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.
Motherland
Christy Moore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Far from this concrete sprawl that keeps crawling it's way,
About a thousand miles a day.
Take one last look behind, commit this to memory and mind,
Don't miss this wasteland, this terrible place, when you leave,
Keep your heart off your sleeve.
Keep me safe, lie with me stay beside me don't go.
My five and dime queen, tell me what have you seen,
The lust and the avarice the bottomless cavernous greed,
Is that what you see?
Motherland cradle me, close my eyes lullaby me to sleep,
Keep me safe, lie with me stay beside me don't go.
It's your happiness I want most of all and for that I'd do anything at all.
If you want the best of life and the most of love,
If there is anything I can do at all.
Come on shotgun bride, what makes me envy your life,
The faceless the nameless the innocent the blameless and free,
What's that like to be?
Motherland cradle me, close my eyes lullaby me to sleep,
Keep me safe lie with me stay beside me don't go,
Don't you go ...
The lyrics of "Motherland" by Christy Moore refer to the feeling of being trapped in a society that is constantly moving, hustling, and bustling. The song reflects a deep longing for a place where one can escape the chaos of the modern world and find solace in nature. The opening lines suggest the frustration and the desperation that come with being stuck in a concrete jungle. The words "Where in hell can you go, far from the things that you know," paint a picture of the hopelessness that accompanies being trapped in a place that doesn't feel like a home.
As the song progresses, the lyrics shift towards a more hopeful tone, referring to the idea of a "Motherland" – a place of comfort and safety. The concept of motherhood symbolizes nurturing, love, and protection and is used to evoke a sense of warmth and security. The words "Motherland cradle me, close my eyes lullaby me to sleep, Keep me safe, lie with me stay beside me don't go," bring out the idea of needing to feel protected and loved in a world that can be harsh and unforgiving.
The final verses of the song provide a contrast as they mention the idea of envy towards the innocent and blameless. The reference to the shotgun bride also suggests a longing for a state of freedom and a simpler life. The lyrics of "Motherland" indicate the human predicament of feeling trapped in the complexities of modern life while also yearning for a place of solace and respite.
Line by Line Meaning
Where in hell can you go, far from the things that you know,
Where can you escape to, away from the familiar surroundings, away from the city that's constantly sprawling, growing about a thousand miles every day?
Take one last look behind, commit this to memory and mind,
Look back at this wasteland, this terrible place, imprint it in your memory before you leave, but don't let it affect you.
Motherland cradle me, close my eyes lullaby me to sleep,
Motherland, hold me like a child, sing me a lullaby, let me feel safe and secure as I drift off to sleep.
Keep me safe, lie with me stay beside me don't go.
Protect me, stay with me, don't leave me alone in this cruel world.
My five and dime queen, tell me what have you seen,
My queen of the cheap stores, what have you witnessed in life?
The lust and the avarice the bottomless cavernous greed,
The never-ending greed, selfishness, and materialistic desires that consumes people.
Is that what you see?
Is that all that's visible to you?
It's your happiness I want most of all and for that I'd do anything at all.
Your happiness is all I desire, and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen.
If you want the best of life and the most of love,
If you desire a happy and fulfilling life, full of love and affection,
If there is anything I can do at all.
I'll do everything in my power to make it happen.
Come on shotgun bride, what makes me envy your life,
Hey, shotgun bride, what's so special about your life that makes me envious?
The faceless the nameless the innocent the blameless and free,
The people who are anonymous, innocent, and never blamed or held responsible for anything they've done.
What's that like to be?
What's it like to live a life like that?
Don't miss this wasteland, this terrible place, when you leave,
Don't forget about this place, remember the struggles and hardships you faced here when you move on to a better place.
Keep your heart off your sleeve.
Don't reveal your true emotions to others, keep them concealed and protected.
Contributed by Elizabeth N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@rosey6118
Most beautiful song ...my chosen one for my brother's passsing so lovely....finally something minding him first in his life n last ...rip my baby big brother Stephan 💚🎤🖤
@bridgetquinn8294
One of my favorite songs covered by one of my favorite guys. Lovely.
@TheKgv1
Christy, you and Dec are absolute Irish musical legends -(and gents to boot) in my book....
@heathermcdougall8023
Now that's a fretless guitar! Now us bass players are used to that, and it' different sound. Nice one!!
@onestepbeyond5221
Beautiful! 🎸🍀🎶
@vetmedaus
Brilliant version brilliant song.
@TheZeusIsHere1
Ride on Christy, ride on!
@irishfield1
So amazing singing and song ever Christy and Declan tops ever amazing
@albertenzian7873
Einzigartig, traumhaft schön, wundervoll❤❤❤❤❤
@diddi58300
Beautiful song ✌