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 Other Side
Christy Moore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And Tyrone boys dream of loving on the strand
Flowers heaped in gesture on the courthouse steps in Kerry
And we trampled on the outstretched hand
Roman posters on the wall outside the graveyard
"No Divorce" is all they say
I saw a little sister of Mercy
Invoke the wrath of God on polling day.
Oh the Island, where Tyrone boys dream of loving on the strand
Oh the Island, where we trampled on the outstretched hand.
The lady sends squaddies on the water
Geordie don't be afraid to die
In blackened face he dreams of his darling bairns and hinny
On the watchtower overlooking aughnacloy
In Long Kesh the Tyrone Boys are dreaming
Of making love upon the strand some day
On the news came a mid-Atlantic accent
Plastic bullet has taken Julie Livingstone away
The King he came to see his people
And he took a soldier by the hand
Eyes averted from the Gloucester Diamond
To comfort those who occupy the land
High above the clouds a promised heaven
On the street a confused and homeless child
While men in black declare a social order
Frightened women sail to the other side
All the young ones are leaving the Island
Out the door, down the steps, around the side,
Unwanted they file through departure lounges
Like deportees dispersing far and wide
In the distance there's cricket in Cloughjordan
The gentle clack of croquet on the lawn
As our children shackled by illegal status
Hold their heads down behind the Brooklyn wall
In "The Other Side," Christy Moore weaves together various scenes and events that take place on the Island, touching on themes of divided communities, social unrest, and the search for a better life. The first verse paints a picture of a diverse Ireland, where different cultures and beliefs coexist. John, who paints in Caribbean colors, represents the immigrant population that has made Ireland their home. Meanwhile, the Tyrone boys who dream of loving on the strand are a nod to the North-South divide, where sectarianism and violence have fueled deep-rooted hate and mistrust. The flowers piled up in gestures signify a public outcry against some sort of injustice, which is then further hinted at in the last line of the verse with a "little sister of Mercy" invoking the wrath of God on polling day.
The second verse takes a more political turn, where the lady sends "squaddies," or British soldiers to quell unrest, and a Geordie dreams of seeing his family back home. The Long Kesh reference hints at the Troubles and how it further fueled division and hate. When the mid-Atlantic accent states a plastic bullet taken Julie Livingstone away, it further highlights the state brutality and how it targeted not only men but women and children as well. The last verse takes a more surrealistic turn, where the King comforts those who occupy the land; this could be a reference to the British monarchy's attempts to mitigate Northern Ireland's troubles from their perspective. The children who get shackled by illegal status resonate with the recent controversies of migrant children being detained and denied basic human rights.
Line by Line Meaning
Where John paints in Caribbean colours
John uses bright, tropical shades when he paints.
And Tyrone boys dream of loving on the strand
Boys from Tyrone desire to cultivate romance on the beach.
Flowers heaped in gesture on the courthouse steps in Kerry
A bunch of flowers in tribute was placed on the steps of the courthouse in Kerry.
And we trampled on the outstretched hand
We carelessly and disrespectfully ignored someone who asked for help.
Roman posters on the wall outside the graveyard
Posters adorned with Catholic iconography are outside the cemetery.
"No Divorce" is all they say
The posters only say "No Divorce" without any explanation or further detail.
I saw a little sister of Mercy
I saw a female member of the Catholic religious order, Sisters of Mercy.
Invoke the wrath of God on polling day.
She prayed to God to punish those who voted in a certain way.
Oh the Island, where Tyrone boys dream of loving on the strand
On this Island, Tyrone boys aspire to experience romance on the beach.
Oh the Island, where we trampled on the outstretched hand.
On this Island, we disrespected somebody who asked for help.
The lady sends squaddies on the water
The woman in charge sends soldiers onto the water.
Geordie don't be afraid to die
Geordie (a common name in Northern England) is encouraged not to fear death.
In blackened face he dreams of his darling bairns and hinny
A person with a soot-covered face yearns for his beloved children and wife.
On the watchtower overlooking aughnacloy
The person is keeping lookout from a tower above Aughnacloy.
In Long Kesh the Tyrone Boys are dreaming
In Long Kesh prison, boys from Tyrone are dreaming.
Of making love upon the strand some day
They dream of having intimate relations on the beach in the future.
On the news came a mid-Atlantic accent
A newsreader with a transatlantic accent delivered the news.
Plastic bullet has taken Julie Livingstone away
Julie Livingstone passed away due to being shot with a plastic bullet.
The King he came to see his people
The monarch visited to greet his subjects.
And he took a soldier by the hand
He grabbed a soldier's hand to shake it.
Eyes averted from the Gloucester Diamond
His gaze did not linger on the Gloucester Diamond.
To comfort those who occupy the land
He aimed to reassure people who reside in the area.
High above the clouds a promised heaven
A paradise has been pledged, seemingly beyond the clouds.
On the street a confused and homeless child
A child lacking a home or direction wanders the streets.
While men in black declare a social order
Males garbed in black dictate and enforce societal regulations.
Frightened women sail to the other side
Worried women embark on a journey to a different place.
All the young ones are leaving the Island
All of the young people are departing from the Island.
Out the door, down the steps, around the side,
They're leaving by any means possible.
Unwanted they file through departure lounges
They aren't valued and travel through the airport's waiting area.
Like deportees dispersing far and wide
The society exiles them to different locations.
In the distance there's cricket in Cloughjordan
In Cloughjordan, the sound of a sports game of cricket can be heard off in the distance.
The gentle clack of croquet on the lawn
The quiet tapping sound of croquet balls being hit can be heard on the grass.
As our children shackled by illegal status
Our kids are restrained by their inability to attain legal citizenship.
Hold their heads down behind the Brooklyn wall
They feel dejected and disguised behind the Brooklyn wall.
Contributed by Gabriella D. 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