Christy Moore

[fox69]

"Spancill Hill"

"Spancill Hill"


Last night as I lay dreaming of pleasant days gone by
My mind being bent on rambling to Ireland I did fly
I stepped on board a vision and I followed with the wind
And I shortly came to anchor at the cross near Spancil Hill

It being the 23rd June the day before the fair
When Ireland's sons and daughters in crowds assembled there
The young and the old, the brave and the bold their journey to fulfill
There were jovial conversations at the fair of Spancil Hill

I went to see my neighbors to hear what they might say
The old ones were all dead and gone and the young one's turning grey
I met with the tailor Quigley, he's a bould as ever still
Sure he used to make my britches when I lived in Spancil Hill

I paid a flying visit to my first and only love
She's as white as any lily and as gentle as a dove
She threw her arms around me saying "Johnny I love you still"
Oh she's Ned the farmers daughter and the flower of Spancil Hill

I dreamt I held and kissed her as in the days of yore
She said, "Johnny you're only joking like many's the time before"
The cock he crew in the morning he crew both loud and shrill
And I awoke in California, many miles from Spancil Hill

 

[fox69]

"Spanish Lady"

"Spanish Lady"


As I went out through Dublin City at the hour of twelve at night
Who would I see but the Spanish Lady
Washing her feet by candle light
First she washed them then she dried them
O'er a fire of amber coals
In all my life I ne'er did see a maid so sweet about the soul
Whack fol de turalura ladie
Whack fol de turalureley
Whack fol de turalura ladie
Whack fol de turalureley
As I came back through Dublin City at the time of half past eight
Who would I see but the Spanish Lady
Brushing her hair so trim and neat
First she teased it then she brushed it
On her lap was a silver comb
In all my life I ne'er did see so fair a maid since I did roam
As I went round old Dublin City when the sun began to set
Who would I spy but the Spanish Lady
Catching a moth in a golden net
When she saw me quick she fled me
Lifting her petticoats over her knee
In all my life I ne'er did see a maid so shy as the Spanish Lady
I stopped to look but the watchman passed says he "young fella now the night is late
Along with you now or I will wrestle you
Straight way throught the Bride-well Gate"
I blew a kiss to the Spanish LAdy
Hot as a fire of my angry coals
In all my life I ne'er did see a maid so sweet about the soul
As I went out through Dublin City as the hour of dawn was over
Who shoul I see but the Spanish Lady
I was lonely and footsore
First she coaxed me then she chid me
Then she laughed at my sad plight
In all my life I ne'er did see a maid so sweet as on that night
I've wandered north and I've wandered south through Stoneybatter and Patrick's Close
Up and around by the Gloucester Diamond
Round by Napper Tandy's house
Old age had laid her hand on me
Cold as fire of ashey coals
But were is the lovely Spanish Lady, neat and sweet about the soul

 

[fox69]

"St. Brendan's Voyage"

"St. Brendan's Voyage"


A boat sailed out of Brandon in the year of 501
'twas a damp and dirty mornin' Brendan's voyage it began
Tired of thinnin' turnips and cuttin' curley kale
When he got back from the creamery he hoisted up the sail
He ploughed a lonely furrow to the north, south, east and west
Of all the navigators, St. Brendan was the best
When he ran out of candles he was forced to make a stop
He tied up in Long Island and put America on the map
Did you know that Honolulu was found by a Kerryman
Who went on to find Australia then China and Japan
When he was touchin' 70, he began to miss the crack
Turnin' to his albatross he sez "I'm headin' back"

"Is it right or left for Gibraltar"
"What tack do I take for Mizen Head?"
"I'd love to settle down near Ventry Harbour"
St. Brendan to his albatross he said

To make it fast he bent the mast and built up mighty steam
Around Terra del Fuego and up the warm Gulf Stream
He crossed the last horizon, Mt. Brandon came in sight
And when he cleared the customs into Dingle for the night
When he got the Cordon Bleu he went to douse the drought
He headed west to Kruger's to murder pints of stout
Around by Ballyferriter and up the Conor Pass
He freewheeled into Brandon, the saint was home at last

"Is it right or left for Gibraltar"
"What tack do I take for Mizen Head?"
"I'd love to settle down near Ventry Harbour"
St. Brendan to his albatross he said

The entire population came the place was chock-a-block
Love nor money wouldn't get your nose inside the shop
The fishermen hauled up their nets, the farmers left their hay
Kerry people know that saints don't turn up every day
Everythin' was goin' great 'til Brendan did announce
His reason for returnin' was to try and set up house
The girls were flabbergasted at St. Bredan's neck
To seek a wife so late in life and him a total wreck

"Is it right or left for Gibraltar"
"What tack do I take for Mizen Head?"
"I'd love to settle down near Ventry Harbour"
St. Brendan to his albatross he said

Worn down by rejection that pierced his humble pride
"Begod", sez Brendan "If I run I'll surely catch the tide"
Turnin' on his sandals he made straight for the docks
And haulin' up his anchor he cast off from the rocks
As he sailed past Inishvickallaun there stood the albatross
"I knew you'd never stick it out, 'tis great to see you boss"
"I'm bailin' out" sez Brendan, "I badly need a break
A fortnight is about as much as any aul saint could take"

"Is it right or left for Gibraltar"
"What tack do I take for Mizen Head?"
"I'd love to settle down near Ventry Harbour"
St. Brendan to his albatross he said

 

[fox69]

"Strange Ways"

"Strange Ways"


There is a ring around the world
It ensnares the little ones
As these priests and bishops fall
Innocence comes to an end
Born of woman, born through pain
In the shadow of a man
You are in me I am in you
It's not always easy to understand

Strange ways...

Forgive me father, I have sinned
God the father of all things
You are my everlasting shame
God works in strange ways

Strange ways...

There is a ring around the world
It ensnares the little ones
Causes governments to fall
It brings all things to an end

Strange ways...

 

[fox69]

"Suffocate"

"Suffocate"


Paddy maintains we're all yellow inside, gun smoke got him and no mistake
Sez he wants his car on the road, he can't even locate the brakes
He'd give his kingdom for a drink he would, he'd sell his mother like he sold his blood
Waiting for dole satisfies him, Paddy didn't even learn how to swim

But you go crazy if you think about it, you don't think about it
You suffocate...
Backs against the wall and let the building fall
It may not be the perfect life but its better than none at all

18 beats 21 you bet, it's all just a gag john, no sweat
The old man says he still needs a hand and the neighbours only ever want cigarettes
Drinks in the evening, everybody's emigrating
Or planning for it any way, oh it's all the same old thing

But you go crazy if you think about it, you don't think about it
You suffocate...
Backs against the wall and let the building fall
It may not be the perfect life but its better than none at all

Come out of your Celtic twilight kids, join the bums down here by the bank
We're all having a rare aul time, put another drop of the juice in the tank
Rise there, Paddy, rise, forget your stupid pride
Oh the state of us, what the hell is happening?

It's a hard life when grown men can't afford the price of a packet of ten

But you go crazy if you think about it, you don't think about it
You suffocate...
Backs against the wall and let the building fall
It may not be the perfect life but its better than none at all

 

[fox69]

"Sweet Music Roll On"

"Sweet Music Roll On"


Down by O'Connell street one summers evening
I met a young woman, it was our first meeting
Crossed over the bridge and down by the river
By the strawberry beds I found that I knew her
She called me her darling man
We spend a few hours and we drank a few glasses
We danced at the bar ignoring their glances
Everyone knew her name and they knew by my face
With a beer in my hand and her arm round my waist
Calling me her darling man
The river runs deep, sweet music roll on
So the times are long gone, sweet music roll on
Then came the morning and my boat was leaving
She smiled as she said to me: "No point in grieving"
Everyonce in a while when I hear music playing
I remember her smile and I hear her voice saying:
Calling me her darling man
The river runs deep, sweet music roll on
So the times are long gone, sweet music roll on
The river runs deep, sweet music roll on
So the times are long gone, sweet music roll on

 

[fox69]

"The Ballad Of Timothy Evans"

"The Ballad Of Timothy Evans"


Tim Evans was a prisoner down in his prison cell
And those who read about his crime condemned his soul to hell

Go down you murderers go down

For the killing of his own dear wife and murder of his child
The jury found him guilty and the hanging judge he smiled

Tim Evans walked around the yard and the screws they walked behind
He saw the sky above the wall but he knew no peace of mind

The screws they came to his cell and they hammered on his door
Get up you dirty murderer the screws at him did roar

The governor came to his cell with the chaplain by his side
Saying your appeal has been turned down prepare yourself to die

They took Tim Evans to the place where the hangman did prepare
They tied the rope around his neck with the knot behind his ear

A thousand lags were screaming and banging on their doors
Tim Evans didn't hear them he was dead forever more

They sent Tim Evans to the drop for a crime he did not do
Dr. Christie was the murderer, the judge and jury too

 

[fox69]

"The Boys Of Barr Na Sráide"

"The Boys Of Barr Na Sráide"


Oh, the town, it climbs the mountains and looks upon the sea
At sleeping time or waking time, it's there I'd like to be
To walk again those kindly streets, the place where life began
With the Boys of Barr na Sráide who hunted for the wren

With cudgels stout they roamed about to hunt for the dreólín*
We searched for birds in every furze from Litir to Dooneen
We danced for joy beneath the sky, life held no print nor plan
When the Boys of Barr na Sráide went hunting for the wren

And when the hills were bleedin' and the rifles were aflame
To the rebel homes of Kerry the Saxon strangers came
But the men who dared the Auxies and fought the Black-and-Tan
Were the Boys of Barr na Sráide who hunted for the wren

But now they toil in foreign soil where they have made their way
Deep in the heart of London or over on Broadway
And I am left to sing their deeds and praise them while I can
Those Boys of Barr na Sráide who hunted for the wren

And here's a health to them tonight wherever they may be
By the groves of Carham river or the slope of Bean 'a Tí
John Daly and Batt Andy and the Sheehans, Con and Dan
And the Boys of Barr na Sráide who hunted for the wren

When the wheel of life runs out and peace come over me
Just take me back to that old town between the hills and sea
I'll take my rest in those green fields, the place where life began
With those Boys of Barr na Sráide who hunted for the wren

 

[fox69]

"The City Of Chicago"

"The City Of Chicago"


In the City of Chicago
As the evening shadows fall
There are people dreaming
Of the hills of Donegal

1847 was the year it all began
Deadly pains of hunger drove a million from the land
They journeyed not for glory
Their motive wasn't greed
A voyage of survival across the stormy sea

To the City of Chicago
As the evening shadows fall
There are people dreaming
Of the hills of Donegal

Some of them knew fortune
Some of them knew fame
More of them knew hardship
And died upon the plain
They spread throughout the nation
They rode the railroad cars
Brought their songs ant music to ease their lonely hearts

To the City of Chicago
As the evening shadows fall
There are people dreaming
Of the hills of Donegal

 

[fox69]

"The Cliffs Of Dooneen"

"The Cliffs Of Dooneen"


You may travel far far from your own native home
Far away o'er the mountains far away o'er the foam
But of all the fine places that I've ever seen,
Three's none to compare with The Cliffs of Dooneen

Take a view o'er the water fine sights you'll see there
You'll see the high rocky slopes on the West coast of Clare
The towns of Kilrush and Kilkee can be seen
From the high rocky slopes at The Cliffs of Dooneen

It's a nice place to be on a fine summer's day
Watching all the wild flowers that ne'er do decay
The hare and lofty pheasant are plain to be seen
Making homes for their young round The Cliffs of Dooneen

Fare thee well to Dooneen fare thee well for a while
And to all the fine people I'm leaving behind
To the streams and the meadows where late I have been
And the high rocky slopes of The Cliffs of Dooneen