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.
So Do I
Christy Moore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And so do I
When the rain puts a shine on the chestnut spikes
Hear the curlews cry
The nightingale sings her best
We'll drink a pint in hamiltons rest
And the girl I love wore a muslin dress
The fisherman dream of the sun in the west
And so do I
Now I can see
Since the girl I love dearly
Has cast her loving spell on me
This is the day the cuckoo likes
And so do I
When the hills fall down in different shapes
And the swallows fly
To a hidden beach where boats can't go
Mountain rivers overflow
I hear the squealin' of the seagulls
As off home they go
And so do I
And so do I
Now I can see
Since the girl I love dearly
Has cast her loving spell on me
I'll cross the seven oceans
Forever more I'll wander
'Till she has cast her loving spell on me
This is the day the fisherman likes
And so do I
When the rain puts a shine on the chestnut spikes
Hear the curlews cry
The nightingale sings her best
We'll drink a pint in hamiltons rest
And the girl I love wore a muslin dress
The fishermen dream of the sum in the west
And so do I
And so do I
And so do I
And so do I
The song "So Do I" by Christy Moore is a beautiful ode to nature and love. The lyrics speak specifically to the joys of a particular day, the one the fisherman likes, and mentions various aspects of nature that align with this day. The rain on the chestnut spikes makes them shine, the curlews cry, and the nightingale sings her best. The songwriter also mentions the joy of being with the one he loves, who wore a muslin dress. He speaks of the fisherman dreaming of the sun in the west, which is a beautiful metaphor for the peace and contentment within that comes with being with the one you love. The cuckoo's joy is also mentioned, and the joy of the mountains falling in different shapes, and the swallows in flight. The everlasting hope of love is captured in the line, "I'll cross the seven oceans, forever more I'll wander, 'til she has cast her loving spell on me."
Overall, the lyrics beautifully capture the essence of love and nature. It connotes the joy and beauty of being in love and experiencing the wonders of nature, while expressing pure heartfelt emotions. It's a song that resonates with different people in different ways and has the ability to inspire both introspection and an appreciation for the world around us.
Line by Line Meaning
This is the day the fisherman likes
The day when the weather is good and the fishing conditions are ideal
And so do I
I too enjoy a good day, especially when I'm with the girl I love
When the rain puts a shine on the chestnut spikes
The rain makes everything look lush and beautiful, especially the trees
Hear the curlews cry
Listen to the birds calling out, adding to the peaceful ambiance
The nightingale sings her best
The bird's song is so beautiful that it makes any day perfect
We'll drink a pint in Hamilton's rest
After a long day, we'll head to a pub called Hamilton's Rest and have a drink
And the girl I love wore a muslin dress
She looked stunning in her dress, which made the day even better
The fishermen dream of the sun in the west
The fishermen long for a beautiful sunset after a long day of fishing, just like I do
And so do I
I too long for a beautiful sunset, especially when I'm with the girl I love
Now I can see
Since falling in love, I now see the world in a new light
Since the girl I love dearly has cast her loving spell on me
Being in love has transformed my life into something magical and beautiful
This is the day the cuckoo likes
The day when the weather is perfect, and nature is at its best
When the hills fall down in different shapes
The hills are so beautiful that they look like they have been shaped, humbling me
And the swallows fly
The sight of the swallows signifies that summer has arrived, which is always a happy moment
To a hidden beach where boats can't go
Heading to a secluded beach where the boats can't go, making it peaceful and private
Mountain rivers overflow
The sound of the overflowing rivers as they come down the mountains sounds beautiful
I hear the squealin' of the seagulls as off home they go
As the seagulls fly away, there is a sense of calmness and peacefulness that overcomes the world
Now I can see
Since falling in love, I now see the world in a new light
Since the girl I love dearly has cast her loving spell on me
Being in love has transformed my life into something magical and beautiful
I'll cross the seven oceans
I will travel anywhere to be with the girl I love, no matter what it takes
Forever more I'll wander
I will keep looking for this girl until I find her, wherever it takes me
Till she has cast her loving spell on me
Until I'm with the girl I love, I'll keep searching
And so do I
My desire to find the girl I love and enjoy a beautiful day with her, filled with nature and beauty, will remain strong
And so do I
Despite all obstacles, I will never give up on achieving my dream of being with the girl I love
Contributed by Cameron E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jmm130
Good people appreciate Christy... and so do I.
@monkeyface6139
Perfect song, subtle performer, and...a quiet appreciative audiance.
Simply beautiful.
@bobsheruncle1374
Just love this song. Perfect in my opinion and Declan Sinnott on the Fender just gives the song such depth. It takes you away to a different place. Thanks Christy.
@karlwilson8973
Christy Moore is my favourite singer ❤
@benchantry2092
Fantastic as always. What incredible vocals
@Whoop1
💕🙏🙏🙏 Beautiful... yet Another of my favourites ..God bless 🙏
@kirbymexicano7
What a beautiful song
@GuydiscipleofJESUS
❤
@chip059
Nice one Christy 👍
@jclad93
Class