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.
Smoke & Strong Whiskey
Christy Moore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Whose husbands and fathers alike
Drink black beer in the same public houses
Smelling of smoke and strong whiskey.
Mammies and daddies, skipping ropes
Lectures from priests, living in hope
They've paid for by spiritual teachings.
A busy year this, streets running red
How many sent to their nuptial bed
How many sent home to a winter of graves
How many wait in for the slaughter.
It's Easter again, and we cannot forget
Our brothers and sisters and all that was said
So practise your pipes, stand proud in the wet.
For the eyes of the world are upon you.
CHORUS
Oh, oh, the holy ground
Céad mile failte, there's saints and there's scholars to see
Oh, oh, the holy ground
Faraway hills ain't as green as they once used to be
Seveteen years, Kelly is a man
Who stands on the street with a gun in his hand
He's protecting the pipers that play in the band
While the enemy waits with an army.
God in his mercy has given us men
To lead us to peace but they can't bring an end
To the profits that pay off the lease on the land
We're still sending them over the water
Dia le hÉireann, suckle the empire.
Dia le hÉireann, suffer the loss.
Of the green and the blue while the media feeds
On the blood and the pain and the hatred.
Father walks home on a colourless night
The organisation has blinded his sight
His wife and his kids are sleeping tonight
In the arms of sweet Jesus and Mary.
CHORUS X 2
The lyrics of Christy Moore's song Smoke & Strong Whiskey depict the everyday life of families in Ireland. The song gives a vivid picture of the Irish society. The lyrics suggest that the focus of Irish people is on family, religion, and alcohol. The line "Kids wear white garters, and smell like their mothers" conveys the idea of innocence and purity, which can be associated with the traditional image of Ireland.
The lyrics also describe the societal tension caused by the conflict between Ireland and the UK. The phrase "Dia le hÉireann, suckle the empire" shows the frustration of the Irish with the British Empire. The verses "Seventeen years, Kelly is a man/ Who stands on the street with a gun in his hand" and "He's protecting the pipers that play in the band/ While the enemy waits with an army" represent the struggle for Irish independence, where young men were forced to take up arms to defend their country.
The repetition of the line "Oh, oh, the holy ground" emphasizes Ireland's importance to its people. The chorus also reminds the listener that Ireland's beauty is slowly fading due to the conflict and the involvement of the media. Overall, the lyrics of the song Smoke & Strong Whiskey by Christy Moore show the cultural, societal, and political situation of Ireland at that time.
Line by Line Meaning
Kids wear white garters, and smell like their mothers
Children wear white garters and carry the same scent as their mothers.
Whose husbands and fathers alike
Drink black beer in the same public houses
Smelling of smoke and strong whiskey.
Men, both fathers and husbands, drink black beer in the same pubs, reeking of smoke and potent whiskey.
Mammies and daddies, skipping ropes
Lectures from priests, living in hope
That they've not mistaken the brand of their coats
They've paid for by spiritual teachings.
Parents watch their children play, while listening to priests' lessons, all hoping their coats' brand isn't a mistake, paid for with spiritual teachings.
A busy year this, streets running red
How many sent to their nuptial bed
How many sent home to a winter of graves
How many wait in for the slaughter.
It's been a violent year with streets running red from blood. Many are sent to their wedding beds, but others are sent home to spend a winter in their graves. Many wait for the violence to come to them.
It's Easter again, and we cannot forget
Our brothers and sisters and all that was said
So practise your pipes, stand proud in the wet.
For the eyes of the world are upon you.
It's Easter again, and we must remember our fellow humans and what happened. So, practice your music and be proud, even in the pouring rain. The entire world is watching.
CHORUS
Oh, oh, the holy ground
Céad mile failte, there's saints and there's scholars to see
Oh, oh, the holy ground
Faraway hills ain't as green as they once used to be
The chorus repeats twice.
This refers to a sacred place with lots of people to see, some of them being very wise. The faraway hills are not as beautiful as they once were.
Seventeen years, Kelly is a man
Who stands on the street with a gun in his hand
He's protecting the pipers that play in the band
While the enemy waits with an army.
Kelly, a seventeen-year-old, stands on the street with a firearm to guard the band of pipe players, while the enemy army approaches.
God in his mercy has given us men
To lead us to peace but they can't bring an end
To the profits that pay off the lease on the land
We're still sending them over the water
God has given us men to guide us to peace, but they can't end the payments for leasing land that still make us send others overseas.
Dia le hÉireann, suckle the empire.
Dia le hÉireann, suffer the loss.
Of the green and the blue while the media feeds
On the blood and the pain and the hatred.
God blesses Ireland but also makes the country suffer at the hands of the empire. They suffer by losing their green and blue while the media thrives on violence, blood, pain, and hatred.
Father walks home on a colorless night
The organization has blinded his sight
His wife and his kids are sleeping tonight
In the arms of sweet Jesus and Mary.
A father walks home on a dull night, while the organization has blinded him. His spouse and children are asleep, embraced by Jesus and Mary.
CHORUS X 2
Contributed by Thomas W. 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