Ride On
Christy Moore Lyrics


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True you ride the finest horse I've ever seen
Standing 16 1" or 2" with eyes wild and green
And you ride the horse so well, hands light to the touch
I could never go with you no matter how I wanted to

Ride on, see you, I could never go with you
No matter how I wanted to
When you ride into the night without a trace behind
Run your claw along my gut one last time
I turn to face an empty space where once you used to lie
And look for a smile to light the night through a teardrop in my eye





Ride on, see you, I could never go with you
No matter how I wanted to

Overall Meaning

Christy Moore's song "Ride On" is a beautiful ballad about unrequited love, and the emotional turmoil that accompanies it. The singer is in awe of someone who they see as beyond their reach, symbolized by the image of a horse and its rider. The horse is "the finest" the singer has ever seen, with "eyes wild and green," and the rider navigates it with a seemingly effortless grace. The singer admires this person and is clearly infatuated with them, but acknowledges that they could never be with them. The repeated refrain of "Ride on, see you, I could never go with you / No matter how I wanted to" highlights their longing and sense of resignation.


In the second verse, we see the singer grappling with the aftermath of this one-sided love. The rider has left them behind, disappearing into the night "without a trace behind." The image of the rider running their "claw" along the singer's gut is a visceral one, evoking both pain and passion. This brief moment of contact is all that the singer has of their beloved, and it leaves them with an "empty space" where they used to lie. The last lines of the song are particularly poignant, as the singer simultaneously looks for some glimmer of hope ("a smile to light the night") while acknowledging the weight of their sadness ("through a teardrop in my eye").


Overall, "Ride On" is a powerful song that captures the essence of unrequited love. It is both a tribute to the object of affection and a lament for what cannot be. The vivid imagery and haunting melody make it a memorable piece of music that resonates with listeners.


Line by Line Meaning

True you ride the finest horse I've ever seen
It's a fact that you ride the most magnificent horse I've ever laid eyes on


Standing 16 1" or 2" with eyes wild and green
The horse stands tall at either 16 1 inch or 2 inches with its eyes fiercely green and untamed


And you ride the horse so well, hands light to the touch
You ride the horse with such skill and ease that your hands barely touch it


I could never go with you no matter how I wanted to
It's impossible for me to join you on your journey no matter how much I wish I could


Ride on, see you, I could never go with you
Continue onward, I acknowledge and bid farewell as I accept that I can't follow you


When you ride into the night without a trace behind
As you ride away into the darkness, leaving nothing behind you


Run your claw along my gut one last time
Cling to me tightly one more time before leaving me feeling as if I've been clawed inside


I turn to face an empty space where once you used to lie
I look towards the space where you used to rest and find that it's now empty


And look for a smile to light the night through a teardrop in my eye
I search for a glimmer of hope to illuminate the darkness and soothe the tears in my eyes




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JIMMY MACCARTHY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@jack_pf0912

True you ride the finest horse I have ever seen
Standing sixteen one or two, with eyes wild and green
And you ride the horse so well, hands light to the touch
I could never go with you no matter how I wanted to
Ride on, see you,
I could never go with you
No matter how I wanted to
When you ride into the night without a trace behind
Run your claw along my gut, one last time
I turn to face an empty space, where once you used to lie
And look for a spark that lights the dark
Through a teardrop in my eye
Ride on, see you,
I could never go with you
No matter how I wanted to
Ride on, see you,
I could never go with you
No matter how I wanted to
No matter how I wanted to



All comments from YouTube:

@anthonycatton

I recently lost my baby sister she was only 38 she passed away 12th January and then 6months later my fiancee passed away 25th July 2022 my heart as been torn out and broken 💔 😢 am a lost soul at the moment, I came across this song by accident its very haunting but very beautifully sung

@agricolaregs

I’m so sorry, man. That really sucks.

@elsestelema6273

So very sorry💔💔💔

@barno85

Stay strong my friend

@chrstphrmtthw16

I hope you're doing better .

@MrMollypockets

Chin up Tony lad, you'll meet them in a while

49 More Replies...

@teeearly2093

The first words Christy says, even before he starts the song, bring tears to my eyes and a lump to my throat. “Any day that you get home in one piece is a good day”. Because 75 yrs ago when they were 5yo and 29yo my uncle and grandfather were killed in 2 separate road accidents, only 5 days apart and to this day my dad hasn’t healed. Truer words have ne’er been spoken, Christy. Any day above ground is a good day. ❤🙏🏽

@yourpreppysisssss

Heard him sing this live when i visited ireland 40 years ago. I'm 70 now and this song has stayed with me all that time. Haunting.

@seanheffernan7028

Jesus how you still going fair play

@carolineking1457

Visit again😊 he's still playing it!!

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