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 Time Has Come
Christy Moore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I must go away
I leave you now, my darling girl
No longer can I stay
My heart like yours is breaking
Together we'll prove strong
The road I take will show the world
The gentle clasp that holds my hand
Must loosen and let go
Please help me through the door
Though instinct tells you no
Our vow it is eternal
And will bring you dreadful pain
But if our demands aren't recognized
Don't call me back again
How their sorrow touched us all
In those final days
When it was the time she held the door
And touched his sallow face
The flame he lit by leaving
Is still burning strong
By the lights it's plain to see
The suffering still goes on
The time has come to part, my love
I must go away
I leave you now, my darling girl
No longer can I stay
In Christy Moore's song "The Time Has Come," the singer speaks to his beloved and explains that he must leave her, even though it breaks both their hearts. He must embark on a journey that will reveal the pain and suffering that exists in the world. The song describes the difficulty of letting go and the unbearable pain of leaving someone you love, but it also highlights the importance of making a stand for what you believe and standing strong in the face of adversity.
The verse "The gentle clasp that holds my hand, must loosen and let go, please help me through the door, though instinct tells you no" speaks to the agony of separation, suggesting that the goodbye must be soft but firm. The singer is asking his lover to let go of him so that he can go on and do something to make a difference in the world. The final verse speaks to the power of a single act, the leaving of a flame that continues to burn, bringing light and hope to others.
Overall, the song is a powerful commentary on the human condition, the strength that we are capable of summoning and the pain that we must sometimes endure to do what's right.
Line by Line Meaning
The time has come to part, my love
It's time for us to separate, my dear
I must go away
I have to leave
I leave you now, my darling girl
I'm saying goodbye to you, my beloved
No longer can I stay
I cannot remain here any longer
My heart like yours is breaking
Just like you, my heart is shattered
Together we'll prove strong
We will show our resilience together
The road I take will show the world
My journey will expose the suffering in the world
The suffering that goes on
The pain that persists
The gentle clasp that holds my hand
Your loving touch that holds my hand
Must loosen and let go
You must release me
Please help me through the door
Guide me as I exit
Though instinct tells you no
Even if your intuition disagrees
Our vow it is eternal
Our promise lasts forever
And will bring you dreadful pain
Keeping that promise will cause you immense suffering
But if our demands aren't recognized
If our requests are unacknowledged
Don't call me back again
Don't request for me to return
How their sorrow touched us all
Their sadness affected us deeply
In those final days
As the end approached
When it was the time she held the door
When she had to open the door
And touched his sallow face
And held his sickly face
The flame he lit by leaving
The change he initiated upon his departure
Is still burning strong
Is still a significant influence
By the lights it's plain to see
It's evident under scrutiny
The suffering still goes on
The pain still persists
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LONNIE WILSON, SUSAN LONGACRE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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