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.
Scallcrows
Christy Moore Lyrics
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You gather grist to grind your mill
Seek a pot to dip your quill
Sacrifice all candour
Your pointed beaks as sharp as knives
As you tear strips off peoples lives
Buzzing like bluebottle flies
Scallcrows
You're only Scallcrows
Scallcrows
Vultures, Dirtbirds and Scallcrows
Attracted by the lure of stars
You lurk around expensive bars
Seeking rumours swapping jars
Down among the posers
Sunday morning I can hear the sound
It's the Scallcrows flocking around
Seeking prey that must be found
To satisfy the hunger
"Scallcrows" by Christy Moore is a song that tackles the subject of tabloid journalism that feeds on people's misery and scandals. The song paints a vivid picture of this phenomenon by using the imagery of crows scavenging on the dead and wounded. The lyrics suggest that tabloid journalists are like birds who are attracted to tragedy and misery, and they exploit the pain and suffering of others to sell their newspapers. The opening lines of the song describe the journalists as "gathering grist to grind your mill" and "seeking a pot to dip your quill," which implies that they are always looking for sensational stories to exploit.
The chorus of the song emphatically calls out the journalists, labeling them as "Scallcrows," "Vultures," and "Dirtbirds" - all derogatory terms that suggest that their actions are shameful and unethical. The verses also describe how these journalists hang out around expensive bars, swapping rumors and stories to feed their hungry readership. The song ends with the image of the Scallcrows flocking around on a Sunday morning, searching for fresh prey to satisfy their insatiable hunger for scandal and tragedy.
In summary, "Scallcrows" is a song that highlights the negative impact of tabloid journalism on society. It shows how these journalists exploit the pain and suffering of others to sell newspapers, and how their actions can be seen as unethical and shameful.
Line by Line Meaning
Sunday morning you've a page to fill
You, the journalist, have to write a story on Sunday morning
You gather grist to grind your mill
You collect information for your article
Seek a pot to dip your quill
You search for material to write about
Sacrifice all candour
You are willing to sacrifice honesty for a good story
Your pointed beaks as sharp as knives
You, the journalists, are like sharp-tongued critics
As you tear strips off peoples lives
You destroy people's reputations with your words
Buzzing like bluebottle flies
You, the journalists, swarm to where there's trouble or tragedy like flies to rot
Among the dead and wounded
You are there in the midst of the chaos, often taking advantage of others' misfortune
Scallcrows
You, the journalists, are like scavenging birds
You're only Scallcrows
You are worthless, ruthless and only concerned about your own interests and how your reporting can serve them
Vultures, Dirtbirds and Scallcrows
All these birds are described with negative connotations, representing the journalists' predatory and insensitive nature
Attracted by the lure of stars
You are drawn to the famous and glamorous because it will make a good story, regardless of the truth value
You lurk around expensive bars
You wait and spy on people's conversations, gathering valuable gossip
Seeking rumours swapping jars
You search for people who will tell you juicy stories and pass along secrets
Down among the posers
You hang out where people pretend to be what they are not, hoping to get dirt on them
Sunday morning I can hear the sound
The artist senses the journalists' presence on a Sunday morning
It's the Scallcrows flocking around
The journalists are compared to a flock of vultures
Seeking prey that must be found
The journalists are searching for stories, even if they have to manufacture them
To satisfy the hunger
The ravenous appetite for headlines drives their behaviour
Contributed by Ryan L. 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