In order to avoid the pressure of being related to Christy Moore, Bloom adopted his pseudonym. "Luka" is taken from the title of Suzanne Vega's song "Luka" about child abuse and "Bloom" refers to the main character in James Joyce's Ulysses. Bloom is, however, very forthcoming about being Moore's brother and does not hide behind his stage name.
Luka Bloom's style of guitar playing is very distinctive and is generally referred to as "electro-acoustic". In his early career as Barry Moore, Bloom used a fingerpicking style. However, tendonitis in his hands forced him to adopt a strumming style which is the one he still uses and is often credited with his success.
He began his career in the United States playing small clubs in Washington DC and later in New York City. He was a frequent performer in New York's Greenwich Village--at the Lion's Den (a center for American folk music in the early Sixties), and at the Red Lion, where he played with Eileen Ivers backing him on fiddle, during his "Irishman in Chinatown" tour. (Ivers would also appear on the Riverside album.)
He toured America frequently through the Nineties, although his contemporary touring schedules take him mostly to Europe. He remarked during his 2006 US tour that he has grown fond of playing in Eastern Europe, "now that I don't need a work visa."
His early albums showcased his frenetic strumming style, including "Delirious" the debut track on Riverside, and his penchant for thoughtful cover songs, an affinity that he maintains even in more recent work. Released in 2000, Keeper of the Flame was an album of cover versions, featuring renditions of ABBA's Dancing Queen, Bob Marley's Natural Mystic and the Hunters and Collectors' Throw Your Arms Around Me among others. Bloom had previously covered LL Cool J's I Need Love and Elvis Presley's Can't Help Falling In Love on the album The Acoustic Motorbike. Bloom is often heard to remark in concert about Natural Mystic that "...there are considerable similarities between Jamaicans and Irishmen".
Bloom's 2004 acoustic mini-album, Before Sleep Comes, was recorded while Bloom was recovering from tendonitis. Bloom stated the purpose of the album was "to help bring you closer to sleep, our sometimes elusive night-friend."
Bloom released his most recent album Innocence in 2005. Many of the songs feature a new found interest in Eastern European gypsy music and othe World music. In his previous work, he relied on steel-stringed guitars that created his distinctive style. His aubergine and yellow guitars were often introduced by name at gigs. The most recent album features a more classical guitar and the resonant plucking associated with that style of instrument.
Black Is The Colour
Luka Bloom Lyrics
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Her lips are like some rose so fair
She has the sweetest smile and the gentlest hands
Oh, I love the ground whereon she stands
I love my love, and well she knows
I love the ground whereon she goes
I wish the day it soon might come
Black is the colour of my true love's hair
Her lips are like some rose so fair
She has the sweetest smile and the gentlest hands
Oh, I love the ground whereon she stands
I'll go to the Clyde and mourn and weep
Where satisfied I never shall be
Write her a letter, just a few short lines
And suffer death 10,000 times
Black is the colour of my true love's hair
Her lips are like some rose so fair
She has the sweetest smile and the gentlest hands
Oh, I love the ground whereon she stands
The song "Black is the Colour" is a traditional folk song that has been covered by many artists over the years. The lyrics describe the singer's deep love and admiration for a woman with black hair and rose-like lips, whom he desires to be with forever. The song is structured as a series of verses that repeat the same melody, with slight variations in the lyrics. Each verse builds upon the previous one, telling a story of unrequited love and longing.
The first verse introduces the woman with black hair and rose lips, describing her as having the sweetest smile and gentlest hands. The singer loves her deeply and adores the ground upon which she stands. The next verse repeats these sentiments, emphasizing the singer's unending devotion to his love.
In the third verse, the singer expresses his desire for the day when he and his love can be together as one. The fourth verse takes a darker turn, with the singer mourning and weeping by the river Clyde. He writes a letter to his love expressing his love for her and willingness to suffer for her, even if it means death.
Line by Line Meaning
Black is the colour of my true love's hair
My true love's hair is black and beautiful, and this physical attribute is symbolic of her inner qualities and the depth of her love for me.
Her lips are like some rose so fair
Her lips are as soft and delicate as the petals of a rose, and they exude a similar beauty and sweetness.
She has the sweetest smile and the gentlest hands
My true love's smile brightens my day and her hands are always kind and gentle, both of which reflect the goodness of her heart.
Oh, I love the ground whereon she stands
The very land that my true love walks on is dear to me, as it is touched by her presence and is a reminder of the love I have for her.
I love my love, and well she knows
My love for her is true and unabashed, and she is aware of the depth and sincerity of my feelings for her.
I love the ground whereon she goes
Every step my true love takes is important to me, and I cherish the places she goes, knowing that her presence lingers in the air around her.
I wish the day it soon might come
I eagerly await the day when we can be together, enjoying the bliss of each other's company and the fulfillment of our love.
When she and I might be as one
Our love is so strong and pure that we long to merge and become one, living in perfect harmony and devotion.
I'll go to the Clyde and mourn and weep
If I cannot be with my true love, I will go to a place of sorrow and let my tears flow, feeling the pain of separation and longing.
Where satisfied I never shall be
Even if I try to find contentment elsewhere, nothing can compare to the joy and completeness I feel when I am with my true love.
Write her a letter, just a few short lines
Even though I cannot be with her, I will express my love and longing through a letter, hoping that my words can somehow bring us closer.
And suffer death 10,000 times
The pain of being apart from my true love feels like a thousand deaths, and I would endure it over and over again for even a moment of her company.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LUKA BLOOM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind