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.
Limerick Rake
Christy Moore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In Castletown conners I'm very well known.
In Newcastle West I spent many a note,
With Kitty and Judy and Mary.
My father rebuked me for being such a rake,
And spending my time in such frolicsome ways,
But I ne'er could forget the good nature of Jane,
Agus fágaimíd siúd mar atá sé.
My parents had reared me to shake and to mow,
To plough and to harrow, to reap and to sow.
But my heart being airy to drop it so low,
I set out on high speculation.
On paper and parchment they taught me to write,
In Euclid and Grammar they opened my eyes,
And in Multiplication in truth I was bright,
Agus fágaimíd siúd mar atá sé.
If I chance for to go to the town of Rathkeale,
The girls all round me do flock on the square.
Some give me a bottle and others sweet cakes,
To treat me unknown to their parents,
There is one from Askeaton and one from the Pike,
Another from Arda, my heart was beguiled,
Tho' being from the mountains her stockings are white,
Agus fágaimíd siúd mar atá sé.
To quarrel for riches I ne'er was inclined,
For the greatest of misers must leave them behind.
I'll purchase a cow that will never run dry,
And I'll milk her by twisting her horn.
John Damer of Shronel had plenty of gold,
And Devonshire's treasure is twenty times more,
But he's laid on his back among nettles and stones,
Agus fágaimíd siúd mar atá sé.
This cow can be milked without clover or grass,
For she's pampered with corn, good barley and hops.
She's warm and stout, and she's free in her paps,
And she'll milk without spancil or halter.
The man that will drink it will cock his caubeen,
And if anyone coughs there'll be wigs on the green,
And the feeble old hag will get supple and free,
Agus fágaimíd siúd mar atá sé.
If I chance for to go to the market at Croom,
With a cock in my hand and my pipes in full tune,
I am welcome at once and brought up to a room,
Where Bacchus is sporting with Venus.
There's Peggy and Jane from the town of Bruree,
And Biddy from Bruff and we all on the spraoí,
Such a combing of locks as there was about me,
Agus fágaimíd siúd mar atá sé.
There's some say I'm foolish and more say I'm wise,
But being fond of the women I think is no crime,
For the son of King David had ten hundred wives,
And his wisdom was highly recorded.
I'll take a good garden and live at my ease,
And each woman and child can partake of the same,
If there's war in the cabin, themselves they may blame,
Agus fágaimíd siúd mar atá sé.
And now for the future I mean to be wise,
And I'll send for the women that acted so king,
And I'll marry them all on the morrow by and by,
If the clergy agree to the bargain.
And when I'm on my back and my soul is at peace,
These women will crowd for to cry at my wake,
And their sons and their daughters will offer their prayer,
To the Lord for the soul of their father.
The Limerick Rake is a traditional Irish folk song that tells the story of a young man who enjoys spending his time in the company of women, drinking and having fun. The song is thought to have originated in the mid-1800s and became popular in Ireland during the 20th century. The lyrics describe the singer's life in different towns in County Limerick, where he is well-known and liked by many. However, his father disapproves of his son's lifestyle and tries to make him follow a more conventional path.
The song also touches on themes of education, riches, and love. The singer explains that his parents taught him how to farm, but he was not content with such a simple life. He pursued an education and became knowledgeable in writing, mathematics, and grammar. However, he did not care for material wealth and preferred to live simply, with a cow that could be milked without a halter or spancel.
The final verse of the song is contemplative and reflective. The singer looks back on his life and decides that he wants to settle down and marry all the women he has known. The song ends on a note of peace and acceptance of one's fate.
Line by Line Meaning
I am a young fellow that's easy and bold,
I am a carefree young man, known well in Castletown, who loves spending time with women like Kitty, Judy, and Mary in Newcastle West.
My father rebuked me for being such a rake,
My father scolded me for my womanizing ways and spending my time frivolously.
But I ne'er could forget the good nature of Jane,
Despite my father's scolding, I still remember the kindness of Jane and leave things as they are.
If I chance for to go to the town of Rathkeale,
If I go to the town of Rathkeale, many girls gather around me on the square and offer me gifts of cakes and bottles.
There is one from Askeaton and one from the Pike,
I flirt with a girl from Askeaton and one from the Pike, but I am taken by a girl from the mountains, whose stockings are white.
To quarrel for riches I ne'er was inclined,
I never fight over money because I know that even the richest people will leave it behind after they die.
This cow can be milked without clover or grass,
I can milk my cow without feeding it clover or grass because it is well-fed with corn, barley, and hops.
The man that will drink it will cock his caubeen,
Anyone who drinks the milk will feel lively and high-spirited, and if someone coughs, there will be chaos.
There's Peggy and Jane from the town of Bruree,
When I visit Croom market with my pipes and my rooster, I am welcomed and taken to a room where I drink and have fun with women like Peggy and Jane from Bruree.
Such a combing of locks as there was about me,
The women all flirt and play with my hair, and we have a great time together.
And now for the future I mean to be wise,
I plan to become wiser in the future and marry all the women I have been with if the clergy agrees to it.
And their sons and their daughters will offer their prayer,
When I die, all of the women I have been with will weep for me at my funeral, and their children will pray for my soul.
Contributed by Olivia M. 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