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.
Reel in the Flickering Light
Christy Moore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
By Christy Moore
As I was walking home one evenin'
I know this takes some believin'
I met a group of creatures
With the strangest lookin' features
And a fine old pigeon, yes indeed
A daddy longlegs jumpet sprite
As he danced to the reel in the flickering light
Oh round we go, heel to the toe
And the daddy longlegs jumpet sprite
As he danced to the reel in the flickering light
On his thin and wispy spindles
He was deft and he was nimble
His eyes were scientific
And his dancing was terrific
And the rats and worms they made a din
And the nettles in the corners took it in
"Oh God" says I, "Tonight's the night"
"We'll dance to the reel in the flickering light"
Oh round we go, heel to the toe
"Oh God" says I "tonight's the night
We'll dance to the reel in the flickering light"
Then he looked at me directly
With a gaze that could dissect me
Then he asked me in a whisper
"Have you got any sisters?"
"Oh God almighty" says I to him
"What sort of a man d'you think I am?
I've only one she's not your type
She wouldn't dance the reel in the flickering light"
So round we go, heel to the toe
"I've only one she's not your type
She wouldn't dance a reel in the flickering light"
Says he:
"Does she come from another planet?
Does she got a bee in her bonnet?
Does she do her daily duties
You never know we might be suited"
And the rats and the worms began in to laugh
And some of them started shufflin' off
We're goin' to have some fun tonight
Getting ready for the reel in the flickering light
Oh round we go, heel to the toe
We're goin' to have some fun tonight
Getting ready for the reel in the flickering light
I could see he had no scruples
When I looked into his pupils
They were purple or magenta
Like a statue during lent
I said "I'll get her right away"
"Good man" says he "now don't delay"
We're going to have some fun tonight
And he flicked his legs in the flickering light.
Oh round we go, heel to the toe
We're goin' to have some fun tonight
And he flicked his legs in the flickering light.
Then up stepped a red carnation
and they gave her an ovation
She was warm and enchatin'
As she slowly started dancin'
And the wise old pigeon peeled his eye.
And the nettles and the weeds began to sigh.
Daddy longlegs said "my-oh-my
Are we ready for the reel in the flickering light? "
Oh round we go, heel to the toe
Daddy longlegs said "my-oh-my
Are we ready for the reel in the flickering light? "
She was gentle, she was charmin'
And I heard him call her "darlin'
He was graceful as a whisper
On his delicate legs of silver
And the rats and worms were still as mice
And the poor old pigeon said "That's nice"
As shimmering there, ah, the lovely bride
As they danced to the reel in the flickering light
Oh round we go, heel to the toe
As shimmering there, ah, the lovely bride
As they danced to the reel in the flickering light
Oh round we go, heel to the toe
As shimmering there, ah, the lovely bride
As they danced to the reel in the flickering light
The song "Reel in the Flickering Light" by Christy Moore tells the story of a man who encounters a group of strange creatures while walking home one evening. The creatures include a poor old dove, a worm in the weed, and a daddy longlegs jumpet sprite, among others. The daddy longlegs jumpet sprite is the star of the show, dancing with his thin and wispy spindles, and inviting the man to join in the reel to the flickering light. The man is hesitant at first but eventually agrees to dance with the delicate and enchanting red carnation.
The lyrics of the song suggest themes of acceptance, imagination, and the value of living in the moment. The man, at first startled by the strange creatures around him, eventually opens himself up to the experience and joins in the festivities. The dancing, singing, and laughter suggest that there is joy to be found in even the most unexpected situations. Perhaps the daddy longlegs jumpet sprite, with his eyes that "could dissect" and his dancing that was "terrific," represents the importance of embracing one's unique qualities and gifts.
Overall, "Reel in the Flickering Light" is a whimsical and imaginative song that encourages listeners to embrace the unexpected and find joy in the present moment.
Line by Line Meaning
As I was walking home one evenin'
The singer is walking home in the evening
I know this takes some believin'
The singer acknowledges that the listener may find some parts of the story hard to believe
I met a group of creatures
The singer encounters a group of unusual creatures
With the strangest lookin' features
The creatures have strange physical characteristics
A poor old dove and a worm in the weed
The creatures include a dove and a worm
And a fine old pigeon, yes indeed
Another creature in the group is a fine old pigeon
A daddy longlegs jumpet sprite
One creature in the group is a daddy longlegs jumpet sprite
As he danced to the reel in the flickering light
The daddy longlegs jumpet sprite dances to a reel of music with a flickering light
Oh round we go, heel to the toe
The group dances to the music
And the rats and worms they made a din
The rats and worms in the group make noise
And the nettles in the corners took it in
Even the nettles in the corners could hear the noise
"Oh God" says I, "Tonight's the night"
The artist comments that it is a special night
"We'll dance to the reel in the flickering light"
The group plans to continue dancing to the music
Then he looked at me directly
The daddy longlegs jumpet sprite turns his attention to the singer
With a gaze that could dissect me
The daddy longlegs jumpet sprite looks at the singer intensely
Then he asked me in a whisper
The daddy longlegs jumpet sprite whispers to the artist
"Have you got any sisters?"
The daddy longlegs jumpet sprite asks the artist if they have any sisters
"Oh God almighty" says I to him
The singer responds with surprise
"What sort of a man d'you think I am?
The singer is incredulous at the daddy longlegs jumpet sprite's question
"I've only one she's not your type
The artist tells the daddy longlegs jumpet sprite that they have only one sister
"She wouldn't dance the reel in the flickering light"
The artist says that their sister wouldn't want to dance to the same music as the group
"Says he:
The daddy longlegs jumpet sprite responds
"Does she come from another planet?
The daddy longlegs jumpet sprite asks if the singer's sister is from another planet
Does she got a bee in her bonnet?
The daddy longlegs jumpet sprite suggests that the artist's sister might be odd in some way
Does she do her daily duties
The daddy longlegs jumpet sprite asks if the singer's sister is responsible
You never know we might be suited"
The daddy longlegs jumpet sprite hints that he might be interested in the singer's sister
And the rats and the worms began in to laugh
The rats and worms in the group find the situation amusing
And some of them started shufflin' off
Some of the creatures start to leave
We're goin' to have some fun tonight
Those that remain are still intent on having fun
Getting ready for the reel in the flickering light
The group prepares to continue dancing to the music
I could see he had no scruples
The singer judges the daddy longlegs jumpet sprite harshly
When I looked into his pupils
The artist looks at the daddy longlegs jumpet sprite's eyes
They were purple or magenta
The daddy longlegs jumpet sprite's eyes are described in detail
Like a statue during lent
The daddy longlegs jumpet sprite's eyes are further compared to something else
"I said 'I'll get her right away'"
The singer decides to get their sister
"Good man" says he "now don't delay"
The daddy longlegs jumpet sprite encourages the artist
And he flicked his legs in the flickering light.
The daddy longlegs jumpet sprite continues to dance
Then up stepped a red carnation
Another creature in the group starts to dance
And they gave her an ovation
The group applauds her dancing
She was warm and enchatin'
The red carnation is described in detail
As she slowly started dancin'
The red carnation begins to dance slowly
And the wise old pigeon peeled his eye.
Another creature in the group is described
And the nettles and the weeds began to sigh.
Plant life in the surrounding area is also aware of the music and dancing
Daddy longlegs said "my-oh-my
The daddy longlegs jumpet sprite comments on the situation
Are we ready for the reel in the flickering light? "
The group is ready to continue dancing to the music
She was gentle, she was charmin'
The red carnation is described again in detail
And I heard him call her "darlin'
The daddy longlegs jumpet sprite is now familiar with the red carnation
He was graceful as a whisper
The daddy longlegs jumpet sprite is further described
On his delicate legs of silver
The daddy longlegs jumpet sprite's legs are described in detail
And the rats and worms were still as mice
The other creatures in the group continue to watch and listen to the music and dancing
And the poor old pigeon said "That's nice"
The fine old pigeon is pleased with the situation
As shimmering there, ah, the lovely bride
The red carnation is now referred to as a bride
As they danced to the reel in the flickering light
The group continues to dance to the same music regardless of the events that have transpired
Oh round we go, heel to the toe
The song and dance continue
As shimmering there, ah, the lovely bride
The red carnation is still the focus of the song
As they danced to the reel in the flickering light
The song continues to repeat with slight variation at the end
Contributed by Xavier O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@hugohackenbush1554
There are not enough superlatives to describe just how good Christy is. Nuff said.
@madpadi
Go Christy ☘️🇮🇪To everyone in Ireland and everywhere else Have an amazing safe Christmas Stay safe and keep singing !
@edsenr2101
classic...I spent a couple of months in a caravan and can very much relate to the daddy long legs having the craic with reel in the flickering light...
@besttunes8613
great song - only heard it for the first time a few months ago. Wonderful.
@leesonegan2626
Good man Christy. Sure as sure to gimme a lift. Mood now tis bright n'cheerful. Stay safe Ireland 🇮🇪. All gonna come good. We're wise and whacky. We'll see this out alright.
@christinecatt5391
What a lovely, whimsical song.
@philruane5910
Im gonna try n sing this song next weekend.
@justthetruth1
National treasure
@kingshamie1332
Christy 76 today and still going fair play Christy
@johnnoonan5802
Hello there Shamie , its a great song , Ronan Collins played it today Donal lunny is great in it also, so Christy is 77 tmro by all accounts , i hope he has a great birthday , i was trying Christys page there before i came onto Dexmusic but Christys comments are turned off ,which is a pity ,all the best Shamie .