After a concert in 2005, the group was spotted by Jérôme Deschamps and Macha Makeïeff, who would later co-produced their first album with Naïve Records. At the same time, they won the Prix Paris Jeunes Talents.
The group was noticed during a concert at the Printemps de Bourges in 2006 and 2007. Jimmy, the first single from their first album Gee Whiz But This is A Lonesome Town (2007), was a success which allowed Moriarty to play at La Cigale. The album sold more than 50,000 copies in a few months and was certified gold a year after its release. The group went on a long tour that took them to Canada, Switzerland, Spain, Germany, and England.
In 2008, Moriarty performed at the Soliday festival, Eurockéennes de Belfort, Francofolies de La Rochelle, and Fête de l'Humanité.
The group takes its inspiration from traditional Celtic music, country, and blues.
The group plays around one microphone during their concerts.
En 2008, Moriarty was one of 10 artists nominated for the Constantin prize.
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Saint James Infirmary
Moriarty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On the corner by the square,
Drinks were being served as usual,
And a goodly crowd was there.
When up stepped old Joe McGuinny
His eyes were bloodshot red,
As he poured himself more whiskey,This is what he said,
I went down to the Saint James Infirmary
I saw my baby there,
Stretched out on a cold white table,
So sweet, so cold, so fair.
So let her go, let her go, God bless her,
Wherever she may be
She may search this wide world over
But she'll never find a sweet man like me.
When I die, want you to dress me in straight laced shoes
A box back coat and a Stetson hat,
Put a twenty-dollar gold piece on my watch chain
So the boys know I died standin' pat.
There are sixteen cold black horses,
Hitched to her rubber tired hack,
There are seven women goin' to that graveyard,
And only six of 'em are coming back.
Now that you've heard my story,
Pour me one more shot of booze,
And if anyone comes askin' about me,
Tell 'em I got, Saint James Infirmary blues.
The song "Saint James Infirmary" is a blues song that tells a story of a man who goes to a barroom where he hears the news of his lover's death. He is in shock and grief. The lyrics describe how he proceeded to visit the St. James Infirmary to see his love one last time. The scene is painted elegantly as the man describes the sight of his love lying on a cold white table, so sweet, so cold, and so fair. He then mourns his loss in a melancholic refrain, asking for God's blessings on her wherever she may be. The tune captures the suffering and loss of someone who's lost a dear one, and yet, it does so beautifully.
The following verse talks about the man's requests for his funeral, asking his companions to dress him in a box back coat, straight laced shoes, and a Stetson hat, with a twenty-dollar gold piece on his watch chain so the boys know he died standing pat. The last verse is somewhat cryptic and features a funeral procession, signaling the end of the story. The song ends with the man ordering one more shot of booze, preparing to face whatever may come his way.
Line by Line Meaning
It was down in Old Joe's barroom,
The singer is sharing a story that happened in a bar called Old Joe's.
On the corner by the square,
The bar is located on a corner of a square, which might suggest it's a busy area.
Drinks were being served as usual,
There were people in the bar drinking alcohol, which is the norm for the place.
And a goodly crowd was there.
There was a large number of people at the bar.
When up stepped old Joe McGuinny
A person named Joe McGuinny appeared and approached the artist.
His eyes were bloodshot red,
Joe's eyes were red, probably due to drinking too much.
As he poured himself more whiskey,
Joe continued to drink more whiskey.
This is what he said,
Joe is about to share a story with the artist.
I went down to the Saint James Infirmary
The artist went to a hospital called Saint James Infirmary.
I saw my baby there,
The artist saw his loved one in the hospital.
Stretched out on a cold white table,
The loved one was lying on a table which was cold and white in color.
So sweet, so cold, so fair.
The loved one was beautiful and was no longer alive.
So let her go, let her go, God bless her,
The singer is saying goodbye to the loved one and wishing her well.
Wherever she may be
The singer does not know where the loved one might be.
She may search this wide world over
The singer thinks it's unlikely for the loved one to find someone like him.
But she'll never find a sweet man like me.
The artist thinks he was special and unique, and the loved one will never find someone like him.
When I die, want you to dress me in straight laced shoes
The artist has specific instructions for his funeral attire when he dies.
A box back coat and a Stetson hat,
The singer wants to be dressed a certain way when he is buried.
Put a twenty-dollar gold piece on my watch chain
The singer wants to have some gold put on his watch chain as a symbol of his wealth and status.
So the boys know I died standin' pat.
The artist wants to show off his status and confidence even after he dies.
There are sixteen cold black horses,
There are 16 horses, black in color, at the funeral procession.
Hitched to her rubber tired hack,
The horses are pulling a carriage with rubber wheels.
There are seven women goin' to that graveyard,
Seven women are going to the graveyard where the singer is to be buried.
And only six of 'em are coming back.
One of the women will be staying at the graveyard, which probably means the artist's love interest has died as well.
Now that you've heard my story,
The singer has finished recounting his story to the listener.
Pour me one more shot of booze,
The singer requests more alcohol.
And if anyone comes askin' about me,
The singer expects people to ask about him.
Tell 'em I got, Saint James Infirmary blues.
The artist wants people to know that he is mourning the loss of his love interest, who has died in the hospital of Saint James Infirmary.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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