Rose? (never heard it called that before…)
It’s like a new bit just appeared in your reply to Danny
“tacklin up the milkin machine,stirring the porridge,walkin the beat, stranglin the turkey,casting the fly, lookin at the wall in Paddy Power’s,servin Mass,hiding from the Holy Ghosts,tanning in Bondai…”
It’s the rhythm.
Thank you for explaining the Bob Dylan gig to me. It makes perfect sense now. 9000 people in silence. Wow!
Just reading JP’s post.
That’s quite something they’ve posted at Irish Central…. Glorious inaccuracy 💚
You know, I think we will be forever young at heart. We’ve managed this far.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
forever polishing Rebecca..in the absence of new writing I take refuge by revisiting old verses, sometimes even take the liberty of adding new ones…
“and then Lord Baker ran to his darling
of 21 steps he made but 3
he threw his arms around Turkey’s daughter
and kissed hir true love most tenderly”
but don’t tell Mudcat..they’d only be having kittens
Christy! Just home from the Carrickdale concert and words alone can not properly express my gratitude for your inclusion of the Voyage, and its dedication to Orla within the gig itself.
Since posting the request, my return home from the Sahara took an unfortunate turn of events in Spain when the car was broken into and practically all the belongings stolen… During the remainder of the bleak journey home, my primary driving force was focused on looking forward to the show with the hope that somehow, something special may transpire…
You’ll never know how much your kind words and beautiful rendition of the song helped lifted the spirits and refocused things towards the positive – if you however happened to notice two embracing teary eyed individuals in the fourth row, then perhaps you did! Thank you sincerely – a truly magic night!
With the deepest of gratitude and love.
Christy Moore hello I just brought tickets to your March 8, 2023 at Killashee. My wife and I and two friends are flying from America to see you. A little backstory we got married in Co. Clare March 30th 2022. We had a wonderful trip in Ireland. On the way to the airport we missed the 1st cab because of miscommunication and the second cab driver we told him we just got married and are heading back to the states. As a wedding present on the drive to the airport he introduced us to your song the Voyage and he sang it to us. It made us cry and it was a perfect ending to a beautiful trip. You need to sing it that night. LOL JK just hope it gets on the playlist. It has become our family anthem. The best present was the introduction to you and your wonderful music. Less than a year later we are heading back to Ireland as a 1 year anniversary gift and to see you. I have the video of the song he sang if I can show you at some point. See you in Killashee
Christy's reply
ok Gabby…cannot dedicate Voyage to a couple when you only share one name…come on Gabby..
you have chosen a venue that is very close to my heart..it is but 6 miles from my home place in Newbridge,County Kildare..where the boyhood of my early years still lingers
the great iconic ballad you mention was written by Bobby Sands while he was on the Blanket/Dirty protest..a P.O.W. in the H.Blocks of Long Kesh…he used the melody of Gordon Lightfoot’s fine song…. when asked about his tune being adopted by Bobby, Gordon ( reputedly) responded that he always felt the tune sounded like an old irish Air…( much to the disgruntlement of the London Telegraph corr. who was looking for a put down from Gordon)
Well the Derry gigs sold out within a very short space of time and my attempts to get a ticket failed. Here, if I promise to tell you where to get the best breakfast bap this side of the river Foyle and the secret to a great rogan josh, could your team be persuaded to put on a third night?
Christy's reply
I’d love that Tommy…it wont be my call…so many different elements must align to make gigs happen..my willingness is bit one….
as for the rogan josh..why not share your secret here for free instead of bartering… I have a very good tip for the morning after the Vindaloo
Hi Christy. Is there any plans for a gig in Letterkenny in 2023. I was hoping for tickets for the gig in Derry but sold out in minutes. Please say yes !! Thanks Christy
Christy's reply
níl fhios agam mo cara….them that runs the gigs tell me that it can be hard to get dates in certain hotels these times…..hopefully we’ll get back to The Clanree in due course
One of my all time favorite songs by Bob Dylan.
Proof positive that he fishes way upstream in the river of song.
Wrote it in one sitting too.
“That was an inspired song that came to me.
It wasn’t really too difficult. I felt like I was just putting words down that were coming from somewhere else, and I just stuck it out”
So somewhere sometime in 1980 he sits down with a blank piece of paper. And at the end of that day Every Grain of Sand
has been written. One of the six verses goes
I gaze into the doorway of temptation’s angry flame
And every time I pass that way I always hear my name
Then onward in my journey I come to understand
That every hair is numbered like every grain of sand
Emmylou sings a fine version. Sang it as a duet with Sheryl Crow at the funeral of Johnny Cash. I first heard it on the bootleg series volume 1-3. A collection that also includes Blind Willie McTell and Series of Dreams. We may never know why the first was left from Infidels and the second from Oh Mercy.
Guess you can choose and pick when you fish so far upstream.
Christy's reply
thats about the size of it..that man could whistle a song on his next album and we’d all understand…he’s earned his stripes
Sorry Christy for my flippancy. Being on a ‘foreign mission’ far from the Irish media, I had no idea about the most recent episode of Ireland’s shame.
These words came to me, inspired by your post:
Ah come out you Spiritan,
come on admit it like a man,
how you took the innocence of little children;
Tell us how you made them play,
Your sick demented abusive game
On a sad and sickening day in holy Ireland.
Christy's reply
They bend over backwards to hide their errant abusers, spending vast fortunes to defend them, they seek to silence the abused, never seeking forgiveness, neither realising or caring that their silence is acquiescence
Hi Christy,
Great to see all the gigs coming off.
The website of the wonderful Millenium is proving impenetrable, have a blast.
It is a testament to your enduring love of people that you are so popular, we are very lucky to have you in our lives.
Politicians, celebrities and webstars rise up and are blown away by the ever changing wind like dandelions, but the white kildare lily keeps coming back every year to enthrall, entertain, amuse, amaze and live among us mortals.
Hope to hear your voice singing in Ashgrove ( live or on my phone) in February.
Rory
Christy's reply
“If I was a Bird upon the wing the sweetest songs you’d hear me sing
I’d fill the air with secret words in a language no one has ever heard
Round and around the tune would ring, the melody reverberating
Mesmerising and absurd, more like an angel than a Bird ”
some gorgeous lines from “Lightning,Bird,Wind,River Man”..that classic song by Declan O’Rourke….up there among by favourites to cover alongside “Gortatagort”
“Allende” “Well Below” “Brown Eyes” “Morecambe Bay”” Companeros” to name half a dozen…some of them seldom feature..as to why ?…..your guess is as good as mine…..” Spancilhill” “Wandering Aongus” “Dark End” “Cry Like A man”
Good evening Christy,
Dundalk has a fantastic mural of a mounted Robert the Bruce, i hope you enjoy it and get young Keenan up on the stage with you.
Anyway today i was playing a fine Hamish Henderson record and came across again a song by the wonderful Jeanie Robertson ‘ my son david’. I thought it had striking similarities to John Reilly and ‘what put the blood’.
Travelling people like these two fabulous keepers of the flame, surely should have the ‘notability’ that their skills deserved.
Enjoy Dundalk, best regards
Rory
Christy's reply
I heard Jeannie twice..at Keele Festival in (I think 1966 or 7) and in Blairgowrie a few years later….a time of great learning and listening….Lizzie Higgins, Jimmy McBeth, Davey Johnston
Well Christy, you are doing a fantastic Ireland world tour, between lining out for Ireland and the Lilywhites…
Have a wonderful time in my home town Dlk on Friday 11.11.22. (see what I did there? Amazing!)
Enjoy the gig and all that comes with it!
Up the real Lily Whites, c’mon da town! (Shout that out, it’ll bring the house down)
Christy's reply
The Black & Tans replaced by the Spiritans…..unholy ghosts still hiding out in foreign “missions”
I am sub number 73,986 on the bench so its possible I might not get a run out..but, If called upon I am ready and willing….Munster were magnificent last night..Paddy Patterson,their number 3 or 4 Scrum Half getting man of the match..his acceptance speech gloriously littered with as many “fucks” as he could fit in…. Ride On Paddy
Hello Christy,
It’s a beautiful verse you wrote at the end of Lord Baker. Perfectly fits like it had been lost and you added it back in.
I think you understand that song better than anyone.
I’ve been singing along to the one on Words and Music. The complexity of the phrasing is stunning.
I, dreamt of kittens last night. I was offered a whole litter and I’d no idea how to choose.
Rebecca
another added verse ( dont tell Mudcat..they’d have calliptions)
“Far away across the ocean
far away upon the tide
his heart forever breaking
for the loss of his Bride”
Valerie felt Jacko’s version of the song (Green Grows The Laurel) was incomplete
so I took a chance with this verse
My introduction to Gordon Lighfoot was from Ken Stuart (remember him?) he used to play sort of easy listening 45 rpm tracks from around 7pm on Radio Eireann. He regularly played Gordon’s music. Including that ‘Edmund Fitzgerald’ track.
Ken Stewart was a true friend to Songs and Singers..last time I met Ken was on the Bus from Town to Donnybrook..he had a satchel of albums under his arm..he was always prepared to stop and have a chat..to share the latest gems …..thank you for reminding us of the lovely, gentle man
Bord na Mona man: having finished my daily addiction to politics & sport via TV, I whacked this bloke Moore, C.A. on the airwaves…
Great song! So whimsical & “so – there!” -ish…bounces along on its own air & goes around the room lap after lap…
Home alone so fuck the neighbours – more volume here I come…
US politics- maybe the Yanks aren’t as far gone as we dreaded
Crank it up Christy – the people at the back want to move & be moved
Best wishes,
Danny Harris – sodden Sunraysia
Nice One Danny..you are the first one to mention that song… until this moment it had passed by unnoticed…I must see if I can squeeze it into the set…( it only gets out when I gig in the short grass)
Christy just wanted to say thank you so so much for singing Beeswing last week and also for giving Hannah the shout out! She couldn’t sleep a wink that night she was so excited to tell everyone in school the next day, and also a thank you to the very kind lady Hilary, who came over to us after and also got one of your plectrums for Hannah for us!. Was an absolutely brilliant gig for a brilliant man, we need more people like Don in the world.Thanks again for a great night
I glimpsed Hannah in her seat when I called out the request..the look on her face was priceless..I’ll always remember the moment..better than any platinum disk upon the wall
Quick update Christy to say that, along with the fantastic gig last night, all faith in Humanity is fully restored through additional and remarkable acts of kindness.
Continued blessings and love to all!
B
and the very same to your good self
Hi C. I have noticed that Coillte are promoting their wonderful facility in Avondale in Wicklow with a new spectacular Tree Top Walk etc their website is worth a visit they say ” how Coillte is caring for this forest so that it is here for generations to come ” I was reminded of the protest that you headlined in 2013 when the powers that be wanted to sell off the trees !! Here is a clip of you singing and reciting a really powerful poem challenging that decision https://youtu.be/DJswMc6L3q0 Thankfully the protest worked, thank you sincerely for the many times you have stood up and continue to raise important issues. If I recall correctly Scally was there that day also. Beir bua agus beannacht. H
H…you are the beating heart of the gaggle…I’ve not seen those pages since I put them back in my pocket that Sunday afternoon in 2013..you have resurrected PAUL’s fine Forest Prose which surely is worthy of further consideration…
the fuckers are still selling Ireland out from under us….Trump’s cronies ( the likes of Mr Bob Faith) coming in and seducing our Civil Servants , Planners , Ministers and TDs with corrupting dollars, seducing them to sign off on crass and crazy schemes to build small flats for absentee landlords who’ll squeeze the last drop of profit from transient tenants while homeless people roam the streets in search of dry ground to spread their pathetic cardboard mattresses….Absentee Landlords…Go Away….
Nameless Civil Servants drive the Bus.. Politician’s collect fares but have little or no input as to where the Bus ends up….
Hello Christy,
Have you been polishing up the Rose? (never heard it called that before…)
It’s like a new bit just appeared in your reply to Danny
“tacklin up the milkin machine,stirring the porridge,walkin the beat, stranglin the turkey,casting the fly, lookin at the wall in Paddy Power’s,servin Mass,hiding from the Holy Ghosts,tanning in Bondai…”
It’s the rhythm.
Thank you for explaining the Bob Dylan gig to me. It makes perfect sense now. 9000 people in silence. Wow!
Just reading JP’s post.
That’s quite something they’ve posted at Irish Central…. Glorious inaccuracy 💚
You know, I think we will be forever young at heart. We’ve managed this far.
Rebecca
forever polishing Rebecca..in the absence of new writing I take refuge by revisiting old verses, sometimes even take the liberty of adding new ones…
“and then Lord Baker ran to his darling
of 21 steps he made but 3
he threw his arms around Turkey’s daughter
and kissed hir true love most tenderly”
but don’t tell Mudcat..they’d only be having kittens
Christy! Just home from the Carrickdale concert and words alone can not properly express my gratitude for your inclusion of the Voyage, and its dedication to Orla within the gig itself.
Since posting the request, my return home from the Sahara took an unfortunate turn of events in Spain when the car was broken into and practically all the belongings stolen… During the remainder of the bleak journey home, my primary driving force was focused on looking forward to the show with the hope that somehow, something special may transpire…
You’ll never know how much your kind words and beautiful rendition of the song helped lifted the spirits and refocused things towards the positive – if you however happened to notice two embracing teary eyed individuals in the fourth row, then perhaps you did! Thank you sincerely – a truly magic night!
With the deepest of gratitude and love.
Brendan & Orla
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084767022996
welcome home Brendan..sorry to read of your Spainish Misfortune
Christy Moore hello I just brought tickets to your March 8, 2023 at Killashee. My wife and I and two friends are flying from America to see you. A little backstory we got married in Co. Clare March 30th 2022. We had a wonderful trip in Ireland. On the way to the airport we missed the 1st cab because of miscommunication and the second cab driver we told him we just got married and are heading back to the states. As a wedding present on the drive to the airport he introduced us to your song the Voyage and he sang it to us. It made us cry and it was a perfect ending to a beautiful trip. You need to sing it that night. LOL JK just hope it gets on the playlist. It has become our family anthem. The best present was the introduction to you and your wonderful music. Less than a year later we are heading back to Ireland as a 1 year anniversary gift and to see you. I have the video of the song he sang if I can show you at some point. See you in Killashee
ok Gabby…cannot dedicate Voyage to a couple when you only share one name…come on Gabby..
you have chosen a venue that is very close to my heart..it is but 6 miles from my home place in Newbridge,County Kildare..where the boyhood of my early years still lingers
On This Day: The Edmund Fitzgerald ship sank killing 29 people in 1975
How the fatal sinking of The SS Edmund Fitzgerald inspired Irish singer Christy Moore’s recording of his iconic ballad “Back Home in Derry.” https://www.irishcentral.com/opinion/others/irish-edmund-fitzgerald-shipwreck
the great iconic ballad you mention was written by Bobby Sands while he was on the Blanket/Dirty protest..a P.O.W. in the H.Blocks of Long Kesh…he used the melody of Gordon Lightfoot’s fine song…. when asked about his tune being adopted by Bobby, Gordon ( reputedly) responded that he always felt the tune sounded like an old irish Air…( much to the disgruntlement of the London Telegraph corr. who was looking for a put down from Gordon)
Good man Rory.
Hope the Christy Man gets us through these twenties
with his songs and shows. If we get there the thirties have to be better.
Well the Derry gigs sold out within a very short space of time and my attempts to get a ticket failed. Here, if I promise to tell you where to get the best breakfast bap this side of the river Foyle and the secret to a great rogan josh, could your team be persuaded to put on a third night?
I’d love that Tommy…it wont be my call…so many different elements must align to make gigs happen..my willingness is bit one….
as for the rogan josh..why not share your secret here for free instead of bartering… I have a very good tip for the morning after the Vindaloo
Hi Christy. Is there any plans for a gig in Letterkenny in 2023. I was hoping for tickets for the gig in Derry but sold out in minutes. Please say yes !! Thanks Christy
níl fhios agam mo cara….them that runs the gigs tell me that it can be hard to get dates in certain hotels these times…..hopefully we’ll get back to The Clanree in due course
One of my all time favorite songs by Bob Dylan.
Proof positive that he fishes way upstream in the river of song.
Wrote it in one sitting too.
“That was an inspired song that came to me.
It wasn’t really too difficult. I felt like I was just putting words down that were coming from somewhere else, and I just stuck it out”
So somewhere sometime in 1980 he sits down with a blank piece of paper. And at the end of that day Every Grain of Sand
has been written. One of the six verses goes
I gaze into the doorway of temptation’s angry flame
And every time I pass that way I always hear my name
Then onward in my journey I come to understand
That every hair is numbered like every grain of sand
Emmylou sings a fine version. Sang it as a duet with Sheryl Crow at the funeral of Johnny Cash. I first heard it on the bootleg series volume 1-3. A collection that also includes Blind Willie McTell and Series of Dreams. We may never know why the first was left from Infidels and the second from Oh Mercy.
Guess you can choose and pick when you fish so far upstream.
thats about the size of it..that man could whistle a song on his next album and we’d all understand…he’s earned his stripes
Sorry Christy for my flippancy. Being on a ‘foreign mission’ far from the Irish media, I had no idea about the most recent episode of Ireland’s shame.
These words came to me, inspired by your post:
Ah come out you Spiritan,
come on admit it like a man,
how you took the innocence of little children;
Tell us how you made them play,
Your sick demented abusive game
On a sad and sickening day in holy Ireland.
They bend over backwards to hide their errant abusers, spending vast fortunes to defend them, they seek to silence the abused, never seeking forgiveness, neither realising or caring that their silence is acquiescence
Hi Christy,
Great to see all the gigs coming off.
The website of the wonderful Millenium is proving impenetrable, have a blast.
It is a testament to your enduring love of people that you are so popular, we are very lucky to have you in our lives.
Politicians, celebrities and webstars rise up and are blown away by the ever changing wind like dandelions, but the white kildare lily keeps coming back every year to enthrall, entertain, amuse, amaze and live among us mortals.
Hope to hear your voice singing in Ashgrove ( live or on my phone) in February.
Rory
“If I was a Bird upon the wing the sweetest songs you’d hear me sing
I’d fill the air with secret words in a language no one has ever heard
Round and around the tune would ring, the melody reverberating
Mesmerising and absurd, more like an angel than a Bird ”
some gorgeous lines from “Lightning,Bird,Wind,River Man”..that classic song by Declan O’Rourke….up there among by favourites to cover alongside “Gortatagort”
“Allende” “Well Below” “Brown Eyes” “Morecambe Bay”” Companeros” to name half a dozen…some of them seldom feature..as to why ?…..your guess is as good as mine…..” Spancilhill” “Wandering Aongus” “Dark End” “Cry Like A man”
Hello Christy,
That’s a very fine set of gigs you’ve got appearing for 2023.
That ferry is going to be busy.
Rebecca
may we all have the good health to travel sing and listen….may we be forever young at heart
Good evening Christy,
Dundalk has a fantastic mural of a mounted Robert the Bruce, i hope you enjoy it and get young Keenan up on the stage with you.
Anyway today i was playing a fine Hamish Henderson record and came across again a song by the wonderful Jeanie Robertson ‘ my son david’. I thought it had striking similarities to John Reilly and ‘what put the blood’.
Travelling people like these two fabulous keepers of the flame, surely should have the ‘notability’ that their skills deserved.
Enjoy Dundalk, best regards
Rory
I heard Jeannie twice..at Keele Festival in (I think 1966 or 7) and in Blairgowrie a few years later….a time of great learning and listening….Lizzie Higgins, Jimmy McBeth, Davey Johnston
Well Christy, you are doing a fantastic Ireland world tour, between lining out for Ireland and the Lilywhites…
Have a wonderful time in my home town Dlk on Friday 11.11.22. (see what I did there? Amazing!)
Enjoy the gig and all that comes with it!
Up the real Lily Whites, c’mon da town! (Shout that out, it’ll bring the house down)
The Black & Tans replaced by the Spiritans…..unholy ghosts still hiding out in foreign “missions”
If you insist on scrummaging with the Fijians please wear this
https://images.app.goo.gl/yetdqXA9rRbXFJBw7
Got to keep you safe…
I am sub number 73,986 on the bench so its possible I might not get a run out..but, If called upon I am ready and willing….Munster were magnificent last night..Paddy Patterson,their number 3 or 4 Scrum Half getting man of the match..his acceptance speech gloriously littered with as many “fucks” as he could fit in…. Ride On Paddy