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.
Songs of Wandering Aongus
Christy Moore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Because a fire was in my head
I cut and peeled a hazel wand
And hooked a berry to a thread
And when white moths were on the wing
And moth like stars were flickering out
I put the berry in a stream
And hooked a little silver trout
When I had laid it on the floor
I went to blow the fire aflame
But something rustled on the floor
And someone called me by my name
It had become a glimmering girl
With apple blossom in her hair
Who called me by my name and ran
And faded in the brightening air
Though I am old with wandering
Through hollow lands and hilly lands
I will find out where she has gone
And kiss her lips and hold her hands
And walk among long dappled grass
And pluck till time and times are done
The silver apples of the moon
The golden apples of the sun.
In Christy Moore's song "Songs of Wandering Aongus," the lyrics describe the experience of going to the Hazelwood because the singer has been consumed by a fire in their head. There they cut and peeled a hazel wand, and hooked a berry to a thread. They waited until white moths were flickering in the sky, then put the berry in the stream and hooked a little silver trout. When they returned to try to blow the fire aflame, something rustled on the floor and someone called out their name. The berry and thread, which had represented the desire to catch love or artistic inspiration, had transformed into a girl with apple blossom in her hair.
The girl called out to the singer by name and ran away, fading into the brightening air. The song continues with the singer stating that they are no longer young, but even as an older person, they will find the girl and kiss her and hold her hands. They want to walk among long dappled grass and pluck the silver apples of the moon and the golden apples of the sun. Ultimately, the song represents the journey of a person seeking love, creative inspiration, and the yearning of reconnecting with youth and happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
I went down to the Hazelwood
I embarked on a journey to the Hazelwood
Because a fire was in my head
A passionate idea was consuming my mind
I cut and peeled a hazel wand
I cut and stripped a hazel branch
And hooked a berry to a thread
I tied a berry to a string
And when white moths were on the wing
When white moths were flying around
And moth like stars were flickering out
And stars that looked like moths were disappearing
I put the berry in a stream
I put the berry into the water
And hooked a little silver trout
And caught a small silver trout with a hook
When I had laid it on the floor
After I put it down on the ground
I went to blow the fire aflame
I tried to ignite the fire
But something rustled on the floor
But I heard a noise coming from the ground
And someone called me by my name
And someone called me by my given name
It had become a glimmering girl
The noise transformed into a shimmering young woman
With apple blossom in her hair
Whose hair was decorated with apple blossoms
Who called me by my name and ran
Who addressed me by my given name and then fled
And faded in the brightening air
And disappeared into the brightening atmosphere
Though I am old with wandering
Despite my experience with travelling
Through hollow lands and hilly lands
Across empty plains and rugged hills
I will find out where she has gone
I will discover where she has disappeared to
And kiss her lips and hold her hands
And embrace her with a kiss and clasp her hands
And walk among long dappled grass
And trek through the long, spotted grass
And pluck till time and times are done
And pick fruit until the end of time
The silver apples of the moon
The elusive, silver apples of the moon
The golden apples of the sun.
As well as the radiant golden apples of the sun.
Contributed by Landon 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