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.
Companeros
Christy Moore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Waiting for the evening tide
To rise and bring high water.
Bound for Cuba she must go
Across the Gulf of Mexico
And The Caribbean Ocean
She's carrying a human cargo 83 good companeros
Each one burning with determination to be free
Against Batista, The Fidelistas
Courage was their armour
As they fought at Fidel's side
With Che Guevara
Five days out from Mexico these Companeros
Landed on the Cuban beach Los Colarados
Fidel said this year will see
Our country and our people free
Or else we will be martyrs
We've only guns enough for twenty
The enemy has arms a plenty
Meet him and defeat him and he'll keep us well supplied
Against Batista, The Fidelistas
Courage was their armour
As they fought at Fidel's side
With Che Guevara
Five weeks later in the Canyon De La Rio
Fidels army was reduced to 18 Companeros
Hungry, weak and unafraid
Learning revolutions trade
In the high Sierra Maestre
Where the mountain winds did blow
Bearing seeds to sprout and sow
New crops in Cuban soil that marked the death of slavery
Companeros, tu valaderos
Courage was their armour
As they fought at Fidel's side
With Che Guevara
They made their way across the peak of El Torquino
Joined by bands of volunteers and the men from Santiago
They faced Batista's tanks and trains
Drove them back across the plains
From the high Sierra Maestre
They drove the gangsters from Los Vios
Straight across the Cordileros
Santa Barbra fell to Che Guevara and was free
Companeros, tu valaderos
Courage was their armour
As they fought at Fidel's side
With Che Guevara
The fire lit on that Cuban beach by Fidel Castro
Still shines all the way to Terra del Fuego
Sparks are blown upon the breeze
People rise from off their knees
When they see the night is burning
It blazes up in Venezuela, Bolivia and Guatamala
Lights the road that we must go in order to be free
Companeros, Americanos
Courage was their armour
As they fought at Fidel's side
With Che Guevara
Courage was their armour
As they fought at Fidel's side
With Che Guevara
The song "Companeros" by Christy Moore tells the story of Fidel Castro and his fellow revolutionaries known as the Companeros who fought against the dictator Batista to free Cuba. The lyrics describe the journey of Granma, the ship carrying 83 Companeros as they sailed across the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Ocean to reach Cuba. They were determined to fight for their freedom and against the oppression they experienced under the Batista regime. The song highlights the courage, determination, and sacrifice of the Companeros, who despite being outnumbered and outgunned, fought alongside Fidel and Che Guevara to overcome the powerful forces of Batista.
The lyrics also describe the hardships and challenges faced by the Companeros during their journey to freedom. They landed on the Cuban beach Los Colarados after five days out from Mexico, with Fidel stating that this year would see their country and people free or they would become martyrs. With only guns enough for twenty, they were facing an enemy with arms aplenty. They fought in the high Sierra Maestre, where the mountain winds blew and the harsh conditions made their fight even more challenging. Despite the struggles, they continued to fight and ultimately drove the gangsters from Los Vios and freed Santa Barbra.
The song "Companeros" is a tribute to the fearless Companeros who risked their lives fighting for their freedom and the freedom of their people. The use of words and phrases like "human cargo," "courage was their armor," "high water," "bearing seeds to sprout and sow," and "lights the road that we must go in order to be free" evoke powerful emotions and imagery. The song reminds us of the importance of standing up for justice and fighting against oppression, regardless of the odds.
Line by Line Meaning
The good ship Granma lies at anchor in the harbour
The ship named Granma is currently anchored in the harbor
Waiting for the evening tide
The ship is waiting for the tide to rise in the evening
To rise and bring high water.
The tide rising will cause high water levels in the harbor
Bound for Cuba she must go
The ship is heading towards Cuba
Across the Gulf of Mexico
The ship must cross the Gulf of Mexico to reach Cuba
And The Caribbean Ocean
The Caribbean Ocean must also be crossed to reach Cuba
She's carrying a human cargo 83 good companeros
The ship is carrying 83 people as its cargo
Each one burning with determination to be free
The individuals on the ship are determined to achieve their freedom
Against Batista, The Fidelistas
The people on the ship are fighting against Batista and with The Fidelistas
Courage was their armour
The individuals had courage as their protection
As they fought at Fidel's side
The people fought alongside Fidel Castro
With Che Guevara
They also fought alongside Che Guevara
Five days out from Mexico these Companeros
They had left Mexico five days before
Landed on the Cuban beach Los Colarados
They landed on the Cuban beach called Los Colarados
Fidel said this year will see
Fidel Castro declared that this year would lead to
Our country and our people free
Cuba and its citizens will be free
Or else we will be martyrs
If they fail, they will become martyrs
We've only guns enough for twenty
They only had enough weapons for twenty people
The enemy has arms a plenty
Their enemies, however, had an abundance of weapons
Meet him and defeat him and he'll keep us well supplied
If they defeat their enemy, they will have access to their spoils
Five weeks later in the Canyon De La Rio
Five weeks later, they found themselves in the Canyon De La Rio
Fidels army was reduced to 18 Companeros
Fidel Castro's army was reduced to 18 individuals
Hungry, weak and unafraid
The remaining individuals were hungry and weak, but not afraid
Learning revolutions trade
They were learning how to fight a revolution
In the high Sierra Maestre
They were in the high Sierra Maestre region
Where the mountain winds did blow
They were experiencing strong winds in the mountains
Bearing seeds to sprout and sow
They were planting seeds to grow crops
New crops in Cuban soil that marked the death of slavery
The new crops they were planting would symbolize the end of slavery in Cuba
Companeros, tu valaderos
The individuals were known as companero, meaning comrades
They made their way across the peak of El Torquino
They crossed the peak of El Torquino mountain
Joined by bands of volunteers and the men from Santiago
They were joined by volunteer groups and men from Santiago
They faced Batista's tanks and trains
They encountered Batista's tanks and trains
Drove them back across the plains
They pushed them back across the plains
From the high Sierra Maestre
They had come from the high Sierra Maestre region
They drove the gangsters from Los Vios
They drove the gangsters away from Los Vios
Straight across the Cordileros
They crossed the Cordileros directly
Santa Barbra fell to Che Guevara and was free
Santa Barbra was conquered by Che Guevara and became free
The fire lit on that Cuban beach by Fidel Castro
The rebellion started on a Cuban beach ignited by Fidel Castro
Still shines all the way to Terra del Fuego
The fire still burns all the way to Terra del Fuego
Sparks are blown upon the breeze
The sparks from the fire are carried by the wind
People rise from off their knees
The people rise up from their submissive position
When they see the night is burning
When they witness the revolution taking place
It blazes up in Venezuela, Bolivia and Guatamala
The revolution is spreading to Venezuela, Bolivia, and Guatemala
Lights the road that we must go in order to be free
The revolution illuminates the path towards freedom
Companeros, Americanos
All comrades, regardless of their nationality
As they fought at Fidel's side
The people fought alongside Fidel Castro
With Che Guevara
They also fought alongside Che Guevara
Courage was their armour
The individuals had courage as their protection
As they fought at Fidel's side
The people fought alongside Fidel Castro
With Che Guevara
They also fought alongside Che Guevara
Contributed by Jason I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Oisin feehilly
on By Barna
Hellow Lady, Can I borrow your teddy
Samuel Joseph Donnelly
on Whacker Humphries
Ask "whacker" about the Provo they marched on and set up for votes in council elections- set up by a brasser from the Barn named Lilly Healy- 18 fucking years in blocks/cages/ torture centres and back stabbed by wannabes from Dublin! Between Active service ( killing etc whacker in case you didn't know!!
Chloe Mcl
on Hey Paddy
Is that the words Brendan O'Carroll sing