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.
God Woman
Christy Moore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Then The Plough and The Milky Way, Jupiter and Mars
Takin' a bone from her ribcage she carved a fine cut of a man
Dropped him in where The Seven Springs flow into The Pollardstown Fen
'Go forth; sez she, 'me darling boy, go forth in the name of God'
What better place to begin mo bhuachaillin then below in The Yellow Bog
God Woman, God Woman
On a beautiful hill near Clongorey he built a beehive cell
Where he contemplated Limbo as he drank from Saint Bridgid's Well
He recited the Sorrowful Mysteries, said Mass at the High Cross of Moone
Traumatisin' himself with terrible thoughts of eternal damnation and doom
He began to break up the bordellos, to smash all the poitin stills
Frothing at the mouth as he ranted, 'yiz'II all burn in Hell for your sins'
DijxIented by loneliness the poor man could not sleep
All he had for company was altar boys and sheep
'Til one night after devotions he met up with a mot from Coill Dubh
On the bog road down by Clogherinka she whispered the secrets of love
After spendin' all night in the furze bush he emerged a fully fledged man
Took Bedelia back home to the beehive to polish up his auld pots and pans
They danced and danced to the music, to the sound of the Angelus bell
They boogied and jived around the beehive as they danced between Heaven and Hell
In Christy Moore’s song “God Woman,” the character described is a powerful and influential figure. This person is a woman who has created the world and all its aspects in seven days. The song continues to describe her character as she takes a rib bone and carves a man out of it, sending him forth to do good in the name of God. The man builds a beehive cell on a hill near Clongorey and grapples with his own spiritual turmoil. He begins to preach and attempt to rid the area of sin, even smashing the poitín stills. Despite his holy efforts, loneliness and isolation begin to take a toll on him as he loses sleep and becomes desperate for companionship.
The narrative of “God Woman” paints a vivid picture of the power of religion and the struggles of those devoted to it. The woman’s creation of the world in seven days is a reference to the biblical account of creation in the Book of Genesis. The man’s struggle with spiritual turmoil reflects the weight and responsibility that can come with religion, as he grapples with eternal damnation and attempts to save others from it. His loneliness and eventual romantic encounter with Bedelia speaks to the human desire for connection and love, even for those devoted to God.
Line by Line Meaning
She spent seven days creating The World, The Sun, The Moon and The Stars
She, the god woman, created everything in the world including the sun, the moon, and the stars over a week-long time.
Then The Plough and The Milky Way, Jupiter and Mars
After creating the sun, moon, and stars, she created other elements of the universe like the plough, the Milky Way, Jupiter and Mars.
Takin' a bone from her ribcage she carved a fine cut of a man
The god woman took a bone from her ribcage and used it to create a fine human being.
Dropped him in where The Seven Springs flow into The Pollardstown Fen
The god woman put the man she created in a location where seven springs flow into the Pollardstown Fen.
'Go forth; sez she, 'me darling boy, go forth in the name of God'
The god woman instructed the man she created to go forth in God's name.
What better place to begin mo bhuachaillin then below in The Yellow Bog
The god woman believed that the Yellow Bog was the perfect place for the man to start his journey.
On a beautiful hill near Clongorey he built a beehive cell
The man built a beehive cell on a beautiful hill near Clongorey.
Where he contemplated Limbo as he drank from Saint Bridgid's Well
While drinking from Saint Bridgid's Well, the man meditated on the concept of Limbo.
He recited the Sorrowful Mysteries, said Mass at the High Cross of Moone
The man recited the Sorrowful Mysteries and said Mass at the High Cross of Moone.
Traumatisin' himself with terrible thoughts of eternal damnation and doom
While contemplating his faith, the man traumatized himself with terrible thoughts of eternal damnation and doom.
He began to break up the bordellos, to smash all the poitin stills
The man started to destroy the bordellos and poitin stills in the area.
Frothing at the mouth as he ranted, 'yiz'II all burn in Hell for your sins'
The man was angry and ranting, threatening that others will burn in hell for their sins.
DijxIented by loneliness the poor man could not sleep
The man was experiencing loneliness and it was affecting his ability to sleep.
All he had for company was altar boys and sheep
The man's only companions were altar boys and sheep.
'Til one night after devotions he met up with a mot from Coill Dubh
One night after devotions, the man met a woman from Coill Dubh.
On the bog road down by Clogherinka she whispered the secrets of love
The woman whispered the secrets of love to the man on the bog road by Clogherinka.
After spendin' all night in the furze bush he emerged a fully fledged man
After spending the night in the furze bush with the woman, the man emerged as a fully fledged man.
Took Bedelia back home to the beehive to polish up his auld pots and pans
The man took Bedelia back to his beehive to tidy up his kitchen utensils.
They danced and danced to the music, to the sound of the Angelus bell
Bedelia and the man danced and danced to the music, to the sound of the Angelus bell.
They boogied and jived around the beehive as they danced between Heaven and Hell
As they danced around the beehive, the pair moved between the concepts of heaven and hell.
Contributed by Oliver C. 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