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 Ludlow Massacre
Christy Moore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They drove us miners out of our homes
Out of the houses that the company owned
Into the tents of the little Ludlow
We were worried bad about our children
State troopers guarded the railway bridge
Every once in a while a bullet would fly
We were so afraid that you'd kill our children
That we dug a cave that was seven foot deep
Took the children and the pregnant women
Down inside the cave to sleep
It was late that night the soldiers waited
Till all us miners were asleep
They crept around one little camp town
And soaked our tents in kerosene
They struck a match and the blaze it started
They pulled the triggers of their Gatling guns
I made a run for the children but the firewall stopped me
Thirteen children died from their guns
I never will forget the looks on the faces
Of the men and women that awful day
As they stood around to preach the funeral
And lay the corpses of the dead away
The women from Trinidad took some potatoes
Up to Wallensburg in a little cart
They sold the potatoes and brought some guns back
Put a gun in every hand
We asked the governor to phone up the president
Ask him call off the National Guard
But the National Guard belonged to the governor
I guess he didn't try very hard
Late one night the troopers charged us
They didn't know that we had guns
The red necked miners shot them troops down
You should have seen those poor boys run
We took some cement and walled the cave up
Where the thirteen little children died
I thanked God for the Mine Workers Union
And then I hung my head and cried
Christy Moore's song The Ludlow Massacre tells the story of the Ludlow Massacre, which took place in Colorado in 1914. At the time, striking coal miners and their families were living in tent colonies outside of the mines, which had been put under martial law. The miners had been striking to protest low wages and poor working conditions. The company hired security personnel and private detectives, who escalated the situation by raiding the tent colonies.
The first verse of the song describes the miners being driven out of their company-owned homes into tents in the town of Ludlow. They were worried about their children, and state troopers were stationed on a nearby railway bridge. The soldiers were known to shoot without warning, so the miners dug a cave seven feet deep to hide their children and pregnant women.
The second verse recounts the brutal attack by the National Guard and company-hired security forces that resulted in the deaths of thirteen children and three women who were trapped in the cave. The miners were devastated and angry, and the women of the community banded together to purchase guns and ammunition to protect themselves.
The song goes on to describe the aftermath of the tragedy, including the funeral and the eventual violent uprising of the miners. The final verse of the song expresses gratitude for the Mine Workers Union, which continued to fight for worker's rights and safety in the mines.
Line by Line Meaning
It was early springtime and the strike was on
The story describes an incident that took place during a strike in springtime.
They drove us miners out of our homes
The miners were not allowed to live in the houses owned by the company.
Out of the houses that the company owned
The miners were not allowed to live in the houses owned by the company.
Into the tents of the little Ludlow
The miners were forced to live in tents in Ludlow.
We were worried bad about our children
The miners were concerned about the safety of their children.
State troopers guarded the railway bridge
The authorities had deployed state troopers to guard the railway bridge.
Every once in a while a bullet would fly
Occasionally, shots were fired and bullets would hit the ground.
Kick up gravel around our feet
The shots fired would cause gravel to fly and hit the miners' feet.
We were so afraid that you'd kill our children
The miners were afraid that the authorities would harm their children.
That we dug a cave that was seven foot deep
To keep the children safe, the miners dug a deep cave.
Took the children and the pregnant women
The miners took the children and pregnant women to the cave.
Down inside the cave to sleep
The miners went inside the cave to rest.
It was late that night the soldiers waited
Late at night, the soldiers were waiting for an opportunity to attack.
Till all us miners were asleep
The soldiers waited until the miners were asleep to launch an attack.
They crept around one little camp town
The soldiers sneaked around the camp where the miners were staying.
And soaked our tents in kerosene
The soldiers poured kerosene on the miners' tents.
They struck a match and the blaze it started
The soldiers lit a match and set the tents on fire.
They pulled the triggers of their Gatling guns
The soldiers used Gatling guns to attack the miners.
I made a run for the children but the firewall stopped me
One of the miners tried to rescue the children but was blocked by the fire.
Thirteen children died from their guns
As a result of the soldiers' attack, thirteen children lost their lives.
I never will forget the looks on the faces
The artist remembers the faces of the people who witnessed the tragedy.
Of the men and women that awful day
The people who were present on the day of the attack.
As they stood around to preach the funeral
People gathered to mourn and bury the victims.
And lay the corpses of the dead away
The funerals were held for the victims, and they were buried.
The women from Trinidad took some potatoes
A group of women from Trinidad went to sell potatoes.
Up to Wallensburg in a little cart
They traveled to Wallensburg with a small cart.
They sold the potatoes and brought some guns back
The women sold the potatoes and obtained guns to defend themselves.
Put a gun in every hand
They distributed the guns to every person for self-defense.
We asked the governor to phone up the president
The miners requested the governor to contact the president of the country.
Ask him call off the National Guard
They demanded that the National Guard be withdrawn from the area.
But the National Guard belonged to the governor
The governor had control over the National Guard.
I guess he didn't try very hard
The governor did not make enough effort to help the miners.
Late one night the troopers charged us
One night, the troopers attacked the miners.
They didn't know that we had guns
The troopers were unaware that the miners possessed guns.
The red necked miners shot them troops down
The miners fought back, and some of them shot down the troopers.
You should have seen those poor boys run
The artist recalls how the remaining troops ran away in fear.
We took some cement and walled the cave up
To commemorate the thirteen children who died in the cave, the miners used cement to seal it off.
Where the thirteen little children died
The cave where thirteen children lost their lives.
I thanked God for the Mine Workers Union
The singer expressed gratitude towards the Mine Workers Union.
And then I hung my head and cried
The artist felt emotional and shed tears after recalling the tragic incident.
Contributed by Kylie Y. 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