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.
Cold Blow
Christy Moore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My heart is like a lump of lead
My shoes are frozen to my feet
With standing at your window
Let me in the soldier cried
Cold blow the rainy night
Oh let me in the soldier cried
My father's walking on the street
My mother the chamber keys do keep
The doors and windows, they do creak
I dare not let you in - O
Let me in the soldier cried
Cold blow and the rainy night
O let me in the soldier cried
For I'll not go back again - O
Oh then she rose and let him in
And kissed his ruby lips and chin
And then they went to bed again
And soon he gained her favor
Then she blessed the rainy night
She rose and let him in - O
Now since you had your will of me
Soldier will you marry me?
No such thing can ever be
So fare you well for ever
Then she cursed the rainy night
Cold blow and the rainy night
O then she cursed the rainy night
That ever she let him in - O
Then he jumped out of the bed
He put his cap upon his head
And she had lost her maidenhead
And her mother heard the din - O
Then she cursed the rainy night
Cold blow and the rainy night
O then she cursed the rainy night
That ever she let him in - O
The song "Cold Blow" by Christy Moore is a traditional ballad that tells the story of a soldier seeking shelter in inclement weather. The opening stanza describes the physical discomfort of the situation, with the soldier's cap frozen to his head, his heart heavy, and his shoes frozen to his feet. Despite the discomfort, the soldier begs for entry, with the refrain "Let me in the soldier cried, cold blow the rainy night, oh let me in the soldier cried, I'll not go back again - O."
The second half of the song details the interaction between the soldier and the woman who finally lets him in, despite her initial hesitance. The two end up in bed together, and the woman asks the soldier to marry her, only to be met with rejection. The final stanza takes a darker turn, with the woman realizing that she has lost her virginity and her mother becoming aware of the situation. The refrain is repeated a final time, with a sense of regret and cursing for the events of the night.
The song captures the themes of love, loss, and consequences, with a touch of melancholy and regret. The soldier's desperation for shelter is juxtaposed with the woman's initial reluctance and eventual vulnerability, leaving the listener with a sense of the complexity of human relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
My cap is frozen to my head
It is extremely cold outside and I have been exposed to the point where my clothing adheres to my body.
My heart is like a lump of lead
I am weighed down with despair or sadness and have lost all will to carry on.
My shoes are frozen to my feet
The freezing conditions have caused my shoes to freeze to my feet, making it difficult to move around.
With standing at your window
I have been standing outside your home for an extended period, trying to gain your attention.
Let me in the soldier cried
I am pleading with you to allow me to enter your home.
Cold blow the rainy night
The weather is harsh and the elements are making it even more difficult to be outside.
Oh let me in the soldier cried
My desire to enter your home is extremely strong and I beseech you to let me pass your threshold.
I'll not go back again - O
I am determined to enter your home and will not relent in my pursuit.
My father's walking on the street
My father is out on the street, so I cannot seek shelter at my own home.
My mother the chamber keys do keep
My mother holds the keys to the chambers, so I cannot seek refuge there either.
The doors and windows, they do creak
The doors and windows of my home are not conducive to allowing quiet entry or an inconspicuous exit.
I dare not let you in - O
I am reluctant to allow you entry into my home due to the gamble I am taking on trusting you.
And then they went to bed again
After granting the soldier's request to enter, they retired to the bed.
And soon he gained her favor
The soldier was successful in winning over the girl.
Then she blessed the rainy night
After realizing how much she benefits from the soldier's influence, the girl feels grateful for the difficult and important decision she made that night.
Now since you had your will of me
Since you have succeeded in gaining favor with me, I am curious as to what your intentions are for my regard.
Soldier will you marry me?
The girl is wondering if the soldier has any potential of becoming a long-term partner.
No such thing can ever be
The soldier declares that a marriage is not possible between them and their relationship must come to an end.
So fare you well for ever
The soldier bids farewell to the girl for the final time.
Then he jumped out of the bed
After having relations with the girl, the soldier immediately gets up in preparation to leave.
He put his cap upon his head
The soldier throws his cold cap back on his head likely to resign himself to leave the girl's home eagerly.
And she had lost her maidenhead
The girl has lost her virginity through her encounter with the soldier.
And her mother heard the din - O
The audible noise of the encounter the girl had with the soldier alerted her mother who subsequently became aware of what had occurred.
That ever she let him in - O
The girl looks back regretfully at the decision she made, bringing the soldier into her home and into her life.
Then she cursed the rainy night
The girl became aware of the tremendously impactful decision she made on her life and cursed the heavy and terrible rain that facilitated it.
O then she cursed the rainy night
The girl continues to curse the rainy night in frustration, knowing what she gave up and what she had lost.
Cold blow and the rainy night
The girl focuses on the terrible weather conditions that allowed the soldier to weasel his way into her home and her heart.
Contributed by Christian C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@dprkspacemarine
Couldn't tell you mate. Its off the Christy Moore boxset so it may be in the credits there but unfortunately I don't have it anymore..
@scobeyrowley5115
What time signature is this in? I want to play it on the bodhrán but I'm just a beginner.
@289greenbottlesirl5
slip-jig i reckon. Google it
@TheSonnenkaefer
6/8