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.
Blackjack County Chains
Christy Moore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Not knowing that the Sheriff paid a bounty,
For men like me that hadn't got a penny to their name.
So he locked my leg to 35 pounds of Black Jack County
Chains.
And all we had to eat was bread and water,
Each day we built the road a mile and a quarter,
But we couldn't fight back wearing 35 pounds of Black
Jack County Chains.
One night while the Sheriff he was sleeping,
We all gathered round him slowly creeping,
Heaven help me to forget that night in the cold cold rain,
When we beat him to death with 35 pounds of Black Jack
County Chains.
Now the whip marks have all healed and I am thankful,
There's nothing left but a scar around my ankle.
But most of all I'm glad no man will be a slave again,
To a Black Snake Whip and 35 pounds of Black Jack County
Chains.
The lyrics of Christy Moore's song Blackjack Country Chains depict the brutality of the chain gang system in Black Jack County. The singer of the song is a prisoner who was caught and sent to join other men in a chain gang. He talks about the terrible conditions in which they were made to work, building a road a mile and a quarter each day with little food to sustain them, while being whipped with a black snake whip.
The desperation of these men is highlighted in the lines "Not knowing that the Sheriff paid a bounty, / For men like me that hadn't got a penny to their name." The injustice of the system is further emphasized when the prisoners decide to take matters into their own hands and beat the Sheriff to death while he is sleeping. The lyrics "But we couldn't fight back wearing 35 pounds of Black Jack County Chains" speak to their utter helplessness in the face of such oppression.
The song ultimately ends on a note of hope, with the singer being grateful that the whip marks have healed and that he only bears a scar on his ankle. The song ends with the affirmation that no man will ever again be reduced to a slave, to be beaten with a whip and shackled with chains.
Line by Line Meaning
I was sittin' beside the road in Black Jack County.
I was sitting by the side of the road in a place called Blackjack County.
Not knowing that the Sheriff paid a bounty,
I was unaware that the sheriff offered a reward for people like me who didn't have money.
For men like me that hadn't got a penny to their name.
The Sheriff was offering money for men who were poor and had no money.
So he locked my leg to 35 pounds of Black Jack County Chains.
As a result, I was chained up with 35-pound black chains of Blackjack County.
And all we had to eat was bread and water,
All we had was bread and water for food.
Each day we built the road a mile and a quarter,
We had to build the road every day, one and a quarter miles at a time.
A Black Snake Whip would cut the back of any man who complained,
If someone complained, the whip would strike their back.
But we couldn't fight back wearing 35 pounds of Black Jack County Chains.
But we couldn't fight back while wearing 35-pound blackjack county chains.
One night while the Sheriff he was sleeping,
One night, as the Sheriff slept,
We all gathered round him slowly creeping,
We all approached him slowly and quietly.
Heaven help me to forget that night in the cold cold rain,
I hope to forget that night, it was cold and raining.
When we beat him to death with 35 pounds of Black Jack County Chains.
That night we beat him to death using the 35-pound blackjack county chains.
Now the whip marks have all healed and I am thankful,
Fortunately, the whip marks on my body are now healed and I am grateful for it.
There's nothing left but a scar around my ankle.
However, there is still a scar around my ankle where the chains had been.
But most of all I'm glad no man will be a slave again,
Above all, I am grateful that no man ever has to be enslaved again.
To a Black Snake Whip and 35 pounds of Black Jack County Chains.
No one will have to experience lashings with a Black Snake Whip nor be shackled by 35-pound Blackjack County Chains again.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RED LANE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gary Ryan
Christy, you set me free "again" tonight.... Be aware, your musical/artists value will NEVER be underestimated or lost as long as I dwell this planet (I even flew in from Düsseldorf and dragged my 85 year old mother to a concert of yours in Drogheda, 4 months later she was dead...but we both truly loved that night with yourself and Declan in Drogheda...keep on doing that great job!!!!!!
chris potter
love this song
Mayo Man
great job
Joseph Young
Del Mccoury's blackjack county chain is quite good aswell. I've been trying to find the original recording by Red Lane, so the hunt continues.
Mayo Man
I found red on you tube so should you.
Jan Sarg
A great version
Irek Oi
Nice
Kiefer
tune