The band has recorded many albums of instrumental Irish folk music, as well as multiple collaborations with popular musicians of many genres, including Country music, Galician traditional music, Cape Breton and Newfoundland music, and rock and roll. They have performed with Van Morrison, The Rolling Stones, Sting, Roger Daltrey, Elvis Costello, Tom Jones, Sinรฉad O'Connor, James Galway, Jackson Browne, Nancy Griffith and numerous Country-western artists. In 1975, the group won praise for their playing of "Women of Ireland" for Stanley Kubrick's movie Barry Lyndon.
They have won six Grammy Awards and have been nominated eighteen times. In 2002 they were given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the UK's BBC Radio 2. The front covers of the first four albums were designed by Edward Delaney.
Paddy Moloney is the band's leader, and composes or arranges most of the band's music. While the band's members changed numerous times in the band's early history, the membership solidified in 1979 when Matt Molloy replaced Michael Tubridy.
From then until 2002, members included:
Paddy Moloney (uilleann pipes, tin whistle, button accordion, bodhrรกn)
Matt Molloy (flute, tin whistle)
Kevin Conneff (bodhrรกn, vocals)
Seรกn Keane (fiddle, tin whistle)
Martin Fay (fiddle, bones) (born 1938; died 14 November 2012)
Derek Bell (Irish harp, keyboard instruments, oboe) (born 21 October 1935; died 17 October 2002)
In 2002, Fay retired from active membership. In the same year, Bell died due to complications following a minor operation. Fay died on 14 November 2012.
Coast of Malabar
The Chieftains Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Underneath an Indian star
Dwells a dark eyed lonely maiden
On the coast of Malabar
In the harbor, where we anchored
I can see her shy and sweet
With a bunch of wine-red roses
Oh fare thee well, my little dark eyed queen
Fare thee well, my Indian star
In my heart you'll live forever
On the coast of Malabar
"Come to me", I hear her calling
Across the ocean, wild and far
"Come to me again and love me
On the coast of Malabar"
And my thoughts keep ever turning
To that far-off distant shore
And the dark eyed girl who loved me
But I'll see her never more
Oh fare thee well, my little dark eyed queen
Fare thee well, my Indian star
In my heart you'll live forever
On the coast of Malabar
The Chieftains' song "Coast of Malabar" tells a story of a distant love between a sailor and a lonely maiden who lives on the coast of Malabar. The lyrics convey a deep sense of longing and nostalgia as the sailor remembers his time with the dark-eyed girl who loved him. The opening lines paint a picture of a faraway land, "Far away across the ocean, underneath an Indian star, dwells a dark-eyed lonely maiden on the coast of Malabar." The reference to the "Indian star" is significant, as it represents the hope and the longing of the sailor to be reunited with his love once again.
The second stanza is full of vivid imagery, where the sailor imagines the maiden waiting for him with "a bunch of wine-red roses and the wild waves at her feet" as their ship anchors in the harbor. The lines, "In my heart, you'll live forever, on the coast of Malabar," showcase the depth of the sailor's feelings for his love. He knows he can never see her again, but his love for her will live on forever in his heart. The final stanza is the most poignant as the sailor hears his love calling him from across the ocean, but he knows he can never be with her again. The lyrics beautifully capture the sense of loss and longing that comes with a distant love.
Overall, the song uses powerful imagery and evocative language to convey the melancholic feelings of a faraway love. It showcases the richness of Celtic music with its fusion of Irish and traditional Indian elements.
Line by Line Meaning
Far away across the ocean
In a distant land across the ocean
Underneath an Indian star
Beneath a shining star in India
Dwells a dark eyed lonely maiden
Resides a solitary woman with dark eyes
On the coast of Malabar
Living on the coastal region of Malabar
In the harbor, where we anchored
At the harbor where the ship was docked
I can see her shy and sweet
I saw her looking bashful and lovely
With a bunch of wine-red roses
Holding a bouquet of dark red roses
And the wild waves at her feet
Standing by the shore with waves crashing by her feet
Oh fare thee well, my little dark eyed queen
Goodbye, my dear queen with dark eyes
Fare thee well, my Indian star
Farewell, my star from India
In my heart you'll live forever
You will forever be in my heart
On the coast of Malabar
On the coastal region of Malabar
"Come to me", I hear her calling
I can hear her calling to me
Across the ocean, wild and far
Across the vast and tumultuous ocean
"Come to me again and love me
Come back to me and love me once more
On the coast of Malabar"
On the coastal region of Malabar
And my thoughts keep ever turning
My mind always wanders
To that far-off distant shore
To that remote and faraway coast
And the dark eyed girl who loved me
And the woman with dark eyes who loved me
But I'll see her never more
But I will never see her again
Oh fare thee well, my little dark eyed queen
Goodbye, my dear queen with dark eyes
Fare thee well, my Indian star
Farewell, my star from India
In my heart you'll live forever
You will forever be in my heart
On the coast of Malabar
On the coastal region of Malabar
Lyrics ยฉ BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Paddy Moloney, Traditional, Ry Cooder
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ishaqmohamed1854
Far away across the ocean
Underneath an Indian star
Dwells a dark eyed lonely maiden
On the coast of Malabar
In the harbor, where we anchored
I can see her shy and sweet
With a bunch of wine-red roses
And the wild waves at her feet
Oh fare thee well, my little dark eyed queen
Fare thee well, my Indian star
In my heart you'll live forever
On the coast of Malabar
"Come to me", I hear her calling
Across the ocean, wild and far
"Come to me again and love me
On the coast of Malabar"
And my thoughts keep ever turning
To that far-off distant shore
And the dark eyed girl who loved me
But I'll see her never more
Oh fare thee well, my little dark eyed queen
Fare thee well, my Indian star
In my heart you'll live forever
On the coast of Malabar
@bobojenkins88
Ry Cooder and the Chieftans...performers who put the music front and center...no gimmicks, minimal production, no nonsense...a great, great song that tugs at your heartstrings.
@buckize68
Ry Cooder is a treasure! He neve received the recognition he deserved, but I am not sure that he cares. His diverse musical passions have kept me enamored since the 70's. This is just a gem of a tune, and the collaberation with the Chieftans here is perfect. I can truly see the "coast of Malabar" just from this song.
@nepiahemopo1702
Articulate sentiment.
He perfomes live worldwide to sold out audiences.
@cinemar
What amount of recognition would make you happy? Those that know, know.
@pyotrpyotrovitch
Amen brother!
@ukaszpiekarski3880
Could not agree more !
@muopos
People will know who he was long after we are dead, they will see all the connections and jumps he made to preserve and refine 20th century American music.
@wabri64
one of the best irish songs. it makes me feel to go to far and lonely islands and gives me a feeling of sadness while thinking of lost loves. thank u.๏ปฟ
@johnwints5888
Ry Cooder is an historian and sensitive interpreter of history. Through his music and talented friends he brings joy to my heart.
@jestalhut
This is such a beautiful song. Well done. You can just feel the music.