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.
Minds Locked Shut
Christy Moore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On a lovely bright crisp winters afternoon
On a perfect day for walking.
There was gunshots, stones and bullets
On a lovely bright crisp winters afternoon
There was chaos, panic and death,
Disbelief upon the faces
Fear and bewilderment
They're firing bullets at us
It was not supposed to be like this
Awesome to behold
And then our minds locked shut
And then our minds locked shut
And then our minds locked shut
And then our minds locked shut
And there remains ..
Jackie Duddy and Willie Nash,
Gerry Donaghy, Willy McKinney,
Gerard McKinney and Jim Wray
Johnny Johnston, Barney McGuigan,
Paddy Doherty, Kevin McIlhenny
John Young, Mickey Kelly,
Hugh Gilmore, Micheal McDaid
Let us remember ..
It happened on a Sunday afternoon
On a lovely bright crisp winters afternoon
On a perfect day for walking.
The lyrics to Christy Moore's song Minds Locked Shut describe a tragic event that occurred on a Sunday afternoon during what should have been a peaceful walk. The lyrics vividly portray the chaos and confusion that ensued as gunshots, stones, and bullets were fired, resulting in panic, death, and disbelief. The repetition of the line "And then our minds locked shut" emphasizes the overwhelming nature of the situation and the mental toll it took on those involved. The final lines of the song pay homage to the victims of the event, listing their names as a call to remember their lives and honor their memory.
The song itself is a tribute to the victims of the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre in Derry, Northern Ireland, which left 14 people dead and many more injured. Moore wrote the song in the aftermath of the tragedy, to both process his own grief and offer a voice to those who were affected. The song is a powerful reflection on the impact of violence and the ways in which it can silence and traumatize individuals and communities.
Line by Line Meaning
It happened on a Sunday afternoon
The tragic event took place on a Sunday afternoon.
On a lovely bright crisp winters afternoon
It was a beautiful winter day with bright sunshine and clear skies.
On a perfect day for walking.
It was an ideal day for taking a stroll and enjoying the weather.
There was gunshots, stones and bullets
The peaceful day turned into a violent chaos with sounds of gunshots, stones, and bullets.
On a lovely bright crisp winters afternoon
Even amidst the chaos, the day remained beautiful and bright.
There was chaos, panic and death,
The situation was completely out of control with people panicking and losing their lives.
Disbelief upon the faces
People around were unable to comprehend what was happening and were in a state of shock.
Fear and bewilderment
The situation caused a lot of fear and confusion among the people.
The seconds seemed so long
The duration of the event felt like an eternity to the people present there.
They're firing bullets at us
The violence was directed towards the innocent civilians present there.
It was not supposed to be like this
The peaceful day turned into a nightmare and was never meant to end up like this.
Awesome to behold
The beautiful day was turned into a horrific event that people will always remember.
And then our minds locked shut
The people present there were unable to process what was happening and were left in a state of shock.
And then our minds locked shut
The trauma of the event had a lasting impact on people and their ability to process what had happened.
And then our minds locked shut
The trauma had a long-lasting effect on people and their mental state.
And then our minds locked shut
The traumatic event led to a mental shutdown for the people present there.
Jackie Duddy and Willie Nash, Gerry Donaghy, Willy McKinney, Gerard McKinney and Jim Wray Johnny Johnston, Barney McGuigan, Paddy Doherty, Kevin McIlhenny John Young, Mickey Kelly, Hugh Gilmore, Micheal McDaid
The song remembers the names of the people who lost their lives in the horrific event.
Let us remember ..
The song emphasizes the importance of remembering the tragic event and the lives lost in it.
Contributed by Grace W. 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