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.
https://moriartyland.net/
The Dying Crapshooter Blues
Moriarty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He used crooked cards and dice.
Sinful guy, good hearted but had no soul
Heart was hard and cold like ice
Jesse was a wild reckless gambler
Won a gang of change
Altho' a many gambler's heart he led in painBegan to spend a-loose his money
Began to be blue, sad and all alone
His heart had even turned to stone.
What broke Jesse's heart while he was blue and all alone
Sweet Lorena packed up and gone
Police walked up and shot my friend Jesse down
Boys i got to die today
He had a gang of crapshooters and gamblers at his bedside
Here are the words he had to say:
Guess I ought to know
Exactly how I wants to go
(How you wanna go, Jesse?)
Eight crapshooters to be my pallbearers
Let 'em be veiled down in black
I want nine men going to the graveyard, bubba
And eight men comin' back
I want a gang of gamblers gathered 'round my coffin-side
Crooked card printed on my hearse
Don't say the crapshooters'll never grieve over me
My life been a doggone curse
Dig my grave with the ace of spades
I want twelve polices in my funeral march
High sheriff playin' blackjack, lead the parade
I want the judge and solic'ter who jailed me 14 times
Put a pair of dice in my shoes (Then what?)
Let a deck of cards be my tombstone
I got the dyin' crapshooter's blues
Sixteen real good crapshooters
Sixteen bootleggers to sing a song
Sixteen racket men gamblin'
Couple tend bar while I'm rollin' along
He wanted 22 womens outta the Hampton Hotel
26 off-a South Bell
29 women outta North Atlanta
Know
The lyrics of "The Dying Crapshooter Blues" by Moriarty tell a poignant tale that reflects on the life of a man, Jesse, who embodies the archetype of a reckless gambler. From the outset, Jesse is portrayed as a gifted yet flawed individual—a gambler whose life revolves around deceitful practices and risk-taking. The initial lines introduce us to his character, emphasizing the juxtaposition between his "good heart" and the hard, cold nature of his soul. This dichotomy sets the stage for a deeper exploration of his tumultuous existence as it hints at both his charm and the moral ambiguity that defines him. The imagery of "crooked cards and dice" serves to reinforce the sense of dishonesty in his pursuits, suggesting that while he may possess some redeeming qualities, he is ultimately ensnared in a lifestyle filled with vice and hardship.
As we progress through the narrative, we see Jesse's character arc shift from being a charismatic, though reckless, gambler to a man plagued by loneliness and despair. He initially experiences the thrill of winning money and leading carefree nights among fellow gamblers, but as the tides turn, his fortunes decline. The theme of isolation becomes increasingly pronounced as Jesse's "blue" feelings are highlighted; it symbolizes the emotional fallout of a life lived on the edge, where fleeting victories give way to a deep-seated sense of sadness and isolation. The phrase "heart turned to stone" signifies not just a lack of warmth or compassion but also the emotional desolation that comes when one’s lifestyle leads to disconnection from others. Essentially, the lyrics evoke a sense of tragedy as they illustrate the inevitable consequence of a high-stakes gambling life—the loneliness that accompanies loss and the ultimate abandonment of one's dreams and desires.
The narrative takes a sharp turn in the latter half, particularly at the moment when Jesse's sorrow is deepened by the departure of Sweet Lorena—symbolic of love lost. Lorena's leaving represents a pivotal moment in Jesse’s life, catalyzing his decline. Her absence signifies not just a personal loss but the culmination of Jesse's emotional deterioration, amplifying his blues even further. This moment is marked by the violence enacted upon him by the police, a climax of life's cruel games that reflects the societal consequences faced by those engaged in a life of gambling. It is here that Jesse's imminent mortality becomes a sobering reality, exposing the grim fate that often befalls those who immerse themselves in a life of vice. With death at his doorstep, Jesse’s reflections on his life become a mournful recognition of the choices he made and the loved ones he lost along the way.
In the final lines of the song, Jesse expresses a unique desire for his funeral, marked by an insistence on the presence of fellow gamblers and the symbols of his life—crooked cards, dice, and poker players. This demand speaks to a sense of belonging amidst a community that shares his reckless outlook; in death, he seeks solace in the familiar faces of his fellow sinners. The specifics of his burial arrangements—a procession led by law enforcement, and a tombstone fashioned from a deck of cards—further cement the idea that Jesse's legacy will be one of contradictions: both a cautionary tale of excess and an acceptance of his chosen path. The song embodies a broader commentary on the cyclical nature of life within the gambling world, where the thrill of the game ultimately leads to sorrow, illustrating a poignant critique of the seductive allure of a life lived on the margins, wrapped in the bittersweet blues of a dying gambler.
Line by Line Meaning
Little Jesse was a gambler, night and day
Young Jesse devoted himself to the world of gambling, engulfed by it both during the day and at night.
He used crooked cards and dice.
Jesse resorted to cheating, employing rigged playing cards and loaded dice to secure his winnings.
Sinful guy, good hearted but had no soul
Although he embodied a kind nature, Jesse was morally flawed, lacking a deeper ethical integrity.
Heart was hard and cold like ice
Emotionally detached, his heart was unyielding and devoid of warmth or compassion.
Jesse was a wild reckless gambler
He was characterized by impulsive and irresponsible gambling behavior, always chasing the next thrill.
Won a gang of change
He managed to accumulate a substantial amount of money through his gambling exploits.
Altho' a many gambler's heart he led in pain
His actions caused significant distress and heartache for numerous fellow gamblers.
Began to spend a-loose his money
Over time, he started to squander his winnings, leading to financial decline.
Began to be blue, sad and all alone
His deteriorating situation left him feeling despondent, isolated, and melancholic.
His heart had even turned to stone.
His emotional state became so hardened that he seemed completely numb to the suffering around him.
What broke Jesse's heart while he was blue and all alone
The deep source of Jesse's sorrow while he faced his loneliness was imminent loss.
Sweet Lorena packed up and gone
Jesse's beloved partner, Lorena, left him, deepening his heartbreak and sense of abandonment.
Police walked up and shot my friend Jesse down
In a tragic event, law enforcement officers confronted Jesse, leading to his fatal shooting.
Boys I got to die today
In his final moments, Jesse acknowledges the grim reality of his impending death.
He had a gang of crapshooters and gamblers at his bedside
Surrounded by fellow gamblers and friends, Jesse lay near the end of his life, supported by his own kind.
Here are the words he had to say:
In this somber moment, Jesse prepared to share his last wishes with those closest to him.
Guess I ought to know
Jesse reflects on his life and now feels an urgency to express his final desires.
Exactly how I wants to go
He contemplates the specific manner in which he wishes to meet his end.
(How you wanna go, Jesse?)
His friends prompt him to articulate his preferences regarding his death.
Eight crapshooters to be my pallbearers
Jesse requests that eight of his fellow gamblers carry his coffin, showing his connection to them.
Let 'em be veiled down in black
He desires that his pallbearers dress in black, symbolizing mourning and the somber nature of his passing.
I want nine men going to the graveyard, bubba
Jesse wishes for a procession of nine men to accompany him to his final resting place.
And eight men comin' back
He hopes that eight of those men will survive him and return, indicating the transient nature of life.
I want a gang of gamblers gathered 'round my coffin-side
In death, he seeks the company of fellow gamblers, reflecting his identity and camaraderie.
Crooked card printed on my hearse
He envisions a hearse adorned with imagery of deceitful playing cards, symbolizing his life's associations.
Don't say the crapshooters'll never grieve over me
He dismisses the notion that his gambling companions will not mourn his loss.
My life been a doggone curse
Jesse recognizes that his existence has been plagued by misfortune and hardship.
Send poker players to the graveyard
He calls for his fellow card players to participate in his funeral, reinforcing their bond.
Dig my grave with the ace of spades
Jesse wishes for his grave to be dug using the ace of spades, a reference to both luck and death.
I want twelve polices in my funeral march
He requests the presence of twelve police officers to accompany his funeral, acknowledging the challenges he faced with the law.
High sheriff playin' blackjack, lead the parade
He envisions the high sheriff participating in the procession, highlighting his ironic connection to gambling.
I want the judge and solic'ter who jailed me 14 times
Jesse desires the presence of his frequent adversaries in court, giving a nod to his troubled history.
Put a pair of dice in my shoes (Then what?)
He insists on having dice placed in his shoes as a final farewell, symbolizing the constant gamble of his life.
Let a deck of cards be my tombstone
He requests a deck of cards to represent his final resting place, cementing his identity as a gambler.
I got the dyin' crapshooter's blues
In his last moments, Jesse reflects on the sorrowful fate of a gambler who has lost everything.
Sixteen real good crapshooters
He expresses a desire to have a contingent of skilled gamblers at his side in death.
Sixteen bootleggers to sing a song
He requests the presence of bootleggers, who traditionally operated outside the law, to pay tribute.
Sixteen racket men gamblin'
He envisions the presence of con artists and hustlers, further build a picture of his world.
Couple tend bar while I'm rollin' along
He imagines that some of his friends will serve drinks, keeping the atmosphere celebratory even in mourning.
He wanted 22 womens outta the Hampton Hotel
Jesse whimsically requests the attendance of numerous women from a local establishment, reveling in his past exploits.
26 off-a South Bell
Continuing in a boastful vein, he calls for women from another locale, adding to the revelry.
29 women outta North Atlanta
He wishes for an even larger gathering of women from a different area, emphasizing his extravagant lifestyle.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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