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.
On the Mainland
Christy Moore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Doing me act in some old civic hall
It was the night before we stormed the hackney empire
My adrenaline got pumpin' when the crowd demanded more
I couldn't sleep a wink
So I turned on to the BBC World Service
Comin' at me from New Delhi
Or some other long lost Colonial shore
With a gorgeous, sweet dulcet Portland placed clipped tone
He announced that the winner
Of the 1995 Nobel Prize for Literature
Was a British poet
"Séamus Heaney from Londonderry", sez he
As cool as cool could be
So I roared out for tea and toasted muffins
And a pair of hard-boiled eggs to calm my nerves
You never claimed George Best nor Alex Higgins
Nor you never claimed Bellaghy's other boys
But that's the way things are upon the Mainland
Where the Quarehawks are still sucking
The wee small birds' eggs dry.
I was over on the mainland
Doing me act in some old civic hall
The opening line of Christy Moore's song "On the Mainland" sets the scene for the listener. Moore, a native of Ireland, finds himself performing in an unfamiliar land. The reference to the "Mainland" suggests that he is in England, which is often referred to as the Mainland by those from Ireland. Moore is in a civic hall, perhaps a small venue, that makes him nervous, but he is excited by the prospect of performing before an audience. However, he finds it difficult to sleep due to the adrenaline rush that he is experiencing.
In his restless state, Moore tunes into the BBC World Service, and the dulcet tones of an Englishman announcing the 1995 Nobel Prize for Literature winner, Séamus Heaney, catch his attention. Heaney is from Londonderry, which is in Northern Ireland, and this fact delights Moore, who enjoys the idea that a poet from his homeland has won such a prestigious prize. The final few lines of the song refer to the notion that those from Northern Ireland are not always recognized by those on the Mainland. Heaney's win is a source of pride for Moore, and he celebrates it with tea, toasted muffins, and hard-boiled eggs.
Line by Line Meaning
I was over on the mainland
I was in Britain performing in a civic hall
It was the night before we stormed the Hackney Empire
My adrenaline got pumpin' when the crowd demanded more
It was the night before performing at Hackney Empire and the excitement of the crowd pumped me up.
I couldn't sleep a wink
So I turned on to the BBC World Service
Comin' at me from New Delhi
Or some other long lost Colonial shore
I couldn't sleep, so I listened to BBC World Service from a far off place like New Delhi.
When a lovely English man came on the wireless
With a gorgeous, sweet dulcet Portland placed clipped tone
He announced that the winner
Of the 1995 Nobel Prize for Literature
Was a British poet
"Séamus Heaney from Londonderry", sez he
As cool as cool could be
A charming Englishman with a beautiful clipped accent announced the 1995 Nobel Prize winner for Literature, a British poet, Séamus Heaney from Londonderry
So I roared out for tea and toasted muffins
And a pair of hard-boiled eggs to calm my nerves
I ordered tea, toasted muffins, and hard-boiled eggs to calm my nerves.
You never claimed George Best nor Alex Higgins
Nor you never claimed Bellaghy's other boys
But that's the way things are upon the Mainland
Where the Quarehawks are still sucking
The wee small birds' eggs dry.
Britain has always claimed the greatest from Northern Ireland like George Best and Alex Higgins, but they ignore other talented people from Bellaghy. These Quarehawks are like vultures preying on struggling people.
Contributed by Reagan 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