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.
Wise And Holy Woman
Christy Moore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I met a wise and holy woman near the town where I was walkin'
We both sat together down below the Yellow Furze
She closed her eyes and started singing
A song about the light that shines and the wonders of the world
She sang of the forests on the high high mountain
The pure clear water and the fresh air we breathe
Of the bounty we gain from natures abundance
And how the mighty oak tree grows from a little seed
Chorus:
She had an everlasting notion
The wise and holy woman had a neverending dream
As she called out to the stars glistening on the ocean
Shine a light , shine a light on me
She sang a song from the streets of San Paolo
For the homeless street children who never learned to smile
She sang of the shrine they built to Chico Mendez
Where the plantation workers laid his body in the soil
She sang of the greed we display before our altars
The oil soaked cormorant drowning in the tide
She sang of the halting site way out beyond Clondalkin
Where Ann Maughan froze to death between the dump and the railway line
Chorus
(outro versesame shape and melody as chorus)
She sang of the eagle flying high above the mountain
The otter that swam through rivers and streams
Of the lilies that bloomed and the countless wild flowers
...and the rainbow that rose in the valley of tears.
The lyrics of Christy Moore's song "Wise and Holy Woman" tell the story of the singer meeting a wise and holy woman while walking near a town. Together they sit down below the Yellow Furze and the woman starts singing a song about the beauty of the world and the light that shines. She sings about the forests on the high mountains, the fresh air we breathe, the bounty we gain from nature's abundance, and how the mighty oak tree grows from a little seed. The chorus speaks of the woman's everlasting notion, never-ending dream, and how she calls out to the stars to shine a light on her.
The wise and holy woman continues singing about the reality of life on the streets and the homeless street children who never learned to smile. She sings about the shrine built to Chico Mendez where the plantation workers laid his body in the soil. She sings about the greed we display before our altars and the oil-soaked cormorant drowning in the tide. The halting site way out beyond Clondalkin is the next mentioned topic, where a woman named Ann Maughan froze to death between the dump and the railway line. The song ends with the woman singing about the eagle and the otter that swim through the rivers and streams, the lilies that bloom, the countless wildflowers, and the rainbow that rises in the valley of tears.
Overall, the song talks about the beauty and wonder of the world and our responsibility to take care of it. It also highlights the reality of the struggles faced by vulnerable people and the negative impact of human greed on nature. The wise and holy woman can be seen as a symbol of hope and inspiration, calling out for a better world and shining a light to guide us towards it.
Line by Line Meaning
I met a wise and holy woman near the town where I was walkin'
I encountered a woman who was wise and saintly while walking near the town.
We both sat together down below the Yellow Furze
The two of us sat down together below the Yellow Furze.
She closed her eyes and started singing
She closed her eyes and began to sing.
A song about the light that shines and the wonders of the world
It was a song about the brilliance of the world and its marvels.
She sang of the forests on the high high mountain
She sang about the forests on the highest mountain.
The pure clear water and the fresh air we breathe
She mentioned the pure, crystal-clear water and the unpolluted air we breathe.
Of the bounty we gain from natures abundance
She talked about the benefits we get from the wealth of nature.
And how the mighty oak tree grows from a little seed
She explained how a small seed can grow into a large, mighty oak tree.
Chorus: She had an everlasting notion
The refrain states that she believed in an eternal idea.
The wise and holy woman had a neverending dream
The wise and holy woman had an endless vision.
As she called out to the stars glistening on the ocean
She called out to the sparkling stars over the ocean.
Shine a light , shine a light on me
She asked for the light to shine on her, illuminating her path.
She sang a song from the streets of San Paolo
She sang a song from the streets of San Paolo.
For the homeless street children who never learned to smile
She sang it for the street children who were homeless and had never smiled.
She sang of the shrine they built to Chico Mendez
She talked about the shrine they had erected to Chico Mendez.
Where the plantation workers laid his body in the soil
The plantation workers had laid his body to rest there.
She sang of the greed we display before our altars
She sang of our greed, which we exhibit before our altars.
The oil soaked cormorant drowning in the tide
She lamented the oil-soaked cormorant, now drowning in the tide.
She sang of the halting site way out beyond Clondalkin
She sang about the halting site outside of the town of Clondalkin.
Where Ann Maughan froze to death between the dump and the railway line
Ann Maughan had died from freezing there, in between the dump and the railway line.
Chorus
The refrain repeats itself, highlighting her everlasting notion or vision again.
(outro) She sang of the eagle flying high above the mountain
As the song ends, she sings about the eagle soaring above the mountains.
The otter that swam through rivers and streams
She mentions the otter swimming through the streams and rivers.
Of the lilies that bloomed and the countless wild flowers
She remembered the lilies that blossomed and the infinite wildflowers.
...and the rainbow that rose in the valley of tears.
And she sang about the rainbow that emerged in the valley of tears.
Contributed by Kaylee M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@bryanoooopj
I met a woman near the town where I was walkin’
We both sat together down below the Yellow Furze
She closed her eyes and started singing
A song about the light that shines and the wonders of the world
She sang of the forests on the high high mountain
The pure clear water and the fresh air we breathe
Of the bounty we gain from natures abundance
And how the mighty oak tree grows from a little seed
Chorus:
She had an everlasting notion
The wise and holy woman had a neverending dream
As she called out to the stars glistening on the ocean
Shine a light , shine a light on me
She sang a song from the streets of Sao Paolo
For the homeless street children who never learned to smile
She sang of the shrine they built to Chico Mendez
Where the plantation workers laid his body in the soil
She sang of the greed we display before our altars
The oil soaked cormorant drowning in the tide
She sang of the halting site way out beyond Clondalkin
Where Ann Maughan froze to death between the dump and the railway line
Chorus
(outro verse same shape and melody as chorus)
She sang of the eagle flying high above the mountain
The otter that swam through rivers and streams
Of the lilies that bloomed and the countless wild flowers
and the rainbow that rose in the valley of tears.
@George-rs4zz
The man is a Irish legend 🙌 go on Christy ya boya up the Irish 💚
@McFraneth
Wow. Flying. Gazing out the window and flying, seeing the tale you weave. Transmogrifying, hypnotic Christy. The Celtic griot.
@goaway2803
Thank you for a lovely example of your wonderful skills. I so wish you could tour Australia. Take care of yourself and your family please, Mate
@iarlaithohara4943
100% I live in Melbourne and would pay any money for this man
@irishfield1
Gorgeous singing and song so much beautiful and so well done ever Christy and Declan Both so amazing thank you Both
@francishatton6683
Amazing singer , writer of songs that actually mean something. First class.
@TheZeusIsHere1
Ride on Christy, ride on
@folkpine
I want an album of this whole performance
@ulrikeklein34
Great song. Such an amazing musician. I love his music! 🎶☘💚
@johnfraser1623
God bless Christy Moore x