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.
Lock Hospital
Christy Moore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cold was the morning and dark was the day
I spied a young squaddie wrapped up in old linen
Wrapped up in old linen as cold as the day.
So play the drums slowly and play the fifes lowly
Sound a dead march as you carry him along
And over his coffin throw a bunch of white laurels
Oh mother, dear mother, come sit ye down by me
Sit ye down by me and pity my sad plight
For my body is injured and sadly disordered
All by a young girl me own heart's delight.
Get six of me comrades to carry my coffin
Get six of me comrades to carry me on high
And let every one hold a bunch of white roses
So no-one will notice as we pass them by.
And over his headstone these words they were written
"All ye young fellows take warning from me.
Beware of the flash girls that roam through the city
For the girls of the city were the ruin of me. "
Christy Moore's "Lock Hospital" is a hauntingly beautiful and mournful song that tells the story of a young soldier who was cut down in his prime. The song paints a picture of a cold and dark morning by the Locke Hospital, where the singer comes across a young soldier wrapped in old linen, who is as cold as the day itself. As the young soldier sings of his tragic fate, he reveals that his body is injured and disordered, all because of a young girl who was once his heart's delight.
As the soldier realizes that he is about to die, he requests that his comrades carry his coffin and that everyone holds a bunch of white roses to hide the reality of his passing from the rest of the world. Over his headstone, the words "Beware of the flash girls that roam through the city, For the girls of the city were the ruin of me" are inscribed, warning others of the dangers of falling for the wrong kind of girl.
Line by Line Meaning
As I was a-walking down by the Locke Hospital
The writer was walking beside the Locke Hospital.
Cold was the morning and dark was the day
The weather was cold and gloomy.
I spied a young squaddie wrapped up in old linen
The writer saw a young soldier wrapped in rags.
Wrapped up in old linen as cold as the day.
The rags were as cold as the day.
So play the drums slowly and play the fifes lowly
The writer is requesting for the music to be played slowly and softly.
Sound a dead march as you carry him along
The music should be a somber tune as they carry the soldier's body.
And over his coffin throw a bunch of white laurels
Put white flowers on the soldier's coffin.
For he's a young soldier cut down in his prime.
The soldier is young and has died unexpectedly.
Oh mother, dear mother, come sit ye down by me
The soldier is calling for his mother to sit with him.
Sit ye down by me and pity my sad plight
The soldier wants his mother to sympathize with him.
For my body is injured and sadly disordered
The soldier has physical injuries and is unwell.
All by a young girl me own heart's delight.
The soldier was hurt by a woman he loved.
Get six of me comrades to carry my coffin
The soldier wants six fellow soldiers to bear his coffin.
Get six of me comrades to carry me on high
The soldier wants his comrades to carry him with respect.
And let every one hold a bunch of white roses
Each soldier should hold white roses.
So no-one will notice as we pass them by.
The soldiers want to avoid drawing attention to themselves.
And over his headstone these words they were written
The words on the soldier's headstone are as follows:
"All ye young fellows take warning from me.
Be warned by my mistakes.
Beware of the flash girls that roam through the city
Avoid the women who frequent the cities.
For the girls of the city were the ruin of me. "
These women caused the soldier's downfall.
Contributed by Maria D. 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