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 Raggle Taggle Gipsies / Tabhair Dom Do Lámh
Christy Moore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They came brave and boldly-o.
And one sang high and the other sang low
And the other sang a raggle taggle gypsy-o.
It was upstairs, downstairs the lady went,
Put on her suit of leather-o,
And it was the cry all around her door;
It was late that night when the lord came in,
Enquiring for his lady-o,
And the servant girl's reply to him was;
"She's away with the raggle taggle gypsy-o"
"Then saddle for me my milk-white steed
Me big horse is not speedy-o
And I will ride and I'll seek me bride,
She's away with the raggle taggle gypsy-o"
He rode east and he rode west
He rode north and south also,
And when he rode to the wide open field
It was there that he spied his lady-o.
"Arra, why did you leave your house and your land,
Why did you leave your money-o?
Why did you leave your only wedded lord
All for the raggle taggle gypsy-o?"
"Yerra what do I care for me house and me land?
What do I care for money-o?
What do I care for me only wedded lord?
I'm away with the raggle taggle gypsy-o"
"It was there last night you'd a goose feather bed,
Blankets drawn so comely-o.
But tonight you lie in a wide open field
In the arms of the raggle taggle gypsy-o"
"Yerra, what do I care for me goose feather bed?
Yerra, what do I care for blankets-o?
What do I care for me only wedded lord?
I'm away with the raggle taggle gypsy-o"
"Oh, for you rode east when I rode west,
You rode high and I rode low.
I'd rather have a kiss of the yellow gypsy's lips
Than all the cash and money-o"
The lyrics of Christy Moore's song "Raggle Taggle Gypsy" tell the story of a noble lord's wife who elopes with a group of wandering gypsies. The song describes the arrival of the gypsies at the lord's manor and their performance of a lively tune. The lady of the house is enchanted by their music and joins them on their journey, much to the chagrin of her husband. The lord sets out on horseback to find his runaway bride and finally locates her in a field with the gypsy man she has fallen in love with. The woman explains that she is happier with the gypsy than with her husband and chooses to remain with him despite the lord's protestations.
The song is based on an Irish folk ballad called "The Gypsy Laddie" or "Black Jack Davy," but Moore's version adds his own distinctive flair to the tale. The lyrics highlight themes of freedom, passion, and the clash of social classes. The lord represents the constraints and expectations of society while the gypsies symbolize a more liberated and carefree way of living. The lady of the house chooses love and adventure over security and conventionality, embracing the gypsy lifestyle and rejecting societal norms.
Line by Line Meaning
There were three auld gypsies came to our hall door.
Three old gypsies came to the door of our house.
They came brave and boldly-o.
They came without fear or hesitation.
And one sang high and the other sang low
And the other sang a raggle taggle gypsy-o.
One of them sang in a high pitch, another in a low pitch, and one sang Raggle Taggle Gypsy song.
It was upstairs, downstairs the lady went,
Put on her suit of leather-o,
The lady went from upstairs to downstairs, wore her clothes of leather.
And it was the cry all around her door;
"She's away with the raggle taggle gypsy-o"
Everyone was saying that she has gone with the gypsy who sang the Raggle Taggle Gypsy song.
It was late that night when the lord came in,
Enquiring for his lady-o,
The lord arrived late that night, asking about his lady.
And the servant girl's reply to him was;
"She's away with the raggle taggle gypsy-o"
The servant girl told him that she has gone with the gypsy who sang the Raggle Taggle Gypsy song.
"Then saddle for me my milk-white steed
Me big horse is not speedy-o
And I will ride and I'll seek me bride,
She's away with the raggle taggle gypsy-o"
The lord asked for his milk-white steed to search for his bride who went away with the gypsy.
He rode east and he rode west
He rode north and south also,
And when he rode to the wide open field
It was there that he spied his lady-o.
He searched in all directions and finally found his lady in an open field.
"Arra, why did you leave your house and your land,
Why did you leave your money-o?
Why did you leave your only wedded lord
All for the raggle taggle gypsy-o?"
The lord asked her why she left her home, money and her husband for the gypsy.
"Yerra what do I care for me house and me land?
What do I care for money-o?
What do I care for me only wedded lord?
I'm away with the raggle taggle gypsy-o"
She doesn't care for anything except the gypsy who sang the Raggle Taggle Gypsy song.
"It was there last night you'd a goose feather bed,
Blankets drawn so comely-o.
But tonight you lie in a wide open field
In the arms of the raggle taggle gypsy-o"
He highlights the fact that she slept in a comfortable bed the previous night but she is now sleeping in a field with the gypsy.
"Yerra, what do I care for me goose feather bed?
Yerra, what do I care for blankets-o?
What do I care for me only wedded lord?
I'm away with the raggle taggle gypsy-o"
Once again, her priority is the gypsy who sang the Raggle Taggle Gypsy song over everything else including her lord and comfortable bed.
"Oh, for you rode east when I rode west,
You rode high and I rode low.
I'd rather have a kiss of the yellow gypsy's lips
Than all the cash and money-o"
She implies that he is not adventurous enough and she prefers to be with the gypsy whom she finds attractive, over his wealth and money.
Contributed by Chase I. 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