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.
Cool Breeze
Luka Bloom Lyrics
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To where the island disappears and the sea begins
It was new year's eve at the mountainside
On the winding road that slopes down to where Frankie lies
I stood still and stared down at the clay
Waiting for sorrow I started to pray
Ah but Errigal was wrapped up in brilliant white snow
I stood before the mountain waiting for sorrow
But the waves kept time and I let go
Go..... go.....
Go..... go..... to where the cool breeze sighs
Go..... go..... to where your flute tones rise
Go..... go..... to where Errigal's in your eyes
We hear your grace notes they fill our nights
We miss you too much but it's all right
It's all right, it's all right
We know you're all right now, Frankie
I waited for darkness to torture my mind
But the Atlantic waves banged out a rhythm behind
I saw his fresh face with that killer smile
The flute up to his lips and in his own style
Eyes closed he took me to his wonderland
And the waves kept time on the Donegal strand
I stood before the mountain waiting for sorrow
But the waves kept time and I let go
We know you're all right now, Frankie
I walked through the hailstones and the merciless wind
To where the island disappears and the sea begins...
The song "Cool Breeze" by Luka Bloom explores the themes of grief, loss, and acceptance. The singer of the song appears to be taking a journey to a place where they feel a connection to someone who has passed away. They describe walking through hailstones and merciless wind to reach the location where "Frankie lies," suggesting that they may be visiting a gravesite. Despite the somber setting, the singer is struck by the beauty of their surroundings. They describe the snow-covered Errigal mountain and the smoke rising from turf fires in Bunbeg bungalows.
As the waves crash on the shore, the singer begins to let go of their grief. They mention waiting for sorrow to overtake them, but instead, they find themselves swept up in the music of Frankie's flute. The image of Frankie's fresh face with his killer smile and the music that he is playing are enough to transport the singer to what they call his "wonderland." The waves on the shore become a comforting presence, keeping time with the music and helping the singer to release their grief. The song ends with the acknowledgement that Frankie is gone but that it's all right, and that his music lives on.
Overall, the lyrics of "Cool Breeze" are a poignant reminder that grief and loss are complex emotions that cannot always be predicted or controlled. The beauty of the natural world and the power of music can help us to find peace and acceptance in difficult times.
Line by Line Meaning
I walked through the hailstones and the merciless wind
I braved tough weather and made my way through to my destination
To where the island disappears and the sea begins
To the point where the land ends and the sea starts
It was new year's eve at the mountainside
The time was New Year's Eve and I was on the side of a mountain
On the winding road that slopes down to where Frankie lies
On a road that twists and goes downhill towards the place where Frankie is buried
I stood still and stared down at the clay
I stopped and looked at the dirt
Waiting for sorrow I started to pray
Expecting to feel sad, I began to pray
Ah but Errigal was wrapped up in brilliant white snow
But the mountain Errigal was covered in stunning white snow
Smoke rose from the turf fires of Bunbeg bungalows
Smoke from the fires made from peat in the houses of Bunbeg rose up
I stood before the mountain waiting for sorrow
I stood facing the mountain, waiting to feel sad
But the waves kept time and I let go
But the waves in the background kept time and made me let go of my sadness
Go..... go.....
Leave, go
Go..... go..... to where the cool breeze sighs
Go to a place where there's a pleasant breeze
Go..... go..... to where your flute tones rise
Go to a place where you can hear the sound of your flute playing
Go..... go..... to where Errigal's in your eyes
Go to a place where you can see the mountain Errigal
We hear your grace notes they fill our nights
We can hear the beautiful sounds that Frankie played and they bring us comfort at night
We miss you too much but it's all right
We miss you greatly, but things are okay
We know you're all right now, Frankie
We know that Frankie is at peace now
I waited for darkness to torture my mind
I expected the darkness to make me sad
But the Atlantic waves banged out a rhythm behind
But the waves of the Atlantic ocean made a loud noise in the background
I saw his fresh face with that killer smile
I pictured Frankie's youthful face with his charming smile
The flute up to his lips and in his own style
Frankie had his flute up to his mouth, playing in his own unique way
Eyes closed he took me to his wonderland
With his eyes closed, he brought me to a magical place through his playing
And the waves kept time on the Donegal strand
And the waves kept a rhythm on the shoreline of Donegal
Contributed by Samantha N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.