Before finding solo fame he was a member of blues-rock band Taste.
In 1972 he was voted Melody Maker's Top Musician of the Year, dethroning Eric Clapton.
Rory died of complications following a liver transplant in 1995. As the funeral cortege moved through the streets of Cork, his life and music was celebrated by the city's citizens. He is buried in St. Oliver's Cemetery just outside the city.
Generally regarded as one of the top ten guitarists ever, many of today's top musicians, including The Edge from U2, Slash of Guns N' Roses, Johnny Marr of the Smiths and Brian May of Queen cite Rory as an inspiration in their formative musical years. It is also well documented that the Rolling Stones auditioned Rory for the band as their permanent guitarist in the '70s but he refused on the basis that it was against all he believed in terms of his own name and style. Though Rory Gallagher never released a single, Rory Gallagher's albums have sold in excess of 30 million copies worldwide.
A square in Cork City was named after him in 1997 and signature edition of his Fender Stratocaster guitar was released as well.
In 2002 he appeared on a Republic of Ireland postage stamp.
There is a Rory Gallagher Corner at Meeting House Square in Temple Bar, Dublin.
On the 19th May 2006, a life-size bronze statue in the shape of his Stratocaster has been installed at this very corner. Some of those who attended the unveiling include The Edge of U2 and the Lord Mayor of Dublin.
There’s another artist with the same name:
(2) Rory Gallagher is a 21 year old Cardiff based Trance Producer/DJ hailing from London, U.K. He is also known as Rozza.
Whilst living in Ireland, Rory found himself instantly hooked to trance music after hearing Paul van Dyk's 'For an Angel' and the classic Ireland 'Euphoria' album back in 2003. After many years of absorbing to electronic music and developing a fine taste for it, he decided to try his hand at creating the music. In 2005, whilst learning the basics of production, Rozza decided that trance music was what he wanted to do and was constantly in his home studio, experimenting with fresh sounds and ideas.
Looking at the bigger picture, he decided to focus on production & sound engineering and as a result is now studying for a Music Technology degree.
In early 2007, after catching the attention of Adam White, Rozza was signed up to Emalodic (Adam White's label) and saw his debut single released. His first record, titled 'Discover', gained excellent reviews in the dance press and support from the biggest DJs the world-over.
Since then Rozza has had a number of successful releases on Alter Ego, Deepblue, Infrasonic & Emalodic amongst others, which have all had big support from key players in the scene.
Rozza has also been working with the likes of Adam White, which led to the massive ‘Love Angles’ and was heavily supported on Radio 1 and by Armin Van Burren. Recently he has worked with Danish producer Daniel Kandi on a remix of ‘The Path’.
On the DJ circuit Rozza has held a residency in Newport Wales, and has played at various nights in Thailand, Europe and around the UK.
Tattoo'd Lady
Rory Gallagher Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bearded baby,
They're my family.
When I was lonely,
Something told me, where,
I could always be.
Wish for pennies,
If we had any.
You'd meet me down,
At the shooting gallery.
Yes I'm a,
Fair ground baby.
Wonder what made me,
Fall for the pearly queen.
I spent my youth,
Under canvas roof,
As I roamed from town to town.
I'm not fooling,
When I say I got no schoolin',
Never like the class bell sound.
From the caravan,
I hear the fairground band,
Sounding good as they can be.
You know I can't be found,
But if you look around,
Tomorrow we'll be gone by dawn.
Alright
Now hear it on the loud speaker say,
The fire eater is a real fine sight to see,
Yeah he's a death cheater,
Some kind of central heater,
Be sure to save a seat for me.
Let me tell you 'bout wicked Sadie,
She's no baby,
The law came,
And tried to close her sideshow down.
But soon she had the D.A. cheering,
The police chief wearing,
Her garter for a crown.
I spent my youth,
Under canvas roof,
As I roamed from town to town.
I'm not fooling,
When I say I got no schoolin',
Never like the school bell sound.
From the caravan,
I hear the fairground band,
Sounding good as they can be.
You know I can't be found,
But if you look around,
Tomorrow we'll be gone by dawn.
Yeah
Tattoo'd lady,
Bearded baby,
They're my family.
When I was lonely,
Something told me, where,
I could always be.
Where I could,
Wish for pennies,
If we had any.
You'd meet me down,
At the shooting gallery.
Tattoo'd lady
The song "Tattoo'd Lady" by Rory Gallagher is a celebration of the carnival and its colorful characters, especially those who work in the side shows. The lyrics introduce us to the singer's family: the tattooed lady and the bearded baby, who represent performers in the carnival. The carnival is where the singer found refuge from loneliness and where he could always go to feel at home. He reminisces about spending his youth roaming from town to town, living under canvas roof, and never experiencing the sound of a school bell.
The lyrics also introduce us to other performers like the fire eater and "wicked" Sadie, who inspired the singer with her ability to turn the tables on authority figures. The carnival is portrayed as a place where the misfits and outcasts find acceptance and a sense of belonging. The singer declares himself a "fairground baby" and muses about what led him to fall for the pearly queen.
The song has a cheerful and lively tune, punctuated by Gallagher's signature guitar riffs. The music captures the excitement and energy of the carnival and its performers. Overall, "Tattoo'd Lady" is a celebration of the carnival and its performers, a tribute to their ability to find joy in life despite their circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
Tattoo'd lady,
The woman with tattoos.
Bearded baby,
The child with a beard, possibly because of a genetic condition.
They're my family.
Despite being different from conventional norms, they are loyal and dear to me.
When I was lonely,
During times of isolation and despair.
Something told me, where,
An inner voice guided me towards a place of comfort.
I could always be.
Where I could find solace and belonging.
Where I could,
A place where I could exist freely.
Wish for pennies,
At a humble state, hoping for modest financial gains.
If we had any.
Struggling financially, where the smallest amounts could make a difference.
You'd meet me down,
Meeting at a common spot where like-minded individuals gather.
At the shooting gallery.
A place for entertainment through shooting games.
Yes I'm a,
Confirming one's identity.
Fair ground baby.
Growing up in a carnival/fair surrounding.
Wonder what made me,
Reflecting on why I am the way I am.
Fall for the pearly queen.
Being drawn to a woman with a captivating appearance or personality.
I spent my youth,
The time of one's life where they are typically carefree and adventurous.
Under canvas roof,
Traveling and living in a tented environment.
As I roamed from town to town.
Continuing to travel and explore new places.
I'm not fooling,
I am being honest.
When I say I got no schoolin',
Admitting to lack of formal education.
Never like the class bell sound.
Not enjoying the routine and structure of the education system.
From the caravan,
Mobile home or camper where one resides.
I hear the fairground band,
The musical entertainment that is a crucial part of the carnival/fair experience.
Sounding good as they can be.
Performing their music to the best of their abilities.
You know I can't be found,
Difficult to track down or locate.
But if you look around,
However, one can find me with some effort.
Tomorrow we'll be gone by dawn.
Moving on to another destination before the sun rises.
Now hear it on the loud speaker say,
Announcement from the sound system calling attention to the next event.
The fire eater is a real fine sight to see,
A performer who adds intrigue and excitement to the event.
Yeah he's a death cheater,
A performer who risks his life for the sake of entertainment.
Some kind of central heater,
A powerful presence that draws attention.
Be sure to save a seat for me.
I would like to see this performer as well.
Let me tell you 'bout wicked Sadie,
Introducing a person named Sadie with a negative connotation.
She's no baby,
A woman with a distinct identity.
The law came,
Authorities tried to stop her from carrying out her business.
And tried to close her sideshow down.
A reference to her controversial entertainment that drew attention from authorities.
But soon she had the D.A. cheering,
However, she managed to turn the situation in her favor, gaining support from the D.A.
The police chief wearing,
Even the police chief was happy with her performance.
Her garter for a crown.
A reference to her distinctive clothing/accessories that set her apart.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: RORY GALLAGHER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind