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.
Vive La Quinte Brigada
Christy Moore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A comradeship of heroes was laid
From every corner of the world came sailing
The Fifth International Brigade
They came to stand beside the Spanish people
To try and stem the rising fascist tide
Franco's allies were the powerful and wealthy
Even the olives were bleeding
As the battle for Madrid it thundered on
Truth and love against the force of evil
Brotherhood against the fascist clan
Viva la Quinta Brigada
"No Pasaran", the pledge that made them fight
"Adelante" is the cry around the hillside
Let us all remember them tonight
Bob Hilliard was a Church of Ireland pastor
Form Killarney across the Pyrenees he came
From Derry came a brave young Christian Brother
Side by side they fought and died in Spain
Tommy Woods age seventeen died in Cordoba
With Na Fianna he learned to hold his gun
From Dublin to the Villa del Rio
Where he fought and died beneath the blazing sun
Viva la Quinta Brigada
"No Pasaran", the pledge that made them fight
"Adelante" is the cry around the hillside
Let us all remember them tonight
Many Irishmen heard the call of Franco
Joined Hitler and Mussolini too
Propaganda from the pulpit and newspapers
Helped O'Duffy to enlist his crew
The word came from Maynooth, "support the Nazis"
The men of cloth failed again
When the Bishops blessed the Blueshirts in Dun Laoghaire
As they sailed beneath the swastika to Spain
Viva la Quinta Brigada
"No Pasaran", the pledge that made them fight
"Adelante" is the cry around the hillside
Let us all remember them tonight
This song is a tribute to Frank Ryan
Kit Conway and Dinny Coady too
Peter Daly, Charlie Regan and Hugh Bonar
Though many died I can but name a few
Danny Boyle, Blaser-Brown and Charlie Donnelly
Liam Tumilson and Jim Straney from the Falls
Jack Nalty, Tommy Patton and Frank Conroy
Jim Foley, Tony Fox and Dick O'Neill
Viva la Quinta Brigada
"No Pasaran", the pledge that made them fight
"Adelante" is the cry around the hillside
Let us all remember them tonight
The song "Vive La Quinte Brigada" by Christy Moore pays tribute to the International Brigade, a group of soldiers from all over the world who travelled to Spain in the 1930s to fight against fascism in the Spanish Civil War. The lyrics speak of the bravery and sacrifice of these soldiers, and highlights the importance of standing up against evil and injustice. Through the imagery of bleeding olives and the cry of "No Pasaran" (they shall not pass), the song paints a picture of the fierce battle that took place in Madrid, with brotherhood and love standing strong against the force of fascism.
The song also draws attention to the shameful fact that many Irishmen joined with Franco and even Hitler and Mussolini in supporting fascism, with propaganda from religious leaders and newspapers influencing many. The song names some of the brave soldiers who fought on the side of truth and justice, including Bob Hilliard, Tommy Woods, and Frank Ryan, as well as highlighting the bravery of others from various countries who fought and died in Spain. Overall, the song celebrates the courage of those who fought against fascism and tyranny, and encourages listeners to remember their sacrifice and continue to stand up for what is right.
Line by Line Meaning
Ten years before I saw the light of morning
The events of the song happened before the singer was born.
A comradeship of heroes was laid
A group of brave people came together to fight for a common cause.
From every corner of the world came sailing
People from many different places joined together for this cause.
The Fifth International Brigade
This was the name given to this group of people.
They came to stand beside the Spanish people
Their intention was to support and help the people of Spain.
To try and stem the rising fascist tide
They were trying to stop the spread of fascism in Spain.
Franco's allies were the powerful and wealthy
Those who supported Franco were mostly wealthy and powerful people.
Frank Ryan's men came from the other side
Those who fought against Franco came from the opposite side of the political spectrum.
Even the olives were bleeding
The violence and fighting was so intense that even the trees were affected.
As the battle for Madrid it thundered on
The fighting in Madrid was particularly intense.
Truth and love against the force of evil
This was a struggle between good and evil.
Brotherhood against the fascist clan
It was a battle between those who believed in brotherhood and those who believed in fascism.
Viva la Quinta Brigada
Long live the Fifth Brigade!
"No Pasaran", the pledge that made them fight
They were fighting to prevent the fascists from gaining control.
"Adelante" is the cry around the hillside
This was a rallying cry to encourage the fighters to keep going.
Let us all remember them tonight
The singer wants people to remember those who fought and died in this battle.
Bob Hilliard was a Church of Ireland pastor
Bob Hilliard was a member of the Church of Ireland and a pastor.
Form Killarney across the Pyrenees he came
He traveled from Killarney in Ireland to the Pyrenees Mountains to fight.
From Derry came a brave young Christian Brother
A young Christian Brother came from Derry to fight.
Side by side they fought and died in Spain
These two men fought together and both died in Spain.
Tommy Woods age seventeen died in Cordoba
Tommy Woods was only seventeen when he died in Cordoba.
With Na Fianna he learned to hold his gun
He learned how to use a gun as a member of Na Fianna.
From Dublin to the Villa del Rio
Tommy Woods traveled from Dublin to Villa del Rio in Spain to fight.
Where he fought and died beneath the blazing sun
Tommy Woods fought in the hot sun and ultimately died.
Many Irishmen heard the call of Franco
Many Irish men answered the call to fight on Franco's side.
Joined Hitler and Mussolini too
These Irish men also joined forces with Hitler and Mussolini.
Propaganda from the pulpit and newspapers
The Church and the media were used to spread propaganda for Franco's cause.
Helped O'Duffy to enlist his crew
O'Duffy was able to recruit fighters with the help of this propaganda.
The word came from Maynooth, "support the Nazis"
The message from Maynooth was to support the Nazis and Franco.
The men of cloth failed again
The Church failed to uphold its values and support the right side.
When the Bishops blessed the Blueshirts in Dun Laoghaire
The Bishops showed support for the Blueshirts, a fascist group, in Dun Laoghaire.
As they sailed beneath the swastika to Spain
The Blueshirts traveled to Spain under the banner of the swastika.
This song is a tribute to Frank Ryan
The song is dedicated to Frank Ryan, a hero of the battle.
Kit Conway and Dinny Coady too
The song also honors Kit Conway and Dinny Coady.
Peter Daly, Charlie Regan and Hugh Bonar
These men are also remembered and honored for their bravery.
Though many died I can but name a few
There were many others who died in the battle that the singer cannot name in this song.
Danny Boyle, Blaser-Brown and Charlie Donnelly
These three men are remembered and honored for their bravery.
Liam Tumilson and Jim Straney from the Falls
These men are remembered and honored for their bravery.
Jack Nalty, Tommy Patton and Frank Conroy
These men are remembered and honored for their bravery.
Jim Foley, Tony Fox and Dick O'Neill
These men are remembered and honored for their bravery.
Contributed by Charlie R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@MrSirDrew
Lyrics
Ten years before I saw the light of morning
A comradeship of heroes was laid
From every corner of the world came sailing
The Fifth International Brigade
They came to stand beside the Spanish people
To try and stem the rising fascist tide
Franco's allies were the powerful and wealthy
Frank Ryan's men came from the other side
Even the olives were bleeding
As the battle for Madrid it thundered on
Truth and love against the force of evil
Brotherhood against the fascist clan
CHORUS
Viva la Quinta Brigada
"No Pasaran", the pledge that made them fight
"Adelante" is the cry around the hillside
Let us all remember them tonight
Bob Hilliard was a Church of Ireland pastor
Form Killarney across the Pyrenees he came
From Derry came a brave young Christian Brother
Side by side they fought and died in Spain
Tommy Woods age seventeen died in Cordoba
With Na Fianna he learned to hold his gun
From Dublin to the Villa del Rio
Where he fought and died beneath the blazing sun
CHORUS
Many Irishmen heard the call of Franco
Joined Hitler and Mussolini too
Propaganda from the pulpit and newspapers
Helped O'Duffy to enlist his crew
The word came from Maynooth, "support the Nazis"
The men of cloth failed again
When the Bishops blessed the Blueshirts in Dun Laoghaire
As they sailed beneath the swastika to Spain
CHORUS
This song is a tribute to Frank Ryan
Kit Conway and Dinny Coady too
Peter Daly, Charlie Regan and Hugh Bonar
Though many died I can but name a few
Danny Boyle, Blaser-Brown and Charlie Donnelly
Liam Tumilson and Jim Straney from the Falls
Jack Nalty, Tommy Patton and Frank Conroy
Jim Foley, Tony Fox and Dick O'Neill
@pemacal57
Support for the Nationalists
Edit
Feeling in Ireland in the 1930s ran overwhelmingly against the Second Spanish Republic due to the opposition by the Catholic Church.
Following the July coup by the generals in Spain, a wave of atrocities swept the country on both sides; in Republican Spain, the Red Terror was, in part, directed against the Church there. Ireland was awash with atrocity stories, leading to proposals to form a crusade to protect the Church and fight against the democratic Republic.
In Ireland, the issue was presented in stark contrasts. Intermediate shades received little toleration. The Catholic church, arguably coming to the height of its conservatism, portrayed the war as a struggle between Christ and anti-Christ. Religion was under attack. Christian civilisation was mortally imperilled by the poison of communism. Innumerable sermons dinned home the dubious tenet that whatever opposed the onrush of communism was good. A joint pastoral of the Irish bishops firmly supported Franco.[2]
Encouraged by the Church hierarchy, Eoin O'Duffy, leader of the fascist NCP, started to recruit a brigade of Irish volunteers to fight in Spain in defence of the church. By late 1936 some 7,000 men had volunteered, of whom about 700 were selected, and in November 1936 these sailed to Spain, where they became the XV Bandera (battalion) of the Spanish Foreign Legion, or "Irish Brigade".
However, the Brigade became something of a political football: Franco was at first keen to have it, as a way of cementing control over the Requetes, the catholic monarchist militia of Navarre, but once this was achieved the brigade's presence was at odds with the Nationalists emphasis on "Spanishness". On the other hand, O'Duffy's purpose for the Brigade was not so much to support Spain as to enhance his own reputation in Ireland, and restore his political fortunes there.
Militarily the Brigade achieved little; in its first action, near Ciempozuelos in February 1937, the Brigade was involved in a friendly fire incident with a Falangist unit while advancing to the front. Four brigaders and 13 Falangists were killed in the exchange of fire.[3] Shortly after, at Titulcia in March 1937 the Brigade refused to advance after taking casualties and was withdrawn.[4] Later, months of inactivity in a quiet sector sapped morale and saw an erosion of discipline; the unit was finally sent home in July 1937.[5]
@tomlynn6900
For my Uncle Jimmy McGrath from the Shankill, gave his life in Spain for freedom.
@juancarandellrojo
All the gratitude to your uncle. A Hero who defend the Liberty and Democracy of muy country
@Tonylionar
From Greece we send our thoughts to those who lost their lives for humanity and freedom. This is a great song.
@miguelangelvalencia2632
Thanks to the Greece Brothers
@oliver69cork46
Humanity and freedom wouldn't exist after the Spanish civil war on the communist side either,same outcome both ways and it's the spanning people who were the real victims.
@ingenuitas
The people who lost their lives for humanity and freedom were the priests and nuns that the subhuman Republicans murdered. Christy Moore is one sick bastard for celebrating these murderers.
@gehteuchnixan5180
@@oliver69cork46 (I'm a little late to the party I know...) It's a common misconception that everyone "on the left" has roughly the same idea on how the world should be. In reality nothing could be further from the truth. The people who did most of the fighting against franco were mainly anarchists or more general antiauthoritarian leftists and communists. The soviet stalinists that rolled in later may have shared some ideas with them on who should own the production equipment (the workers), but when it comes to how a society should work they were super oppressive and authoritarian and very much the oppostive of the people on those barricades. Actually, stalinists murdered many anarchist fighters and other leaders of 1936, who opposed their particualr idea of "communism". I'm not saying that anarchist ideas were super realistic or perfect, but they certanly didn't plan to put millions of people into gulags for the "crime" of not agreeing with everything the oh-so-brilliant "communist" party came up with. Still today, people - some on purpose, many because they simply don't know - just throw everything "leftist" into one bucket. Saying that authoritarian communism and anarchism are the same cause they're both anti-capitalist and therefore "leftist" is like arguing that an eagle and an airplane are the same cause they both have wings.
P.S. I can really recommend to take a look at the "political compass". It divides political views not just on the economic position, but also on the authoritarian vs. libertarian axis. Still simplifies things of course, but in my opinion a much better explanation of the complex world of political views.
@oliver69cork46
@@gehteuchnixan5180 yes the Spanish civil was not so simple as as communism v fascism or indeed left v right. Whatever the result it'd have been similar for the Spanish people as they would suffer under both,certainly fascism as it turned out to be but also communism without doubt due to its poor economic record. Franco didn't really advance Spain being far too Conservative, exploited the church plus the wealthy but Spain didn't advance like Italy under mussolini or salazar in Portugal. Salazar despite being the better of a bad bunch advanced but was crippled also with Conservative policies,his idiotic and immoral colony policies discredited him. You're quite right about the different degrees of being left or indeed right. It's relevant today with all these accused of various extremes which for the most part is easy lazy minded labels attached by opponents. A socialist is called a communist by the more aggressive right whilst if you hold even mild Conservative views you're extreme right. The degrees have shifted,being right wing is usually labelled extreme right whilst being more socialist there are accusations of communism as far as anarchist. Those who fought in Spain,some were clueless about the intentions. Many condemn those on francos side from Ireland for example with their position of retrospective, knew some who didn't know anything about Franco,volunteered to go and fight communism only to realise years later how awful it turned out!! There are always people used in wars or campaigns politically. Communism promises so much but recreates authoritarianism like fascism and destroys freedom,it never worked nor ever will. We judge by today's standards and history,its easy. When I see here some calling this a song for freedom and humanity,I find it ironic or am I deluded or totally wrong. Democracy is best with modest left and right plus centrism too for balance but above all give people their liberty to choose-always
@sofimusnaiz
I'm spanish, thanks to all this men who came and try to help us, always grateful ❤❤
@saintjustx1
My uncle deserted from a belgian ship in Barcelona he died in guadalquivir They really came from all over the world I do rember them