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.
Spanish lady
Christy Moore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who would I see but the Spanish Lady
Washing her feet by candle light
First she washed them then she dried them
O'er a fire of amber coals
In all my life I ne'er did see a maid so sweet about the soul
Chorus:
Whack fol de turalureley
Whack fol de turalura ladie
Whack fol de turalureley
As I came back through Dublin City at the time of half past eight
Who would I see but the Spanish Lady
Brushing her hair so trim and neat
First she teased it then she brushed it
On her lap was a silver comb
In all my life I ne'er did see so fair a maid since I did roam
Chorus
As I went round old Dublin City when the sun began to set
Who would I spy but the Spanish Lady
Catching a moth in a golden net
When she saw me quick she fled me
Lifting her petticoats over her knee
In all my life I ne'er did see a maid so shy as the Spanish Lady
I stopped to look but the watchman passed says he "young fella now the night is late
Along with you now or I will wrestle you
Straight way throught the Bride-well Gate"
I blew a kiss to the Spanish LAdy
Hot as a fire of my angry coals
In all my life I ne'er did see a maid so sweet about the soul
As I went out through Dublin City as the hour of dawn was over
Who shoul I see but the Spanish Lady
I was lonely and footsore
First she coaxed me then she chid me
Then she laughed at my sad plight
In all my life I ne'er did see a maid so sweet as on that night
I've wandered north and I've wandered south through Stoneybatter and Patrick's Close
Up and around by the Gloucester Diamond
Round by Napper Tandy's house
Old age had laid her hand on me
Cold as fire of ashey coals
But were is the lovely Spanish Lady, neat and sweet about the soul.
Christy Moore's song "Spanish Lady" is a traditional Irish folk song about an encounter with a Spanish lady in Dublin. The song is set at different times of the day, from midnight to dawn, and each time the singer sees the Spanish lady she is doing something different. In the first verse, she is washing her feet by candlelight, in the second she is brushing her hair with a silver comb, and in the third she is catching a moth in a golden net. The chorus repeats the phrase "Whack fol de turalura ladie" and "Whack fol de turalureley."
Throughout the song, the singer marvels at the beauty and sweetness of the Spanish Lady. He blows her a kiss, but then quickly has to leave when the watchman passes. When he sees her again in the morning, he is lonely and footsore, and the Spanish lady coaxes and chides him before laughing at his sad plight.
The song is a celebration of the beauty of the Spanish Lady, and a lament for her disappearance. It is a nostalgic look back at a time when people wandered through the streets of Dublin in the night, and their encounters were marked by music, laughter, and the beauty of the city.
Line by Line Meaning
As I went out through Dublin City at the hour of twelve at night,
I took a walk through Dublin City late at night when I unexpectedly saw the Spanish lady washing her feet by candlelight.
Who would I see but the Spanish Lady
To my surprise, I saw the Spanish Lady.
Washing her feet by candle light
She was washing her feet in the glow of a candle's light.
First she washed them then she dried them
The Spanish Lady washed her feet and then dried them off.
O'er a fire of amber coals
She used a fire of amber coals to dry her feet.
In all my life I ne'er did see a maid so sweet about the soul
I've never seen such a pure-hearted and kind young lady before.
Whack fol de turalura ladie
This is part of the Chorus and does not hold any specific meaning.
Whack fol de turalureley
This is part of the Chorus and does not hold any specific meaning.
As I came back through Dublin City at the time of half past eight
On my way back through the city, around 8:30 pm, I saw the Spanish Lady again.
Brushing her hair so trim and neat
I saw her brushing her hair very carefully and precisely.
First she teased it then she brushed it
Before she started brushing it, she teased it out.
On her lap was a silver comb
She had a silver comb on her lap while she was brushing her hair.
In all my life I ne'er did see so fair a maid since I did roam
I have never seen such a beautiful and fair young lady before in my travels.
As I went round old Dublin City when the sun began to set
During the city's sunset, I saw her again while she was catching a moth in a golden net.
When she saw me quick she fled me
The Spanish Lady immediately ran away when she saw me.
Lifting her petticoats over her knee
She lifted up her dress to move more quickly.
In all my life I ne'er did see a maid so shy as the Spanish Lady
I have never met a young lady as bashful and shy as she is.
I stopped to look but the watchman passed says he "young fella now the night is late
I stopped to watch her, but a watchman approached me and told me that it was getting too late to be out.
Along with you now or I will wrestle you
The watchman threatened to wrestle me if I didn't leave with him then and there.
Straight way through the Bride-well Gate"
The watchman escorted me straight to the Bride-well Gate.
I blew a kiss to the Spanish Lady
Before I left, I gave the Spanish Lady a kiss.
Hot as a fire of my angry coals
The kiss was passionate and felt as fiery as my anger towards the watchman for interrupting me.
In all my life I ne'er did see a maid so sweet about the soul
She was such a sweet and lovely young lady, I had never met anyone like her before.
As I went out through Dublin City as the hour of dawn was over
The next day, as dawn was breaking, I came back to the city and saw the Spanish Lady again.
Who shoul I see but the Spanish Lady
To my surprise, I saw her again.
I was lonely and footsore
I was feeling lonely and tired.
First she coaxed me then she chid me
She tried to cheer me up initially, but then she scolded me.
Then she laughed at my sad plight
But ultimately, she laughed at my misfortune.
In all my life I ne'er did see a maid so sweet as on that night
Despite this, I still thought that she was the sweetest young lady that I had ever met.
I've wandered north and I've wandered south through Stoneybatter and Patrick's Close
Over the years, I have wandered through many areas of Dublin such as Stoneybatter and Patrick's Close.
Up and around by the Gloucester Diamond
I have also spent time by the Gloucester Diamond.
Round by Napper Tandy's house
I have even gone around Napper Tandy's house.
Old age had laid her hand on me
I have gotten old since that time when I met the Spanish Lady.
Cold as fire of ashey coals
But, I feel like I have lost some of my fire and energy as I have aged.
But were is the lovely Spanish Lady, neat and sweet about the soul.
Despite living a long life and travelling far and wide, I still remember and wonder where the lovely Spanish Lady is now.
Contributed by Mia C. 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