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.
Someone To Love
Christy Moore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Someone to call me his own,
Someone to sleep with me nightly,
I weary of sleeping alone.
Meet me tonight in the moonlight,
Meet me tonight all alone,
I have a sad story to tell you
I'm telling it under the moon.
Nearest and dearest must part,
The love that has bound us together
Is shredded and torn apart.
I wish I had ships on the ocean
Lined with silver and gold
Follow the ship that he sails in
A lad of 19 years-old.
I wish I had wings of a swallow,
Fly out over the sea
Fly to the arms of my true love
And bring him home safely to me.
The song "Someone To Love" by Christy Moore depicts the yearning for companionship and love. The lyrics depict the loneliness of the singer, wishing for someone to call his own and sleep with him at night. However, the tone of the song takes a sorrowful turn as he reveals the imminent end of a love that has bound them together, leaving him shattered as he tells his sad story under the moon.
The second half of the song displays the desperation of the singer, wishing for ships on the ocean with riches, hoping to follow the ship that his love sails upon. He then wishes for the wings of a swallow to fly over the sea, bringing his love safely back to him. The song concludes with the theme of unfulfilled longing, displaying the singer's genuine desire to have someone to love, despite the heartache and uncertainty that it might bring.
Line by Line Meaning
I wish I had someone to love me
I long for a loving companion that will cherish me without any reservations.
Someone to call me his own
Someone to refer to me as their partner, to claim me as theirs and be proud of it.
Someone to sleep with me nightly
I desire a confidant with whom I can share my personal space, not just to complete a romantic picture but to satisfy a primal need.
I weary of sleeping alone.
As time races by, prolonged isolation is beginning to affect me.
Meet me tonight in the moonlight
I request the pleasure of your company under the luminous presence of the moon, where my emotions thrive.
Meet me tonight all alone
I encourage you to come unaccompanied to ensure a more intimate and confidential setting.
I have a sad story to tell you
It is with a heavy heart that I must confess an unlucky situation that has drained my spirit.
I'm telling it under the moon.
I have chosen the hours of moonlight to enable you to see the genuine version of me and to avoid a judgmental analysis.
Tonight is our last night together
Our exclusivity is being terminated tonight, and we might never meet again, unfortunately.
Nearest and dearest must part
It's a common sentiment, and we must accept that even the tightest of bonds are susceptible to breaking.
The love that has bound us together
As the reason for our unison, it hurts to see how all-consuming and destructive our love has become.
Is shredded and torn apart.
Regrettably, the intensity of our passion has left us with nothing to salvage.
I wish I had ships on the ocean
If I had a means to reach my desired destination, I'd exhaust all avenues to lay hold of it.
Lined with silver and gold
If the price of fulfilling my hopes was measured in precious minerals, I'd acquire them speedily to show my commitment.
Follow the ship that he sails in
I'll keep tabs on the vessel whose passenger is the one I envisage being with, whether he knows of my existence or not.
A lad of 19 years-old.
The person who has caught my fancy is young and vibrant enough to make a bold adventure for love.
I wish I had wings of a swallow,
If I had a chance to fly carefree, I would take it with wings as light and delicate as a swallow's.
Fly out over the sea
I'd traverse the ocean to arrive at my destination if I had the ability to accomplish such a feat.
Fly to the arms of my true love
It's my objective to land safely in the arms of the one I adore more than anything else.
And bring him home safely to me.
In the end, my longing is to reunite physically and emotionally with my true love.
Contributed by James O. 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