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.
Tiles and Slabs
Christy Moore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A country artist making tiles
Whilst on a grave slab sleeps a son
Wet clay dug from the earth, wet stones covering the ground
Earth that buried another woman died, dead and gone
Left a torn lonely boy trying to reconfirm
Trying to reconnect
Trying to know himself and to contact the country
Trying to know himself and to contact the country
Whilst the artist celebrates
Connects and confirms
Contacts the country
Knows herself
Tiles and slabs
Woman and son
Take away
Take a gun
Blow away the blow-in
The blow-in
Kill the mother, kill the child in yourself
Kill the pain
Kill the father and the son and the holy ghost
Kill the pain
Violence from an inner rage buried in the country
Violence from an inner rage buried in the country
The song "Tiles and Slabs" by Christy Moore is a poignant and emotional exploration of the complexities of identity and belonging. The lyrics are rich with symbolism and imagery, painting a vivid and often heartbreaking picture of the struggle to reconcile one's sense of self with one's roots and history. The central metaphor of "tiles and slabs" represents the creative and destructive forces at work in the human spirit, as well as the tension between tradition and progress, old and new.
The opening lines set the stage for this theme, as we see a "country artist making tiles" while a "grave slab sleeps a son." This contrast between creation and death, between artistic expression and sorrowful loss, sets the tone for the entire song. The use of wet clay and stones underscores the raw, elemental nature of the emotions being explored here, as well as the common ground shared by all people, regardless of their background or status.
As the song progresses, we learn that the boy buried beneath the slab is trying to "reconnect" with his country and understand himself. The artist, meanwhile, celebrates her connection to the land and her craft. Yet despite these moments of joy and affirmation, there is a darker aspect to the song. The lines "take away, take a gun / blow away the blow-in" speak to the violent impulses that can arise when one feels alienated or threatened. The repeated refrain of "kill the pain" underscores the sense of desperation and isolation that can lead to such extreme measures.
Ultimately, the song seems to suggest that the only way to overcome these internal conflicts is to confront them head-on, to acknowledge the violence and rage buried within and find a way to transcend it. Whether through art, connection to the land, or some other means, there is hope for healing and reconciliation, even in the face of overwhelming pain and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
A country artist making tiles
A person from a rural area who is creating tiles
Whilst on a grave slab sleeps a son
On a stone where a dead person is buried, a child is sleeping
Wet clay dug from the earth, wet stones covering the ground
Muddy earth taken from underground and covered with wet stones
Earth that buried another woman died, dead and gone
The soil that buried a woman before is no longer alive
Left a torn lonely boy trying to reconfirm
The child left behind is feeling broken and alone and trying to find reassurance
Trying to reconnect
Attempting to establish a connection again
Trying to know himself and to contact the country
Struggling to understand his own identity and connect with his homeland
Whilst the artist celebrates
Even though the tile maker is happy
Connects and confirms
Connects with and affirms
Contacts the country
Reconnects with his homeland
Knows herself
Understands her own identity
Tiles and slabs
Tile and stone materials
Woman and son
Female and child individuals
Take away
Remove
Take a gun
Acquire a firearm
Blow away the blow-in
Get rid of the outsider
The blow-in
Someone who is not originally from the area
Kill the mother, kill the child in yourself
Eliminate the pain of your past
Kill the pain
Eradicate the suffering
Kill the father and the son and the holy ghost
Destroy the source of your torment
Violence from an inner rage buried in the country
Aggression caused by repressed feelings within the community
Violence from an inner rage buried in the country
Aggression caused by repressed feelings within the community
Contributed by Max 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