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.
Yellow Furze Woman
Christy Moore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
(outro verse same shape and melody as )
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 Yellow Furze Woman are a tribute to the wisdom of a woman that the singer met while walking near the town of Yellow Furze. This woman speaks of the beauty of nature and the need to protect it, singing songs about the wonders of the world and how nature provides bounty in abundance. She sings of the forests, the water, and the air that we breathe, and also speaks of how the mightiest oak tree grows from a tiny seed. The woman has a never-ending dream to create a better world, shining a light on herself and all those around her. She sings of the homeless street children from Sao Paolo who never learned to smile and of the shrine built in honor of Chico Mendez, where plantation workers laid his body in the soil. She also talks of the greed and selfishness that we often display before our altars, leading to the death of many creatures, including the oil-soaked cormorant. The song ends with the woman singing of the eagle soaring above the mountains, the otter swimming in streams, and the lilies blooming in the vast lands, reminding us of the various wonders of the world that we must strive to protect.
Line by Line Meaning
I met a wise and holy woman near the town where I was walkin'
I encountered an enlightened woman of great wisdom while strolling near a town.
We both sat together down below the Yellow Furze
We spoke while sitting beneath the Yellow Furze.
She closed her eyes and started singing
As she shut her eyes, she began to sing.
A song about the light that shines and the wonders of the world
She sang a tune regarding the marvels of the world and the radiance that shines within it.
She sang of the forests on the high high mountain
Her song encapsulated the grandeur of forests atop the towering mountain.
The pure clear water and the fresh air we breathe
Her melody conveyed the sublime quality of fresh air and the crystal-clear water we inhale and consume.
Of the bounty we gain from nature's abundance
She highlighted how nature's plenitude bestows gifts upon us.
And how the mighty oak tree grows from a little seed
Lastly, she illustrated how a small seed leads to the colossal oak tree's growth.
She had an everlasting notion
The wise woman's outlook was unchanging and permanent.
The wise and holy woman had a neverending dream
Her unwavering aspiration persisted indefinitely.
As she called out to the stars glistening on the ocean
She invoked the brilliance of the ocean's shimmering stars.
Shine a light, shine a light on me
She requested illumination to reveal enlightenment.
She sang a song from the streets of Sao Paolo
She performed a piece that recounted the streets of Sao Paolo.
For the homeless street children who never learned to smile
This song was for those unfortunate, destitute street children who had never smiled.
She sang of the shrine they built to Chico Mendez
Her ballad included the shrine built to Chico Mendez.
Where the plantation workers laid his body in the soil
It recounted the spot where the plantation laborers had interred Chico Mendez's corpse.
She sang of the greed we display before our altars
Her lyrics talked about the covetousness we exhibit before our religious altars.
The oil soaked cormorant drowning in the tide
A cadaverous, oily cormorant floundering in the waves, was another point highlighted in her song.
She sang of the halting site way out beyond Clondalkin
Her tune touched on the place beyond Clodalkin called a halting site.
Where Ann Maughan froze to death between the dump and the railway line
That's where Ann Maughan died from freezing between the dump and the railway line.
She sang of the eagle flying high above the mountain
Her voice carried the story of an eagle soaring above the mountain.
The otter that swam through rivers and streams
She exalted the otter peacefully paddling through streams and rivers.
Of the lilies that bloomed and the countless wild flowers
Her words was about innumerable wildflowers and dazzling lilies.
And the rainbow that rose in the valley of tears.
Lastly, she symbolized hope by mentioning the rainbow that emerged in a vale of grief and tears.
Writer(s): William Augustine Page, Christy Moore
Contributed by Nathaniel E. 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