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.
I Pity the Poor Immigrant
Christy Moore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Uses all his power to do evil, in the end is always left so alone
That man who with his fingers cheats who lies with every breath
Who passionately hates his life and likewise fears his death
I pity the poor immigrant whose strength is spent in vain
Whose heaven is like ironsides, and whose tears are like the rain
Who eats but is not satisfied, who hears but does not see
Who falls in love with wealth itself and turns his back on me
Who fills his mouth with laughing and who builds his town with blood
Whose vision in the end must shatter like a glass
I pity the poor immigrant when his gladness comes to pass
In Christy Moore's powerful song, "I Pity the Poor Immigrant", the singer expresses his deep feelings of compassion towards the struggles and hardships faced by immigrants. He begins by referring to the immigrant who regrets leaving his home and wishes he had stayed, but now uses his power to do evil and is left alone. This could be interpreted as a portrayal of someone who has lost sight of their origin, their values, and has become corrupted by the host society.
The lyrics then go on to describe a man who cheats, lies, and passionately hates his life and fears his death. This is someone whose morality has collapsed, and whose sense of ethics has been eroded. The singer sympathizes with this person, acknowledging the personal emptiness he must feel.
As the song progresses, the singer becomes more sorrowful, pitying the immigrant whose strength and resources have been exhausted in vain. He describes someone who is never satisfied; whose tears are like rain and his heaven is like ironsides. The song then speaks of someone whose love is for wealth and material things, and who turns his back on the singer, whose love is for humanity.
In summary, "I Pity the Poor Immigrant" is an emotional and thought-provoking song that attempts to capture the struggles and difficulties that immigrants face in their new societies. It is a song of empathy, compassion, and human understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
I pity the poor immigrant who wishes he'd stayed at home
I feel sorry for the migrant who regrets leaving his homeland and coming to a foreign land.
Uses all his power to do evil, in the end is always left so alone
The immigrant who resorts to evil deeds to succeed, ends up being isolated and lonely in the long run.
That man who with his fingers cheats who lies with every breath
The man who constantly cheats and lies using his hands and voice is pitiable.
Who passionately hates his life and likewise fears his death
The immigrant who hates his life so much that he fears death is deserving of pity.
I pity the poor immigrant whose strength is spent in vain
I empathize with the migrant whose efforts have gone in vain.
Whose heaven is like ironsides, and whose tears are like the rain
The migrant finds solace in things that are hard as iron and his sorrow is like the neverending rain.
Who eats but is not satisfied, who hears but does not see
The immigrant who eats, yet remains unsatisfied and hears but fails to comprehend.
Who falls in love with wealth itself and turns his back on me
The migrant who is consumed by greed and turns his back on humanity and compassion is tragic.
I pity the poor immigrant who tramples through the mud
I sympathize with the migrant who endures difficult and unpleasant tasks.
Who fills his mouth with laughing and who builds his town with blood
The migrant who fills his life with empty laughter and has built his wealth and success at the expense of others is pitiable.
Whose vision in the end must shatter like a glass
The migrant's dreams and aspirations will come crashing down like a glass.
I pity the poor immigrant when his gladness comes to pass
I feel sorry for the immigrant whose happiness is fleeting.
Writer(s): Christy Moore
Contributed by Olivia K. 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