In a career dating back to the 1960s, Moore played with artists including Phil Lynott and Brian Downey during his teens, leading him to membership with the Irish rock band Thin Lizzy on three separate occasions. Moore shared the stage with such blues and rock luminaries as B.B. King, Albert King, Colosseum II, George Harrison, Greg Lake and Skid Row (not to be confused with the hard rock band of the same name), as well as having a successful solo career. He guested on a number of albums recorded by high profile musicians, including a cameo appearance playing the lead guitar solo on "She's My Baby" from Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3.
Moore died of a heart attack in his hotel room while on holiday in Estepona, Spain, in February 2011
Philip Parris "Phil" Lynott (20 August 1949 – 4 January 1986) was an Irish musician who first came to prominence as a founding member, principal songwriter, and frontman of the Irish rock band Thin Lizzy. As leader of the band, Lynott's vocals and bass guitar were a key element in the commercial success of thirteen albums, in addition to a string of hit songs. Lynott also embarked upon a solo career, published two books of poetry, and after Thin Lizzy disbanded, he assembled and fronted the band Grand Slam, of which he was a member until his death in January 1986 at the age of 36.
Phil regularly collaborated with former bandmate blues/rock guitarist Gary Moore on a number of tracks including the singles "Out in the Fields" (a No. 5 UK hit in 1985), his highest-charting single ever, "Parisienne Walkways" (a UK no. 8 hit in 1978), "Back On The Streets" and "Spanish Guitar" in 1979.
Spanish Guitar
Gary Moore & Phil Lynott Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My Spanish guitar
Underneath the stars,
It passes the time away.
Each note I play
Is a memory of Spain,
The melodies they take me
So as I sit here and play
On my old Spanish guitar,
Each note I play
Just sails away.
And it brings me closer
To that Spanish senorita.
Oh, she's so far away.
As I sit here and play
Underneath the stars,
It passes the time away
And brings me closer
To my Spanish holiday.
In Gary Moore's song "Spanish Guitar," the lyrics tell a story of a music lover sitting and playing his old Spanish guitar under the stars. The song is filled with the memories of Spain, each note a reminiscence of the melodies that take him back to that exotic land. The guitarist longs for a Spanish senorita who is far away and can only be brought near to him by the music of his guitar. As he sits and plays, the music passes the time and brings him closer to his Spanish holiday, giving him the feeling of being back in Spain once again.
The lyrics of "Spanish Guitar" are a beautiful ode to the power of music to transport us to different times and places. Though the guitarist is physically far away from Spain and the senorita he longs for, the memories and melodies of his guitar bring him closer to them. The song is a celebration of the beauty and power of music to evoke deep emotions, transport us to different places, and connect us to people and memories that we love.
Line by Line Meaning
As I sit here and play
Starting the song by describing the act of playing Spanish guitar.
My Spanish guitar
Referring to the specific type of guitar being played, a Spanish guitar.
Underneath the stars,
Creating the setting of the scene, playing the guitar outside at night.
It passes the time away.
Describing how playing the guitar helps with time management, and can make time seem to pass quicker.
Each note I play
Referring to the individual pitches played on the guitar.
Is a memory of Spain,
Reflecting on how the specific style of music played evokes memories of Spain, the culture and the people.
The melodies they take me
Explaining how the melodies played on the guitar have a personally nostalgic effect.
Back there again.
Further emphasizing the sentimental longing for the Spain that the guitar music inspires.
So as I sit here and play
Reiterating the opening lyrics, setting up for another reflection on the power of the music being played.
On my old Spanish guitar,
Giving more detail to the instrument itself, adding a sentimental value to it being an old guitar by having lived and played with it for a long time.
Each note I play
Returning to how each pitch played holds a sentimental memory for the player.
Just sails away.
Describing the feeling of the music moving past, much like a boat sailing on water, representing the musician leaving the present moment.
And it brings me closer
Connecting the Spanish guitar music being played to a romantic relationship with a 'Spanish senorita'.
To that Spanish senorita.
Expressing the feeling of longing for this partner who is far away, only able to be connected with through memories of the culture and music of Spain.
Oh, she's so far away.
Continuing to lament how physically distant the relationship is, and that the musician can only get closer to his partner through music.
As I sit here and play
Returning to the description of playing the guitar outside, now with added context of why it's meaningful for the musician to do so.
Underneath the stars,
Repeating the setting of the scene, playing guitar outside at night with the stars overhead.
It passes the time away
Reiterating how playing the guitar serves as a way to lose track of time and pass the hours.
And brings me closer
Similar to before, music serves as a way to describe the feeling of nostalgia for the romantic partner, only able to be connected through memories of the culture and music of Spain.
To my Spanish holiday.
The finale of the song brings together the themes of nostalgia and longing, expressing that playing the guitar on a starry night creates a connection to a past holiday in Spain, and a longing for those times and the people experienced during the trip.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: GARY (GB MOORE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind