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.
Tippin It Up
Christy Moore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She dearly loved her husband and another man twice as well
With me right finnickineerio, me tip finnick a wall
With me right finnickineerio, We're tipping it up to Nancy
She went down to the chemist shop some remedies for to buy,
Have you anything in your chemist shop to make me old man blind?
"Give him eggs and marrowbones and make him suck them all,
Before he has the last one sucked, he won't see you at all."
She gave him eggs and marrowbones and made him suck them all,
Before he had the last one sucked, he couldn't see her at all.
If in this world I cannot see, here I cannot stay.
I'd drown myself; "Come on," says she, "and I'll show you the way"
She led him to the river, she led him to the brim
But sly enough of Martin, it was him that shoved her in.
She swam through the river, she swam through the brine
"Oh Martin, dear Martin. Don't leave me behind."
"Oh Martin, dear Martin. Don't leave me behind."
"Yerra shut up outa that ye silly aul fool, ye know poor Martin is blind"
There's nine in me family and none of them is my own,
I wish that each and every man would come and claim his own.
The lyrics of the song "Tippin' It Up to Nancy" by Christy Moore are about a woman who is in love with two men. One of the men is her husband, and the other man is unknown. The lyrics are reflective of the infidelity of the woman and the actions that she takes to cover up her actions. They also reflect the punishment that she receives when the second man pushes her into the river.
The lyrics open by introducing a woman who loved her husband and another man twice as much. The use of "dearly loved" creates a sense of strong emotions regarding her feelings for both men. The song then transitions to the scene of her buying the remedies for her old man who she later makes blind, so he cannot catch her in the act. The lyrics demonstrate the lengths to which the woman went to ensure that her acts of infidelity were kept secret. In the end, the second man pushes her into the river, and she's forced to swim for her life, and despite her pleas, Martin who she'd earlier loved leaves her behind. The lyrics elicit sympathy for the woman, who has lost everything due to her actions.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, there's been a woman in our town, a woman you ought know well
There is a woman in our town who is known well by everyone.
She dearly loved her husband and another man twice as well
The woman not only loves her husband, but she also loves another man twice as much.
With me right finnickineerio, me tip finnick a wall
I am dancing with my partner and together we are tapping our feet against the wall.
With me right finnickineerio, We're tipping it up to Nancy
We are dancing and having a good time in honor of Nancy.
She went down to the chemist shop some remedies for to buy,
The woman went to the chemist shop to buy some remedies.
Have you anything in your chemist shop to make me old man blind?
She asks the chemist if there is anything in the shop that can make her old man blind.
"Give him eggs and marrowbones and make him suck them all,
The chemist suggests that she give her husband eggs and marrowbones to suck on.
Before he has the last one sucked, he won't see you at all."
The chemist tells her that if he doesn't suck on the last marrowbone, he won't be able to see her.
She gave him eggs and marrowbones and made him suck them all,
She did what the chemist suggested, and gave her husband eggs and marrowbones to suck on.
Before he had the last one sucked, he couldn't see her at all.
True to the chemist's word, her husband couldn't see her until he sucked on the last marrowbone.
If in this world I cannot see, here I cannot stay.
Her husband says that if he cannot see, he cannot live in this world.
I'd drown myself; "Come on," says she, "and I'll show you the way"
She offers to show him how to drown himself if he cannot live in this world without sight.
She led him to the river, she led him to the brim
She takes her husband to the river.
But sly enough of Martin, it was him that shoved her in.
However, Martin (another man she loves) was the one that pushed her into the river.
She swam through the river, she swam through the brine
She managed to swim through the river and the brine (saltwater).
"Oh Martin, dear Martin. Don't leave me behind."
She begs Martin not to leave her behind.
"Yerra shut up outa that ye silly aul fool, ye know poor Martin is blind"
Martin responds to her plea by telling her to be quiet and reminding her that he is blind.
There's nine in me family and none of them is my own,
The singer says that none of the nine members in his family are truly his own.
I wish that each and every man would come and claim his own.
The singer hopes that each man will come forward and claim the members of their family that they fathered.
Contributed by Mason H. 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