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.
Delirious
Luka Bloom Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You loose the game
You keep your secrets
I wanna fly on a high trapeze
I get dizzy off my knees
Hope there is a dove waiting to fly with me
Because I know that shelf's no place for me to be
Stranger to a kiss
Sometimes
Delirious
I played hide and seek and found you
I brought a small bouquet to give you
Full of daydreams and cliches to please you
I'm such a novice at this
Forgive me, forgive me
Sometimes
Stranger to a kiss
Sometimes
Delirious
Sometimes
Stranger to a kiss
Sometimes
Delirious, delirious
I'll try a little harder every day, every day
To take in what you say to me
To give you what you want me to
To love you like I should do
Sometimes
Stranger to a kiss
Sometimes
Delirious
Sometimes
Stranger to a kiss
Sometimes
Delirious, delirious
Stranger to a kiss
Stranger to a kiss
Delirious
Delirious
Delirious
Delirious
The lyrics to Luka Bloom's song "Delirious" seem to be centered around the theme of taking risks in love and relationships. In the beginning of the song, Bloom suggests that playing it safe only leads to losing the game. He wants to take risks and fly, but feels trapped and weighed down by secrets and expectations. He also references the idea of being on a high trapeze, which evokes feelings of danger and excitement.
Throughout the song, Bloom seems to vacillate between feeling confident and "delirious" with passion for the person he is addressing, and feeling nervous and unsure of how to navigate the relationship. He acknowledges that he is a "novice" and is apologetic for not knowing how to express his feelings in the right way. He resolves to try harder to understand and love the other person better.
Overall, the song seems to be about the push and pull of passion and fear in relationships, and the struggle to find the right balance between safety and adventure.
Line by Line Meaning
You play safe
By being cautious, you limit your options and possibilities
You loose the game
If you don't take risks, you might miss out on opportunities and the chance to win
You keep your secrets
By not sharing your thoughts and emotions, you prevent deeper connections and trust from forming
I wanna fly on a high trapeze
I desire adventure and excitement that comes with taking bold risks
I get dizzy off my knees
My longing for something greater can make me feel powerless and overwhelmed
Hope there is a dove waiting to fly with me
I have faith that there is someone or something that shares my desire for freedom and exploration
Because I know that shelf's no place for me to be
Staying in a safe and stagnant place is not fulfilling or satisfying for me
Sometimes
Occasionally or on occasion
Stranger to a kiss
Feeling disconnected or unfamiliar with intimacy or romance
Delirious
Feeling out of control or overwhelmed, especially with strong emotions or sensations
I played hide and seek and found you
I sought after you and discovered you, like a game of hide and seek
I brought a small bouquet to give you
As a gesture of affection, I gave you a small gift
Full of daydreams and cliches to please you
The gift I gave you was filled with common and romantic motifs, in an attempt to make you happy
I'm such a novice at this
I am inexperienced or unfamiliar with navigating romantic relationships
Forgive me, forgive me
I beg for your forgiveness for my mistakes or shortcomings
I'll try a little harder every day, every day
I vow to work on improving our relationship with effort and dedication
To take in what you say to me
I will listen and pay attention to your thoughts and feelings
To give you what you want me to
I will prioritize your needs and desires over my own
To love you like I should do
I will offer you the love and care that is deserving of you
Stranger to a kiss
Feeling distant or unfamiliar with physical intimacy
Delirious, delirious
Feeling overwhelmed or out of control with emotions or sensations
Stranger to a kiss
Experiencing unfamiliarity or distance with intimacy or romance
Delirious, delirious
Feeling overwhelmed or out of control with emotions or sensations
Stranger to a kiss
Feeling disconnected or unfamiliar with intimacy or romance
Delirious, delirious
Feeling overwhelmed or out of control with emotions or sensations
Delirious
Feeling out of control or overwhelmed, especially with strong emotions or sensations
Contributed by Mila K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Walt Sherwood
THE most underrated musician in my 60+ years of listening to music, this man IMO was never taken seriously by the a-holes that run the music business. Unbelievable artist, and even better in concert; I've seen him three times ! And yes, thanks for posting his music sofievm, especially this tune !
Billkwando
Well, to be fair, most of his lyrics are pretty terrible. You can start from "Irishman in Chinatown" and work your way out. ACCHHH!!
joneshugh
No
Tomasz Rutkowski
@Paulie Hofmeester what is he dead?
Tomasz Rutkowski
Yes. From nellie louise.
Tomasz Rutkowski
V
Ronan Gallagher
I had the great pleasure of listening to this man play in my cafe when he walked in off the street one day and asked if he could do so. A real and unique talent! Ronan
Brian Smith
Where did that happen? Sounds like a movie scene.
Pittsburgh Nice Magazine
Wow!
tullowhill
Superb voice, superb guitar player. Glad to remember that we, in Ireland, produced original artists before westlife, boyzone and other crap came on the scene. But I guess bellx1, Mundy, Damien Rice & Paddy Casey are flying the flag to some degree. Rock on Luka