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.
Sonny's Dream
Christy Moore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Standing 16 1" or 2" with eyes wild and green
And you ride the horse so well, hands light to the touch
I could never go with you no matter how I wanted to
Ride on, see you, I could never go with you
No matter how I wanted to
Run your claw along my gut one last time
I turn to face an empty space where once you used to lie
And look for a smile to light the night through a teardrop in my eye
Ride on, see you, I could never go with you
No matter how I wanted to
The lyrics of Christy Moore's song "Sonny's Dream" tell the story of a woman who is in love with a man named Sonny, who is a horseman. She admires Sonny's horsemanship and knows that he rides the finest horse she has ever seen. She cannot resist his charm or his wild and green eyes, but she also knows she cannot go with him no matter how much she wants to. The song has a sense of quiet resignation and heartache, as the woman knows she cannot go with the man she loves.
The second verse of the song continues the theme of heartache and emptiness. The woman watches Sonny ride off into the night, knowing that he will leave her behind. She imagines him clawing at her gut one last time, drawing out her love for him. When he leaves, she turns to face an empty space where he once lay, looking for a smile to light the night through her tears. The song's refrain repeats the idea that she can never go with Sonny, no matter how much she wants to.
"Sonny's Dream" is a beautiful and poignant song that captures the bittersweet nature of love that cannot be. The lyrics speak to the way that love can bring both joy and sorrow, and they evoke a sense of loss and longing that is truly timeless.
Line by Line Meaning
True you ride the finest horse I've ever seen
It is true that you ride the most beautiful horse I have ever seen.
Standing 16 1" or 2" with eyes wild and green
This magnificent horse is taller than 16 or 17 hands, and has wild, green eyes.
And you ride the horse so well, hands light to the touch
You ride this horse with amazing skill and your hands are light on the reins.
I could never go with you no matter how I wanted to
Despite my desire to go with you, it is not possible for me to do so.
Ride on, see you, I could never go with you
Despite the fact that I will miss you, I cannot accompany you on your journey.
When you ride into the night without a trace behind
As you ride away into the darkness with no evidence to mark your path...
Run your claw along my gut one last time
...you leave behind me with an intense pain, like the scratch of a claw on my stomach.
I turn to face an empty space where once you used to lie
When I look back to where you once rested, I see only an empty and hollow space.
And look for a smile to light the night through a teardrop in my eye
In spite of my tears, I search for happiness in the memory of our time together, to guide me through the lonely and sorrowful night.
Ride on, see you, I could never go with you
Although it pains me to do so, I must accept that I cannot follow you on your journey.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JIMMY MACCARTHY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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