Ride On
Christy Moore Lyrics
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Standing 16 1" or 2" with eyes wild and green
And you ride the horse so well, hands light to the touch
I could never go with you no matter how I wanted to
Ride on, see you, I could never go with you
No matter how I wanted to
When you ride into the night without a trace behind
Run your claw along my gut one last time
I turn to face an empty space where once you used to lie
And look for a smile to light the night through a teardrop in my eye
Ride on, see you, I could never go with you
No matter how I wanted to
Christy Moore's song "Ride On" is a beautiful ballad about unrequited love, and the emotional turmoil that accompanies it. The singer is in awe of someone who they see as beyond their reach, symbolized by the image of a horse and its rider. The horse is "the finest" the singer has ever seen, with "eyes wild and green," and the rider navigates it with a seemingly effortless grace. The singer admires this person and is clearly infatuated with them, but acknowledges that they could never be with them. The repeated refrain of "Ride on, see you, I could never go with you / No matter how I wanted to" highlights their longing and sense of resignation.
In the second verse, we see the singer grappling with the aftermath of this one-sided love. The rider has left them behind, disappearing into the night "without a trace behind." The image of the rider running their "claw" along the singer's gut is a visceral one, evoking both pain and passion. This brief moment of contact is all that the singer has of their beloved, and it leaves them with an "empty space" where they used to lie. The last lines of the song are particularly poignant, as the singer simultaneously looks for some glimmer of hope ("a smile to light the night") while acknowledging the weight of their sadness ("through a teardrop in my eye").
Overall, "Ride On" is a powerful song that captures the essence of unrequited love. It is both a tribute to the object of affection and a lament for what cannot be. The vivid imagery and haunting melody make it a memorable piece of music that resonates with listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
True you ride the finest horse I've ever seen
It's a fact that you ride the most magnificent horse I've ever laid eyes on
Standing 16 1" or 2" with eyes wild and green
The horse stands tall at either 16 1 inch or 2 inches with its eyes fiercely green and untamed
And you ride the horse so well, hands light to the touch
You ride the horse with such skill and ease that your hands barely touch it
I could never go with you no matter how I wanted to
It's impossible for me to join you on your journey no matter how much I wish I could
Ride on, see you, I could never go with you
Continue onward, I acknowledge and bid farewell as I accept that I can't follow you
When you ride into the night without a trace behind
As you ride away into the darkness, leaving nothing behind you
Run your claw along my gut one last time
Cling to me tightly one more time before leaving me feeling as if I've been clawed inside
I turn to face an empty space where once you used to lie
I look towards the space where you used to rest and find that it's now empty
And look for a smile to light the night through a teardrop in my eye
I search for a glimmer of hope to illuminate the darkness and soothe the tears in my eyes
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JIMMY MACCARTHY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jack_pf0912
True you ride the finest horse I have ever seen
Standing sixteen one or two, with eyes wild and green
And you ride the horse so well, hands light to the touch
I could never go with you no matter how I wanted to
Ride on, see you,
I could never go with you
No matter how I wanted to
When you ride into the night without a trace behind
Run your claw along my gut, one last time
I turn to face an empty space, where once you used to lie
And look for a spark that lights the dark
Through a teardrop in my eye
Ride on, see you,
I could never go with you
No matter how I wanted to
Ride on, see you,
I could never go with you
No matter how I wanted to
No matter how I wanted to
@yourpreppysisssss
Heard him sing this live when i visited ireland 40 years ago. I'm 70 now and this song has stayed with me all that time. Haunting.
@seanheffernan7028
Jesus how you still going fair play
@sonyadillon1200
Can I just say I love Christy Moore and this song brings tears to my eyes ,my son died 8 months ago and when he was younger he loved horse riding he was disabled yet he could do this with help I just keep thinking of him in the afterlife free on his horse rest in peace my darling Kevin xxxxx no longer here but never forgotten and thank you Christy Moore for such a beautiful song
@DRIFTAH1
Send my blessings.
@kevinoconnor4102
Sorry for your loss but be assured your child is waiting in heaven for you.
@OdhranMolloy
I'm sorry to hear about your Son
@ultimatebadgerman9232
May your son rest in peace
@TheLordfuchs
May your son be free
@afitzsimons
BBC Radio 2 are playing this song as a tribute to their DJ Steve Wright who loved Christy but missed out seeing him live due to COVID. It was announced, today, that Steve sadly passed away RIP.
@tommykelly1221
1.1 million views in 11 years correct me if I'm wrong but 10k views a month! I'm glad it still lives on as powerful as ever! Love you Christy you true Irish warrior 🪖🇮🇪