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 Night Visit
Christy Moore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who are you, me honey?
Who are you, me pretty fair maid
Who are you, me honey?
She answered me modestly,
"Well I am me mammy's darling."
CHORUS
With your too-ry-ah
Fol-de-diddle-dah
Me Day-re fol-de-diddle
Dai-rie oh.
And will you come to me mammy's house
When the moon is shining clearly.
And will you come to me mammy's house
When the moon is shining clearly.
I'll open the door and I'll let you in
And divil the one will hear us.
CHORUS
So I went to her house in the middle of the night
When the moon was shining clarely.
So I went to her house in the middle of the night
When the moon was shining clarely.
Shc opened the door and she let me in
And divil the one did hear us.
CHORUS
She took me horse by the bridle and the bit
And she led him to the stable
She took me horse by the bridle and the bit
And she led him to the stable
Saying "There's plenty of oats for a soldier's horse,
To eat it if he's able."
CHORUS
She took me by the lily-white hand
And she led me to the table
She took me by the lily-white hand
And she led me to the table
Saying "There's plenty of wine for a soldier boy,
Drink it if you're able."
CHORUS
She got up and she made the bed
And she made it nice and aisy
She got up and she made the bed
And she made it nice and aisy
Then she took me by the hand
Saying "Blow out the candle!"
CHORUS
There we lay till the break of the day
And divil the one did hear us
There we lay till the break of the day
And divil the one did hear us
She arose and put on her clothes
Saying "Darling, you must leave me."
CHORUS
When will I return again
When will we get married
When will I return again
When will we get married
When broken shells make Christmas bells
We might well get married.
The Night Visit is a folk song about a soldier's night visit to a mysterious girl's house. The beginning of the song sees the soldier question the girl about who she is, to which she replies modestly that she is her mammy's darling. The soldier then seeks permission to come to her mammy's house when the moon is shining clearly. The girl agrees and assures him that no one would hear them. The soldier obeys her call in the middle of the night and is taken to the stable before being led to the table where she serves him plenty of wine. The girl then makes the bed a bit more comfortable for him, and they spend the night together.
The chorus repeats after every verse, and it's an interesting mix of Irish and English. The Irish phrase "too-ry-ah" doesn't have any specific meaning but is used to give rhythm to the song. The Night Visit is probably one of the most popular songs in Christy Moore's repertoire, and it's believed to have roots in popular Irish myth.
Interesting facts about The Night Visit include that it has several recordings, including a well-known 1973 album by Christy Moore called Prosperous. It is also believed to have been originally an Irish language song called An Tóraíocht, which was written by Aodhagán Ó Rathaille, an eighteenth-century poet. Another fact is that although the song has fairly graphic and explicit lyrics, it was common for traditional Irish folk songs to have suggestive lyrics in them. Additionally, this song is often performed in a lively style in Ireland, and it is frequently sung during St. Stephen's Day celebrations. Lastly, the song recorded in Christy Moore's album was recorded in a single take, which adds to its unique and organic stylings.
The chords for The Night Visit in D are as follows:
D, G, G, D,
A, G, D, A,
G, G, D, G,
D, G, G, D.
Line by Line Meaning
Who are you, me pretty fair maid
The singer is inquiring about the identity of the woman.
She answered me modestly, "Well I am me mammy's darling."
The woman responded humbly, saying that she is the cherished daughter of her mother.
And will you come to me mammy's house When the moon is shining clearly.
The singer asks if the woman will meet him at her mother's home when the night is bright.
I'll open the door and I'll let you in And divil the one will hear us.
She says she will allow him to enter secretly, with nobody knowing.
So I went to her house in the middle of the night When the moon was shining clarely.
The artist visited her at night when the moon was visible.
Shc opened the door and she let me in And divil the one did hear us.
She granted him entry unnoticed by anyone else.
She took me horse by the bridle and the bit And she led him to the stable Saying "There's plenty of oats for a soldier's horse, To eat it if he's able."
She took care of his horse and provided it with food, telling him it's fit for a soldier's horse to consume.
She took me by the lily-white hand And she led me to the table Saying "There's plenty of wine for a soldier boy, Drink it if you're able."
He was led to a table with an offer of wine, appropriate for a soldier, to drink if he can handle it.
She got up and she made the bed And she made it nice and aisy Then she took me by the hand Saying "Blow out the candle!"
She rose and tidied up the bed, then blew out the candle, signaling the end of the night.
There we lay till the break of the day And divil the one did hear us
The two spent the night together until morning, without being detected by anyone.
She arose and put on her clothes Saying "Darling, you must leave me."
She got up from bed and dressed, requesting that he departs from her.
When will I return again When will we get married When will I return again When will we get married When broken shells make Christmas bells We might well get married.
The artist poses love-related questions and provides an obscure, if at all hopeful answer.
Contributed by Kaelyn R. 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