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.
The Ballad of Ruby Walsh
Christy Moore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Junction
The trip to Mejagori come up for the extra motion
Good people climb Croagh Patrick with serenity on their
Faces
But Ruby Walsh saved me life below at the Galway Races.
Hay Ruby hold her back, give her the craic and up
She'll go.
They're under starters orders, Ted Walsh is
Commentating,
Ruby's up on the favorite, she'll take some beating
Necks are strained eyes are trained there's fear upon
Their faces
There's agony and ecstasy below at the Galway races
Ruby hold her back, give her the craic and up she'll
Go.
It's there you'll see gentility and sheep dressed up as
Mutton
There's double barreled names with Mulherns on old
Malodions
The talk is all of tillage of silage and corn acre
I fancy Tracy Piggot in the saddle in the enclosure
Ruby hold her back, give her the craic and up she'll go
Sir John Mucksavage Smith is there with Smurfits and
O'Reilly's
The owners and the trainers, the stable boys and
Jockeys
With silk around their arses getting up on rich men's
Horses
The convention wives and daughters and marriages and
Divorces.
Hay Ruby hold her back, give her the craic and up
She'll go.
There's Celtic helicopters land bank speculators,
Builders and developers, crocodiles and alligators
Soldiers of destiny their in the fields of frenzy
Their mouths wrapped round the Lamb Of God come back
For the gravy,
Hay Ruby hold her back, give her the craic and up
She'll go.
Thursday is the ladies day and the women all look
Smashing
Their lashing on the lipstick Philip tracys all the
Fashion
You can see the liposuction the botox and ogmanation
Brazilian haircuts the collonic irrigation,
Hay Ruby hold her back, give her the craic and up
She'll go.
And every one's out in Salthill for the craic and for
The porter
There's bookies making odds on two flies walking up the
Wall
There's folk and trad. Karaoke and set dances
While some of us who seen better days were looking to
Take our chances
Hay Ruby hold her back, give her the craic and up
She'll go.
Their galloping down the back straight, he has her in
The canter
A look at her up the jumps be Gad, she's like a bally-
Dancer
Over the last she hits the front the other one's going
To pass her
Winner alright it's up Kildare, follow me up to Carlow
Hay Ruby hold her back, give her the craic and up
She'll go.
Hay Ruby hold her back, give her the craic and up
She'll go
The Ballad Of Ruby Walsh With The Guitar Chords
There's[C] Bethlem and Cheltenham and Lourdes and
Limerick Junction
The[Am] trip to Mejagori come up [G] for the extra[C]
Motion
Good people climb Croagh [G]Patrick with se[Am]renity
On their [C]faces
But Ruby Walsh[Em] saved me life be[Am]low at the
Galway Races.
Hay [C]Ruby hold her [G]back, give her the [Am]craic
And [G]up she'll [Am]go.
They're under starters orders, Ted Walsh is
Commentating,
Ruby's up on the favorite, she'll take some beating
Necks are strained eyes are trained there's fear upon
Their faces
There's agony and ecstasy below at the Galway races
Ruby hold her back, give her the craic and up she'll
Go.
It's there you'll see gentility and sheep dressed up as
Mutton
There's double barreled names with Mulherns on old
Malodions
The talk is all of tillage of silage and corn an acre
I fancy Tracy Piggot in the saddle in the enclosure
Ruby hold her back, give her the craic and up she'll go
Sir John Mucksavage Smith is there with Smurfits and
O'Reilly's
The owners and the trainers, the stable boys and
Jockeys
With silk around their arses getting up on rich men's
Horses
The convention wives and daughters and marriages and
Divorces.
Hay Ruby hold her back, give her the craic and up
She'll go.
There's Celtic helicopters land bank speculators,
Builders and developers, crocodiles and alligators
Soldiers of destiny their in the fields of frenzy
Their mouths wrapped round the Lamb Of God come back
For the gravy,
Hay Ruby hold her back, give her the craic and up
She'll go.
Thursday is the ladies day and the women all look
Smashing
Their lashing on the lipstick Philip tracys all the
Fashion
You can see the liposuction the botox and ogmanation
Brazilian haircuts the long-neck irrigation,
Hay Ruby hold her back, give her the craic and up
She'll go.
And every one's out in Salthill for the craic and for
The porter
There's bookies making odds on two flies walking up the
Wall
There's folk and trad. Karaoke and set dances
While some of us who seen better days were looking to
Take our chances
Hay Ruby hold her back, give her the craic and up
She'll go.
Their galloping down the back straight, he has her in
The canter
A look at her lepping the jumps be Gad, she's like a
Bally-dancer
Over the next she hits the front the nothing is going
To pass her
Winner alright it's up Kildare, follow me up to Carlow
Hay Ruby hold her back, give her the craic and up
She'll go.
Hay Ruby hold her back, give her the craic and up
She'll go
"The Ballad of Ruby Walsh" is a song by Irish folk singer Christy Moore that pays homage to iconic Irish jockey Ruby Walsh and the Galway Races. The lyrics describe the different locations and people that attend horse racing events and emphasize the excitement and thrill of the races. The song refers to several famous horse racing venues in Ireland and beyond, including Cheltenham and Lourdes. The chorus, "Hay Ruby hold her back, give her the craic and up she'll go," encourages Ruby Walsh to steer the horse to victory.
The song's references to the divide between social classes and the glamorous atmosphere of horse racing events are evident in verses like "Sir John Mucksavage Smith is there with Smurfits and O'Reilly's. The owners and trainers, the stable boys and jockeys with silk wrapped around their arses getting up on rich men's horses."
The lyrics also poke fun at the obsession with beauty and appearance at horse racing events, referencing "liposuction, Botox, and colonic irrigation" and "Brazilian haircuts."
Line by Line Meaning
There's Bethlem and Cheltenham and Lourdes and Limerick Junction
There are many places people can go to, such as Bethlem, Cheltenham, Lourdes, and Limerick Junction.
The trip to Mejagori come up for the extra motion
Even more adventurous trips can be taken, such as a trip to Mejagori.
Good people climb Croagh Patrick with serenity on their faces
People can climb Croagh Patrick with a peaceful and calm demeanor.
But Ruby Walsh saved me life below at the Galway Races.
Ruby Walsh helped save the artist's life during the Galway Races.
Hay Ruby hold her back, give her the craic and up she'll go.
Ruby should control the horse and give it some liveliness, and it will perform well.
They're under starters orders, Ted Walsh is Commentating,
The race has started, and Ted Walsh is doing the commentary.
Ruby's up on the favorite, she'll take some beating
Ruby is riding the favorite horse, and it will be tough for any other horse to beat it.
Necks are strained eyes are trained there's fear upon their faces
The spectators are tense and scared as they watch the race intently.
There's agony and ecstasy below at the Galway races
There are both joyful and painful moments during the Galway races.
It's there you'll see gentility and sheep dressed up as Mutton
There is a mix of elegance and pretense at the races, as well as some sheep dressed up as mutton.
There's double barreled names with Mulherns on old Malodions
There are people with prestigious last names, like Mulherns on old Malodions.
The talk is all of tillage of silage and corn acre
People discuss farming topics, such as tillage, silage, and corn acre.
I fancy Tracy Piggot in the saddle in the enclosure
The singer thinks Tracy Piggot would look good riding in the enclosure.
Sir John Mucksavage Smith is there with Smurfits and O'Reilly's
There are many wealthy people, such as Sir John Mucksavage Smith, and Smurfits and O'Reilly's, at the races.
The owners and the trainers, the stable boys and Jockeys
There are many people involved in horse racing, such as owners, trainers, stable boys, and jockeys.
With silk around their arses getting up on rich men's horses
Jockeys wear silk while riding wealthy people's horses.
The convention wives and daughters and marriages and divorces.
There are various marital and family relationships among the convention attendees.
There's Celtic helicopters land bank speculators, Builders and developers, crocodiles and alligators
There are many business people at the races, such as land bank speculators, builders and developers, and even some animals like crocodiles and alligators.
Soldiers of destiny their in the fields of frenzy
The 'soldiers of destiny' are in a chaotic frenzy at the races.
Their mouths wrapped round the Lamb Of God come back For the gravy
They are swallowing the communion bread, which they believe to be the body of Christ coming back to life, along with the gravy.
Thursday is the ladies day and the women all look smashing
Thursday is a special day for women at the races, and they all dress up and look great.
Their lashing on the lipstick Philip tracys all the fashion
The women are wearing lots of lipstick to impress, and Philip Tracys is the fashionable hat designer.
You can see the liposuction the botox and ogmanation
Some women have had cosmetic surgeries like liposuction and botox, and even some hair removal.
Brazilian haircuts the collonic irrigation,
Some women have Brazilian haircuts, and have had colon cleansing treatments.
And every one's out in Salthill for the craic and for the porter
Everyone is out in the nearby town of Salthill for some fun and drinks.
There's bookies making odds on two flies walking up the wall
Bookies are taking bets on impossible events, like two flies walking up a wall.
There's folk and trad. Karaoke and set dances
People are enjoying Irish folk and trad music, karaoke, and set dances.
While some of us who seen better days were looking to take our chances
Some of the older attendees, who have probably seen better days, are looking for a lucky break.
Their galloping down the back straight, he has her in the canter
The horses are racing down the straight part of the racetrack, and Ruby has his horse in a steady canter.
A look at her up the jumps be Gad, she's like a bally-dancer
The singer is impressed with how the horse jumps over obstacles, comparing it to a Bally-dancer.
Over the next she hits the front the other one's going to pass her
During the next jump, Ruby's horse pulls ahead of the others, but one horse is coming up fast behind her.
Winner alright it's up Kildare, follow me up to Carlow
The winning horse is from Kildare, and the artist is asking others to follow him up to Carlow.
Hay Ruby hold her back, give her the craic and up she'll go.
Again, Ruby should control the horse and give it some liveliness, and it will perform well.
Contributed by Addison L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Robin Owen
One of the best Irish poets to ever put words into song, that's Christy!!
George Thomas
I agree he's s beautiful songsmith or wordsmith whatever you wanna call it Mr Moore has it in bucketfulls. You know it's real too and he wears his songs on his sleeves. A true great of our time
MisticMaggot
ruby has won me a few quid ! well done christy for writing a great song !
Gavin Finlay
Absolutely brilliant!
D ÓF
Fantastic, thank you so much for uploading!
Hi_Its_Kai
im not irish but i love their history and their songs. I love the country (and the wishkey) anyway greetings from the dutch :)
MrPhilroo123
poetry, no doubt, the man is a feckin genious
giles ashton
Time to write another tune in honour of Rachael Blackmore
Peter Duffy
greatest series of in-jokes in a song ruthless.
Brian Curtin
irish music legend