Jack Doyle
Christy Moore Lyrics


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When i was young and I was in my day
I could steal what womans heart there was away
Sing and dance into the dawning
Blaze a trail until the morning
Long before I was the man you see today

And I was born beneath the star that promised all
I could have lived my life between cork cobh and youghal
But the wheel of fortune took me
From the highest point she shook me
By the bottle live by the bottle i shall fall

But there in the mirror on the wall
I see the dream is fading
From the contender to the fall
The ring, the rose, the matador, raving

And when I die I'll die a drunk down on the street
You can count me out to ten in clear defeat
Rap the stary plough around me
Let the pipers air resound me
There I'll rest until the lord of love I meet

But there in the mirror on the wall
I see the dream is fading




From the contender to the brawl
The ring, the rose, the matador, raving

Overall Meaning

In Christy Moore's song Jack Doyle, the lyrics describe the life of a famous Irish boxer who was known not only for his prowess in the ring but also for his charismatic personality and partying lifestyle. The song paints a picture of a young Jack Doyle who could "steal what woman's heart there was away" with his singing and dancing until the early hours of the morning. However, as he got older, the "wheel of fortune" took a turn and he fell into alcoholism and despair, eventually dying as a drunk on the street.


The lyrics convey a sense of regret and sadness, with the singer acknowledging the fading of Jack Doyle's dream and the fall from grace of a once-great champion. The imagery of the "ring, the rose, the matador, raving" suggests the fleeting nature of fame and success and the destructive allure of excess.


Overall, the song Jack Doyle is a poignant reflection on the high price of fame and the consequences of living a life consumed by passion and excess.


Line by Line Meaning

When i was young and I was in my day
In my youth and prime, I had the ability to steal any woman's heart through my singing and dancing until the early hours of the morning. This was long before I became the man I am today.


Sing and dance into the dawning Blaze a trail until the morning
I used to charm and entertain people with my singing and dancing skills all night long, without any concern for exhaustion, marking my trail until the morning.


Long before I was the man you see today
The person I am today is the culmination of the experiences and changes that occurred over the years after those early, carefree days of youthful success.


And I was born beneath the star that promised all
My life began with great promise, and I had the potential to achieve anything I desired, from riches to fame.


I could have lived my life between cork cobh and youghal
I could have led a comfortable and contented life in my hometowns and never left them.


But the wheel of fortune took me
Fate had other plans for me that were beyond my control.


From the highest point she shook me
My life took a downward turn from its peak at the hands of fate or the harsh realities of life.


By the bottle live by the bottle i shall fall
In response to these challenges, I turned to alcohol to help me cope, which only served to worsen my situation and lead to my eventual downfall.


But there in the mirror on the wall I see the dream is fading
Despite my previous success, my dreams have faded away, and I must face the reality of my past and present life.


From the contender to the fall The ring, the rose, the matador, raving
I went from being a contender, a symbol of strength and ambition, to a fallen one, a mere shadow of my former self, feeling lost and alone.


And when I die I'll die a drunk down on the street You can count me out to ten in clear defeat
I know that when I pass away, it will likely be as a drunk lying on the street, having surrendered to my addiction and lost the battle to life's hardships.


Rap the stary plough around me Let the pipers air resound me There I'll rest until the lord of love I meet
When I am gone, lay down the flag of my homeland and have the pipers play music around my resting place, where I will remain until I am reunited with the one who loves me most.




Contributed by Evelyn T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Oisin feehilly


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on Whacker Humphries

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Chloe Mcl


on Hey Paddy

Is that the words Brendan O'Carroll sing

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