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 Pipers Path
Christy Moore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On its frosty ride or Autumns frosty pride
And the piper by my side took his tunes from Winters mouth
And played them back to the racing clouds
Through waves of copper trees we followed the purple trees
Past the speckled hen and the seaweed men
On down through the bay of soft weather days
Wind and weather they told us all be done
All together they sang us a Winters song
And the piper by my side took his tunes from Winters mouth
And played them back to the racing clouds
"The Piper's Path" by Christy Moore is a song that highlights the beauty of nature and music. The song speaks about a journey taken down the Pipers path on a frosty winter day. The Piper plays his tunes from Winter's mouth and plays them back to the racing clouds. The journey continues through waves of copper trees and purple trees, past speckled hens, and seaweed men towards the bay of soft weather days. The journey ultimately leads back to the racing ways as the wind and weather chant a winter song.
The song is a beautiful description of a winter journey in the countryside, where the frost has kissed everything, leaving a magical effect. The Pipers Path represents the adventure that anyone can have in the great outdoors - surrounded by crisp air, singing birds, and stunning scenery. The journey taken while walking down The Piper Path is a spiritual and emotional one, and it is all about connecting with the beauty of the natural world.
Line by Line Meaning
Down the Pipers path we followed the Winters sun
We walked along the path taken by the piper, tracing the direction of the winter sun
On its frosty ride or Autumns frosty pride
As we walked, we noticed the winter and autumn landscapes, both cold and frosty
And the piper by my side took his tunes from Winters mouth
I walked alongside the piper, who created music inspired by the winter's atmosphere
And played them back to the racing clouds
The piper's tunes reached out to the fast moving clouds and expressed the winter's mood to them
Through waves of copper trees we followed the purple trees
We bypassed copper trees with their leaves that resemble waves, and purple trees with their vivid color
Past the speckled hen and the seaweed men
We came across a speckled hen and seaweed-shaped human figures on our journey
On down through the bay of soft weather days
We continued down the path that led us through the bay of days with mild weather
That led us back to the racing ways
The path eventually took us back to our fast-paced lifestyles
Wind and weather they told us all be done
We learned from the wind and weather that everything will come to an end
All together they sang us a Winters song
Wind and weather combined to make a winter tune that could be heard by all
And the piper by my side took his tunes from Winters mouth
The piper beside me listened to the winter's song and created his own tunes inspired by it
And played them back to the racing clouds
The piper shared his music with the clouds that were moving quickly across the sky
Contributed by Claire T. 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