Ride on
Christy Moore Lyrics
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Standing 16 1" or 2" with eyes wild and green
And you ride the horse so well, hands light to the touch
I could never go with you no matter how I wanted to
Ride on, see you, I could never go with you
No matter how I wanted to
Run your claw along my gut one last time
I turn to face an empty space where once you used to lie
And look for a smile to light the night through a teardrop in my eye
Ride on, see you, I could never go with you
No matter how I wanted to
Christy Moore's song "Ride On" is a beautiful ballad about unrequited love, and the emotional turmoil that accompanies it. The singer is in awe of someone who they see as beyond their reach, symbolized by the image of a horse and its rider. The horse is "the finest" the singer has ever seen, with "eyes wild and green," and the rider navigates it with a seemingly effortless grace. The singer admires this person and is clearly infatuated with them, but acknowledges that they could never be with them. The repeated refrain of "Ride on, see you, I could never go with you / No matter how I wanted to" highlights their longing and sense of resignation.
In the second verse, we see the singer grappling with the aftermath of this one-sided love. The rider has left them behind, disappearing into the night "without a trace behind." The image of the rider running their "claw" along the singer's gut is a visceral one, evoking both pain and passion. This brief moment of contact is all that the singer has of their beloved, and it leaves them with an "empty space" where they used to lie. The last lines of the song are particularly poignant, as the singer simultaneously looks for some glimmer of hope ("a smile to light the night") while acknowledging the weight of their sadness ("through a teardrop in my eye").
Overall, "Ride On" is a powerful song that captures the essence of unrequited love. It is both a tribute to the object of affection and a lament for what cannot be. The vivid imagery and haunting melody make it a memorable piece of music that resonates with listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
True you ride the finest horse I've ever seen
It's a fact that you ride the most magnificent horse I've ever laid eyes on
Standing 16 1" or 2" with eyes wild and green
The horse stands tall at either 16 1 inch or 2 inches with its eyes fiercely green and untamed
And you ride the horse so well, hands light to the touch
You ride the horse with such skill and ease that your hands barely touch it
I could never go with you no matter how I wanted to
It's impossible for me to join you on your journey no matter how much I wish I could
Ride on, see you, I could never go with you
Continue onward, I acknowledge and bid farewell as I accept that I can't follow you
When you ride into the night without a trace behind
As you ride away into the darkness, leaving nothing behind you
Run your claw along my gut one last time
Cling to me tightly one more time before leaving me feeling as if I've been clawed inside
I turn to face an empty space where once you used to lie
I look towards the space where you used to rest and find that it's now empty
And look for a smile to light the night through a teardrop in my eye
I search for a glimmer of hope to illuminate the darkness and soothe the tears in my eyes
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JIMMY MACCARTHY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Griz 123
True you ride the finest horse I've ever seen
Standing sixteen one or two with eyes wild and green
You ride the horse so well hands light to the touch
I could never go with you no matter how I wanted to
Ride on, see you
I could never go with you no matter how I wanted to
Ride on, see you
I could never go with you no matter how I wanted to
When you ride into the night without a trace behind
Run your claw along my gut, one last time
I turn to face an empty space, where you used to lie
And look for a spark that lights the night
Through a teardrop in my eye
Ride on, see you
I could never go with you no matter how I wanted to
Ride on, see you
I could never go with you no matter how I wanted to
Armagan Mirzanli
Doğru, en güzel atı sürüyorsun
Şimdiye dek gördüğüm
On altı el, 1-2 inçlik bir dev *
Gözleri vahşi ve yeşil
Ve öyle güzel sürüyorsun ki atı
Ellerin ışıldıyor ona dokundukça
Ama asla seninle gelemezdim
Ne kadar istesem de
Sür atını, görüşmek üzere
Asla seninle gelemezdim
Ne kadar istesem de
Sür atını, görüşmek üzere
Asla seninle gelemezdim
Ne kadar istesem de
Ve geceye doğru sürdüğünde atını
Arkanda hiçbir iz bırakmadan
Pençeni bağırsaklarıma geçir
Son bir kez daha
Döneceğim ve göreceğim ki yattığın yer
Bomboş karşımda
Ve gülümseyeceğim
Geceyi aydınlatan kıvılcıma doğru
Gözümde bir damla yaşa
Sür atını, görüşmek üzere
Asla seninle gelemezdim
Ne kadar istesem de
Ne kadar istesem de
* İnç kullanılan ülkelerde atların boyu el (4 inç) cinsinden, ön toynaktan omuzlara kadar ölçülüyor.
Çeviri: Selim Şumlu (Mart 2011)
Sheila Mckillop
My dad died when I was young and he loved Christy, whenever this song plays it reminds me of him and it brings tears to my eyes.. oh how I miss him.
Lukey P
Look after yourself. I'm sure he'd be proud.
Ellen
My dad died when I was 23 and away at uni, I spoke to him on the phone a few weeks earlier, I didn't know he was ill and never really got to say goodbye. Beautiful song but also makes me cry everytime
Mr B VR
I really liked reading your comment.
Take care,
Rhys Smullen
My dad used to sing this to my mum, he was killed on the road when I was 2 years old 21 years ago this song makes me think of him too
Jonathan Benjamin Ward
My little brothers funeral... Beautiful
Gordon g
I heard this at a pub, performed by a group that would gather each week at this pub in ballybunion, and was stunned by the haunting beauty of it. I had never realized the sheer beauty and elegance of Irish folk music. Incredible night and this was the high point for me.
Richard Tattersall
I'd say this is Christy's finest song who agree's??
Disco1000
I can’t think that far ahead, too many emotions and water in eyes now
Khatru Siberian
I wholeheartedly agree! I actually cried the first time I heard it! Another song I think is equally beautiful is Man of the world, written by Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac.