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.
Cricklewood
Christy Moore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I am a bold buck navvy and I don't know right from wrong
Of late I've been transported from Ireland's holy shore
My case is sad my crime is bad I was born poor
Chorus:
Cricklewood Cricklewood
You stole my youth away
You were old and grey
If you are born poor me lads it is a shocking state
The judge will sit upon your crime and this he will relate
I find the prisoner guilty and the law I must lay down
Let him be transported straight away to Camden Town
Chorus
Take him down to Cricklewood and leave him in the pub
Call the barman landlord then propose to him a sub
Leave him down in Cricklewood mid mortar bricks and lime
Let him rot in Cricklewood until the end of time.
The first verse of Christy Moore's "Cricklewood" opens with the singer addressing his audience, calling upon "true born Irishmen" to pay attention to his story. The singer is a "bold buck navvy", which is a reference to an Irish laborer or construction worker who would often work on the canals or other large-scale infrastructure projects in the UK. He laments that he has been "transported" from Ireland's holy shore - a reference to being forcibly sent to the UK against his will.
The second verse further emphasizes the singer's lamentable situation; he believes that because he was born into poverty, his fate was predetermined. The singer goes on to describe a judge's verdict, which pronounces his guilt and orders him to be transported to Camden Town - a poor, working-class district of north-west London.
The chorus of the song centers around the place where the singer was taken: Cricklewood. It was here that his youth was stolen from him, and where he was unfairly incarcerated amongst other similarly poor and desperate people. The final verse underscores his misery, as the singer is left to rot in a dingy pub in the midst of "mortar bricks and lime." The lyrics describe an unfair and unjust system, where people are punished simply for being poor and where their only option is to suffer in silence.
Line by Line Meaning
Come all you true born Irishmen and listen to my song
The singer calls on his fellow Irishmen to hear his story.
I am a bold buck navvy and I don't know right from wrong
The singer identifies himself as a construction worker with no understanding of morality.
Of late I've been transported from Ireland's holy shore
The singer has been exiled from his homeland.
My case is sad my crime is bad I was born poor
The singer's poverty is the root of his misfortune.
Chorus:
Cricklewood Cricklewood
You stole my youth away
I was young and innocent
You were old and grey
The chorus alludes to Cricklewood as a place of corruption and the source of the singer's troubles.
If you are born poor me lads it is a shocking state
The singer laments the injustice of being born into poverty.
The judge will sit upon your crime and this he will relate
The singer describes the inevitability of being tried and sentenced for crime as a poor person.
I find the prisoner guilty and the law I must lay down
The judge finds the singer guilty and must impose the sentence.
Let him be transported straight away to Camden Town
The singer is to be exiled to Camden Town.
Chorus
Repeats the same message as before.
Take him down to Cricklewood and leave him in the pub
The singer is to be abandoned in a pub in Cricklewood.
Call the barman landlord then propose to him a sub
The person who leaves the singer in the pub is to bribe the barman.
Leave him down in Cricklewood mid mortar bricks and lime
The singer is left stranded in the midst of construction.
Let him rot in Cricklewood until the end of time.
The singer is to be left to suffer in Cricklewood forever.
Contributed by Alexis F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@tonydeller7595
Lived in both Cricklewood &Kilburn for years as a kid now 71
@jassensummogum
Me too Tony! Ahh good to hear
@otumoetaipat
When I first moved to London from NZ as 20 year old. I got taken to the Crown (or lucky 7) by the lads I played rugby with. I love my Irish brothers, and I love the music, but I'll never call myself Irish (like a lot of people do).
@ceolnaghra
The Galtymore Was a great place,I spent my youth here in the 70's!
@CultOfBananas
I spent most of my youth in a neighborhood called Cricklewood Circle. This song is literally speaking to me, love it :)
@annhynes6279
God be with the great nights in the Cricklewood
@hamrzlawnlake
Knows where tunes come from. Tks Christy.
@clarrisina
Christy we love you!!! great man and make us proud!
@irishfield1
Great song ever Christy amazing ever thank you
@TONYIRISHPROUD
christy as good as ever mo chara ! BELFAST SALUTES YOU