Christy Moore started in the music business in the mid-sixties, when his life as a bank clerk was interrupted by a bank strike, and he moved to England. There he became involved in the folk music scene at the time, and spent a few years playing pubs and clubs around the country.
His return to Ireland was marked by the album 'Prosperous', which proved to be a milestone in the rapprochement of Irish music to the popular mainstream. This album benefited from a collaboration of the leading talents of contemporary folk music, musicians such as Andy Irvine, Donal Lunny and Liam O'Flynn, and this one-off was to lead to the formation of Planxty, a band who were soon to be at the leading edge of the revival of Irish traditional music.
Over the following years the musical status of Planxty became legendary both in Ireland, Britain and throughout Europe. However in 1974 the band split up to pursue solo projects. It was during this period that Christy continued to explore new ground as a solo artist recording a number of solo albums including 'The Iron Behind the Velvet' (TARACD2002) which featured Andy Irvine and 'Live in Dublin' (TARACD2005) with Donal Lunny.
The original Planxty lineup of Christy, Andy, Liam and Donal then reformed in 1979. They recorded two further albums with Tara Records 'After the Break' (TARACD3001) and 'The Woman I Loved So Well' (TARACD3005). There were several additions and changes to their lineup most notably the addition of Matt Molloy, flautist from The Bothy Band, who later joined The Chieftains, and Bill Whelan.
In 1981 Planxty performed a Bill Whelan arrangement called 'Timedance' as the intermission piece for the Eurovision song contest, held that year in Ireland. Later it was released as a single and is now included on Bill's CD of 'The Seville Suite' (TARACD3030) released by Tara in 1992.
In the eighties Christy again teamed up with Donal Lunny to form Moving Hearts, another ambitious and innovative Irish band which sought to mix jazz into the folk-rock fusion. Ever the wanderer, Christy was soon breaking out on his own again, and it was in the eighties that he began to establish himself as one of Ireland's leading solo artists with a string of acclaimed albums and high profile tours.
In the mid-nineties Christy decided to take a break from the music for a few years. In the year 2000 Christy return to live performances with a series of Dublin concerts. Over the last few years he has released a number of solo projects including a television series, a live album and a 6 CD boxset.
Anne Lovett
Christy Moore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A week ago last Tuesday.
She was just fifteen years.
When she reached her full term.
She went to a grotto.
Just a field,
In The Middle of The Island.
To deliver herself.
Her Baby died,
She died
A week ago last Tuesday.
It was a sad slow stupid death for them both.
Everybody knew, nobody said.
At a Grotto
In a Field
In The Middle Of The Island
The lyrics of Christy Moore's song "Anne Lovett" are a poignant and heartbreaking portrayal of the tragic death of a young girl in Ireland. The song tells the true story of Anne Lovett, who was just fifteen years old when she gave birth to a baby boy in a grotto in County Longford, Ireland. She was alone and unassisted during the delivery, and both she and the baby tragically lost their lives in the cold and damp conditions.
The lyrics of the song are powerful in their simplicity, stating matter-of-factly that "everybody knew, nobody said" about Anne's pregnancy or the circumstances of her death. The use of the phrase "in the middle of the island" highlights both the remoteness of the location and the isolation that Anne must have felt during her final hours. The repeated line "it was a sad slow stupid death for them both" encapsulates the sense of waste and loss that permeates the song, as well as the frustration and anger that many people felt in the aftermath of the tragedy.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody knew, nobody said.
People were aware of the situation but chose to remain silent.
A week ago last Tuesday.
The tragedy happened on a specific day.
She was just fifteen years.
The victim was a young girl.
When she reached her full term.
She was pregnant and her baby was about to be born.
She went to a grotto.
She went to a religious site.
Just a field,
The religious site was located in an open area.
In The Middle of The Island.
The location of the tragedy was in the center of an island.
To deliver herself.
She went there to give birth to her baby.
Her Baby died,
The baby did not survive.
She died
The young mother also lost her life during childbirth.
A week ago last Tuesday.
This unfortunate event occurred on a specific day.
It was a sad slow stupid death for them both.
Their deaths were tragic and preventable.
Everybody knew, nobody said.
People were aware of the situation but chose to remain silent.
At a Grotto
The tragedy happened in a religious site.
In a Field
The religious site was located in an open area.
In The Middle Of The Island
The location of the tragedy was in the center of an island.
Contributed by Keira E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Maria Manera
Christy expresses the emotions of the nation in a way which no pathetic politician can aspire to. The puzzle is that so many people feel the emotion which Christy expresses and yet we end up with hopeless TDs who are so out of touch. What's the answer?
kieran owens
Ann Lovett was a fifteen-year-old schoolgirl from Granard, County Longford, Ireland who died giving birth beside a grotto on 31 January 1984. Her baby son died at the same time and the story of her death played a huge part in a seminal national debate in the country at the time on women giving birth outside marriage
Everybody knew,Nobody said lyrics by nigel rolfe
Everybody knew, nobody said.
A week ago last Tuesday.
She was just fifteen years.
When she reached her full term.
She went to a grotto.
Just a field,
In The Middle of The Island.
To deliver herself.
Her Baby died,
She died
A week ago last Tuesday.
It was a sad, slow, stupid death for them both.
Everybody knew, nobody said.
At a Grotto
In a Field
In The Middle Of The Island
James Dolan
I went to Granard Vocational school for two years,1975 to 1977 approximately. Now that I know the complete Ann Lovett story. Naturally I am very that one so young as Ann and her baby should have died in such horrendous circumstances. I am very sad the pain, suffering, and serious consequences the Lovett family had to suffer in the aftermath of Ann and her babies death. Since now I know the story more completely, I am less inclined to make any judgement of anybody. Instead, if I were in the position I would have liked to have said, how can I help?
To that end, though I like Christy More very much, I would not support that song today, as it's making to many judgement calls, and assumptions of a people that I know now suffered their own pain in many, many ways.
Anukt1
Let us remember.