Turner grew… Read Full Bio ↴Pierce Turner (born 1956) is an Irish singer-songwriter.
Turner grew up in the port town of Wexford, where his mother ran a record shop and led her own band. Like all his siblings he was classically trained, and his fondest early memories are of singing in the annual plainchant festival. By age seven, he was a member of a traditional Irish tin-whistle group, and at eight, he was playing in a brass and reed orchestra.
His first professional job was as a musician with the pop showband The Arrows. He later moved to New York and formed The Major Thinkers with fellow Wexfordian Larry Kirwan (now the frontman of Black 47), and recorded several acclaimed albums.
His first solo album, It's Only a Long Way Across (1986), was produced by American avant-garde composer, Philip Glass. and was nominated for the U.S album of the year on the New York Music Awards He went on to make two more albums for Beggars Banquet: The Sky and the Ground (1989) and Now Is Heaven (1991). The latter was released to great critical acclaim, with Hot Press dubbing him "Ireland's greatest living poet", and he was voted Irish Solo Performer of the Year in the Hot Press Awards by a panel drawn from the national media. This album was produced by the legendary John Simon -Leonard Cohen and the Band
In 1998 Beggars Banquet released a Best of Pierce Turner compilation. In June 2001, 3 Minute World was released, Hot Press giving it a 12 out of 12, while Tony Clayton-Lea of the Irish Times described Pierce as one of the most important Irish artists of the last twenty years. Meanwhile Pat Kenny pronounced "This man's a genius" on his national radio show, as Turner set off on a tour of over seventy private houses in Ireland for what he has called his "Parlour Tour" with London-based Wicklow film maker Colin Murnane for a documentary, The Song For The Year (2007).
Other songs by Turner were featured in the film Snakes and Ladders, the HBO hit show The Wire with his version of "Dirty Old Town" and Christy Moore recorded Turner's songs "Wicklow Hills" and "Musha God Help Her". Moore's 2004 box set includes the track "I Love the Way Pierce Turner Sings".
In 2005, just as Turner was about to release his album, The Boy to Be With(as featured in the documentary The Song For The Year), "Wicklow Hills" was voted among the top twenty-five Irish songs of all time by Today FM in a nationwide poll. The Boy to Be With also includes Turner's tribute to the late Irish bluesman Rory Gallagher.
See also: http://pierceturner.com/
Wicklow Hills
Pierce Turner Lyrics
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Radio's rap and screech like trains
A figure's floating through the sewing set
Some guy walks by suspended by the sky
Takes more imagination
When every thing's remote control
For me it's just a case of what's on the other side of clothes
Tell everybody I'm gone away for ten years
I'm gone to wander among the Wicklow Hills
New Jersey white kid in his sunday jeans
Stuck to the corner of the street
Fat gypsy lady smacks the window pane
Some guy walks by suspended by the sky
Takes more imagination
When every thing's remote control
For me it's just a case of what's on the other side of clothes
Tell everybody I'm gone away for ten years
I'm gone to wander among the Wicklow Hills
The lyrics of Pierce Turner’s song ‘Wicklow Hills’ paint a vivid picture of the urban landscape of New Jersey with its towering fire escapes, blaring radios and bustling streets. The opening line, ‘Spring still paints fire escapes with Hopper shades’, is a reference to American realist painter Edward Hopper whose paintings often depicted ordinary subjects with a melancholic air. The imagery here suggests a sense of nostalgia for a simpler, more understated time. The next line, ‘Radio’s rap and screech like trains’ metaphorically compares the sound of the radio to the noise of a train, creating a sense of urban chaos that contrasts with the tranquil beauty of the Wicklow Hills.
The third line, ‘A figure’s floating through the sewing set,’ could be interpreted as a reference to the traditional art of quilting or sewing, which is often associated with a sense of calm and domesticity. However, the surreal image of a figure ‘floating’ through this setting suggests a sense of unease or dislocation. The final line of this verse, ‘Some guy walks by suspended by the sky’ further highlights the contrast between the bustling city and the timeless, otherworldly quality of nature.
The chorus, ‘Takes more imagination when every thing’s remote control, for me it’s just a case of what’s on the other side of clothes’ suggests a dissatisfaction with modern society and a reliance on technology. The line ‘what’s on the other side of clothes’ is an intriguing one, perhaps suggesting a desire to connect with something deeper than material possessions.
Overall, the song ‘Wicklow Hills’ captures the tension between the ephemeral, ever-changing world of modern cities and the enduring beauty of nature. The imagery is rich with symbolism and metaphor, while the chorus speaks to a yearning for something more profound than the superficial trappings of contemporary life.
Line by Line Meaning
Spring still paints fire escapes with Hopper shades
The arrival of spring has transformed the appearance of the fire escapes to mimic the iconic style of painter Edward Hopper.
Radio's rap and screech like trains
The sounds emitted from the radio are harsh and jarring, similar to the noise made by a passing train.
A figure's floating through the sewing set
An ethereal and weightless presence is observed drifting amongst the collection of sewing supplies.
Some guy walks by suspended by the sky
An individual appears to be walking while simultaneously defying gravity and being supported by the sky itself.
Takes more imagination
When every thing's remote control
For me it's just a case of what's on the other side of clothes
In a world where technology and automation are increasingly prevalent, it requires more creativity to envision something beyond the given structure. However, the artist is personally capable of seeing past surface level appearances to understand what lies beneath.
Tell everybody I'm gone away for ten years
I'm gone to wander among the Wicklow Hills
The singer is informing those around them that they will be embarking on a ten-year journey to explore the scenic and picturesque surroundings of the Wicklow Hills.
New Jersey white kid in his sunday jeans
Stuck to the corner of the street
Fat gypsy lady smacks the window pane
Some guy walks by suspended by the sky
A young individual dressed in plain white clothing is seen lingering on the corner of the street, while a robust Romani woman forcefully slaps a nearby window. In the midst of this commotion, another person defies the laws of gravity and appears to be floating in the air.
Tell everybody I'm gone away for ten years
I'm gone to wander among the Wicklow Hills
The artist reiterates that they will be departing for a decade long journey to explore the lush and verdant landscapes of the Wicklow Hills.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LAURENCE T KIRWAN, PIERCE TURNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Howie Simon
This gives me goosebumps! Wonderful version of the Irish folk song. Took me forever to identify this version until I recall it was played on CFNY Toronto. Long live the great DJs of our youth!
Linda McNeil
That's where I first heard this. Back when music mattered, eh?
Not One Of Us
CFNY was the greatest of all influence upon my life. Not an understatement. Seriously.
Phite Onn
There's an original? Do you know who wrote it?
James Patrick Wyse
@Phite Onn Pierce wrote it!
ivorytower99
Thanks for Uploading. Pierce's "The Sky and the Ground" was a greatly under appreciated album - - a masterpiece front to back.
John LaStrada
Masterful. Great melody, lyrics & Pierce Turner voice. Love it.
The Arkive
Glad you enjoyed it
franco tomasini
Great Pierce.
playlists only!
Wow! This sounds very fresh.