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.
Where I Come From
Christy Moore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
were I get the sap and I get the sauce, and I hear the Curraghs sing,
were the heather and the moss grow, and the turf lies row after row,
out there for the sun to dry, I breath it in as I walk on by,
were the kids and the dogs muck in to gather, bringing home the turf,
no matter what the weather.
I'm a bogman, deep down, it's were I come from
I'm walking along the seashore, in a distant land, dreaming of Baronstown, Bride, frank and nan,
I put the saddle on the pony in the corner field, and I canter down the lane,
I was heading for the yellow bog, and sonny was on the slane, he was cutting deep into the turf,
he was pegging it on up high, neddy was catching it on the bank, and Gary was spreading it out to dry,
they're footing it, theyre cutting it, they're clamping it together, they're bringing home the turf no matter what the weather
And when they heard the Milltown bell ring out, they turfmen paused to pray,
bridies coming down the meadow with the billy cans of tae, and nanny got the basket on her arm
to feed them hungry men, the Dowling girls are on the bog in the heat of the midday sun,
I'm dreaming, dreaming, of the jet black lawn, the roots of the long haul journey men kept calling me back home,
from way out west in Canada, from deep down in Geelong, to the yellow bog in Alanwood, the place were I belong
The song "Where I Come From" by Christy Moore is a powerful tribute to the singer's Irish roots and the community he grew up in. In the first verse, he sings about a place near Alanwood where Johnny Doyle is king, a reference to a real person who was a prominent figure in the local community. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the boglands, where turf is harvested and the heather and moss grow. Moore's pride in his roots is palpable as he describes the kids and dogs mucking in to gather the turf, no matter what the weather. He identifies with this community and refers to himself as a "bogman," declaring that it's where he comes from.
The second verse finds the singer walking along a seashore in a distant land, dreaming of his hometown of Baronstown, Bride, Frank, and Nan. He puts a saddle on a pony in the corner field and canters down the lane, heading for the yellow bog. As he approaches, he sees Sonny cutting deep into the turf, Neddy catching it on the bank, and Gary spreading it out to dry. The community effort involved in turf harvesting is celebrated in the lyrics, with everyone footing it, cutting it, clamping it together, and bringing it home. Even the sound of the Milltown bell ringing out prompts a pause for prayer among the turfmen, and the women bring billy cans of tea and baskets of food to feed the workers.
The song is a poignant tribute to Irish rural life and the sense of community that is found in these places. Despite its specific references to a particular time and place, the sentiments expressed in the song are universal and will resonate with anyone who has a deep attachment to their hometown or community.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a beautiful place near Alanwood, were Johnny Doyle is king,
There's a picturesque location close to Alanwood where Johnny Doyle rules supreme
were I get the sap and I get the sauce, and I hear the Curraghs sing,
Where I'm able to extract the essence of nature and its harmonious resonance
were the heather and the moss grow, and the turf lies row after row,
Where the natural flora thrives and the fuel source lies in an organized manner
out there for the sun to dry, I breath it in as I walk on by,
Exposed under the sunlight, the natural fuel fills my lungs as I stride along
were the kids and the dogs muck in to gather, bringing home the turf,
Where both the children and canine companions assist in collecting and transporting the fuel source
no matter what the weather.
Without regard to the climatic conditions
I'm a bogman, deep down, it's were I come from
At my core, I'm a resident of the bog
I'm walking along the seashore, in a distant land, dreaming of Baronstown, Bride, frank and nan,
I strolling beside the sea in a far-off territory, reminiscing about Baronstown, Bride, Frank, and Nan
I put the saddle on the pony in the corner field, and I canter down the lane,
I prepare the pony for riding in the field and gallop down the lane
I was heading for the yellow bog, and sonny was on the slane, he was cutting deep into the turf,
I was en route to the yellow bog while observing Sonny slice deep into the fuel source
he was pegging it on up high, neddy was catching it on the bank, and Gary was spreading it out to dry,
Sonny was heaping it high, while Neddy secured it on the edge, and Gary stretched it out to dry
they're footing it, theyre cutting it, they're clamping it together, they're bringing home the turf no matter what the weather
They're trampling it down, dividing it into smaller pieces, bundling it together, and transporting it home despite any inclement conditions
And when they heard the Milltown bell ring out, they turfmen paused to pray,
Upon hearing the Milltown bell chime, the fuel source workers halt to pray
bridies coming down the meadow with the billy cans of tae, and nanny got the basket on her arm
Bridie traverses the meadow with tea-filled containers, while Nanny carries a basket on her arm
to feed them hungry men, the Dowling girls are on the bog in the heat of the midday sun,
To satiate the hunger of the laboring males, the Dowling female workforce toils under the sweltering midday sun
I'm dreaming, dreaming, of the jet black lawn, the roots of the long haul journey men kept calling me back home,
I'm daydreaming about the inky black fuel source, and my passion for it continues to beckon me back home from far-off lands that require perseverance to reach.
from way out west in Canada, from deep down in Geelong, to the yellow bog in Alanwood, the place were I belong
From the westernmost point in Canada, to the depths of Geelong, to Alanwood's yellow bog, that's where I feel at home
Contributed by Noah I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@margaretshaw3842
I loved the Dubliners, won't ever be the same again without their lead singer, so very sorry to hear this bad news.
@Stratman389
Great!