Christy Moore

[fox69]

"The Knock Song"

"The Knock Song"


At the early age of thirty-eight me mother said "Go west!"
"Get up", says she, "and get a job", says I, "I'll do my best"
I pulled on me Wellingtons to march to Kiltimagh
But I took a wrong turn in Charlestown and ended up in Knock
Oh once this quiet crossroads was a place of gentle prayer
Where Catholics got indulgent once or twice a year
You could buy a pair of rosary beads or get your candles blessed
If you had a guilty conscience you could get it off your chest
Then came the priest from Partry, Father Horan was his name
And since he's been appointed Knock has never been the same
"B'God" says Jem, "'tis eighty years since Mary was about"
'Tis time for another miracle." and he blew the candle out
From Fatima to Bethlehem, from Lourdes to Kiltimagh
There's never been a miracle like the airport up in Knock
To establish terra firma he drew up a ten year plan
And started running dances around 1961
He built a fantabulous church, Go h-álainn, on the holy ground
And once he had a focal point he started to expand
Chip shops and Bed and Breakfasts sprung up over night
Once a place for quiet retreats now a holy sight
All sorts of fancy restaurants for every race and creed
Where black and white and yellow pilgrims all could get a feed
The stalls once under canvas became religious supermarts
With such a range o' godly goods, they had top twenty charts
While the airport opposition was destroyed by James' trump card
For centenary celebrations he got John Paul the twenty-third
From Fatima to Bethlehem, from Lourdes to Kiltimagh
There's never been a miracle like the airport up in Knock
'We had the Blessed virgin here,' Bold Jamesie did declare
'And Pope John Paul the twenty-third appeared just over there'
'Now do you mean to tell me', he said in total shock
'That I am not entitled to an airport here in Knock'
TD's were lobbied and harassed with talk of promised votes
And people who'd been loyal for years now spoke of changing coats
Eternal damnation was threatened on the flock
Who said it was abortive building airports up in Knock
Now everyone is happy the miracle is complete
Father Horan's got his runway, it's eighteen thousand feet
All sorts of planes could land there, of that there's little doubt
Handy for the George Bush to keep knock Gadaffi out
Did NATO donate, me boys, did NATO donate the dough?
Did NATO donate, me Girls, did NATO donate the dough?
Did NATO donate the dough, the dough, did NATO donate the dough?
Eighteen thousand feet of runway is an awful long way to go

 

[fox69]

"The Least We Can Do"

"The Least We Can Do"


The least we can do, is make the world a better place
Not just for the few, but for the human race
To end wars and quarrels, make John Lennon's dream come true
To build a new set of morals, it's the least we can do

Show some love and compassion, when people are feeling low
Make it not just a fashion, that may come and go
Bring an end to oppression, 'cause it imprisons the truth
And be free with expression, it's the least we can do

So follow his rainbow, deep into the evening sun
And pray that its colours, will blend together as one
Seek and we may find, the dream he loved to pursue
A peace for all mankind, it's the least we can do

 

[fox69]

"The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll"
(originally by Bob Dylan)

"The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll"
(originally by Bob Dylan)



William Zanzinger killed poor Hattie Carroll
With a cane that he twirled around his diamond ring finger
At a Baltimore hotel society gath'rin'
And the cops were called in and his weapon took from him
As they rode him in custody down to the station
And booked William Zanzinger for first-degree murder
But you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears
Take the rag away from your face
Now ain't the time for your tears

William Zanzinger, who at twenty-four years
Owns a tobacco farm of six hundred acres
With rich wealthy parents who provide and protect him
And high office relations in the politics of Maryland
Reacted to his deed with a shrug of his shoulders
And swear words and sneering, and his tongue it was snarling
In a matter of minutes on bail was out walking
But you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears
Take the rag away from your face
Now ain't the time for your tears

Hattie Carroll was a maid of the kitchen
She was fifty-one years old and gave birth to ten children
Who carried the dishes and took out the garbage
And never sat once at the head of the table
And didn't even talk to the people at the table
Who just cleaned up all the food from the table
And emptied the ashtrays on a whole other level
Got killed by a blow, lay slain by a cane
That sailed through the air and came down through the room
Doomed and determined to destroy all the gentle
And she never done nothing to William Zanzinger
But you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears
Take the rag away from your face
Now ain't the time for your tears

In the courtroom of honor, the judge pounded his gavel
To show that all's equal and that the courts are on the level
And that the strings in the books ain't pulled and persuaded
And that even the nobles get properly handled
Once that the cops have chased after and caught 'em
And that the ladder of law has no top and no bottom
Stared at the person who killed for no reason
Who just happened to be feelin' that way without warnin'
And he spoke through his cloak, most deep and distinguished
And handed out strongly, for penalty and repentance
William Zanzinger with a six-month sentence
Oh, but you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears
Bury the rag deep in your face
For now's the time for your tears

 

[fox69]

"The Ludlow Massacre"

"The Ludlow Massacre"


It was early springtime and the strike was on
They drove us miners out of our homes
Out of the houses that the company owned
Into the tents of the little Ludlow

We were worried bad about our children
State troopers guarded the railway bridge
Every once in a while a bullet would fly
Kick up gravel around our feet

We were so afraid that you'd kill our children
That we dug a cave that was seven foot deep
Took the children and the pregnant women
Down inside the cave to sleep

It was late that night the soldiers waited
Till all us miners were asleep
They crept around one little camp town
And soaked our tents in kerosene

They struck a match and the blaze it started
They pulled the triggers of their Gatling guns
I made a run for the children but the firewall stopped me
Thirteen children died from their guns

I never will forget the looks on the faces
Of the men and women that awful day
As they stood around to preach the funeral
And lay the corpses of the dead away

The women from Trinidad took some potatoes
Up to Wallensburg in a little cart
They sold the potatoes and brought some guns back
Put a gun in every hand

We asked the governor to phone up the president
Ask him call off the National Guard
But the National Guard belonged to the governor
I guess he didn't try very hard

Late one night the troopers charged us
They didn't know that we had guns
The red necked miners shot them troops down
You should have seen those poor boys run

We took some cement and walled the cave up
Where the thirteen little children died
I thanked God for the Mine Workers Union
And then I hung my head and cried

 

[fox69]

"The Mad Lady & Me"

"The Mad Lady & Me"


Among the walls and ruins
Of the horrid civic stone
I walked without a lover
For my older bones
The sun was strong in going down
It was a dreamlike day
It was there we met the trinity
And there I heard them singing
And she said bye bye Mama
Goodbye brother John
Farethee well ye Shandon bells
Ring on, ring on
She leaned and leaned much closer
And she hugs them all goodbye
Her mother cried "don't go my love"
We all must bye and bye
A drunken tongue said "leave her off"
She'll drive us all crazy
She turned around and saw my face
And both of us was she
And she said bye bye Mama
Goodbye brother John
Farethee well ye Shandon bells
Ring on, ring on
Up and to the limestone wall
And down the level steps
She threw herself into the stream
Witha spash and no regrets
Side stroke swimming midstream
Throwing kisses to the crowd
And everything was silent
And the sky had not one cloud
And she said bye bye Mama
Goodbye brother John
Farethee well ye Shandon bells
Ring on, ring on
We were swimming out in the sunset
We were swimming out to sea
Swimming down by the Opera House
The Mad Lady and me

 

[fox69]

"The Night Visit"

"The Night Visit"


Who are you, me pretty fair maid
Who are you, me honey?
Who are you, me pretty fair maid
Who are you, me honey?
She answered me modestly
"Well I am me mammy's darling"
With your too-ry-ah
Fol-de-diddle-dah
Me Day-re fol-de-diddle
Dai-rie oh
And will you come to me mammy's house
When the moon is shining clearly
And will you come to me mammy's house
When the moon is shining clearly
I'll open the door and I'll let you in
And devil the one will hear us
With your too-ry-ah
Fol-de-diddle-dah
Me Day-re fol-de-diddle
Dai-rie oh
So I went to her house in the middle of the night
When the moon was shining clarely
So I went to her house in the middle of the night
When the moon was shining clarely
She opened the door and she let me in
And devil the one did hear us
With your too-ry-ah
Fol-de-diddle-dah
Me Day-re fol-de-diddle
Dai-rie oh
She took me horse by the bridle and the bit
And she led him to the stable
She took me horse by the bridle and the bit
And she led him to the stable
Saying "There's plenty of oats for a soldier's horse
To eat it if he's able"
With your too-ry-ah
Fol-de-diddle-dah
Me Day-re fol-de-diddle
Dai-rie oh
She took me by the lily-white hand
And she led me to the table
She took me by the lily-white hand
And she led me to the table
Saying "There's plenty of wine for a soldier boy
Drink it if you're able"
With your too-ry-ah
Fol-de-diddle-dah
Me Day-re fol-de-diddle
Dai-rie oh
She got up and she made the bed
And she made it nice and aisy
She got up and she made the bed
And she made it nice and aisy
Then she took me by the hand
Saying "Blow out the candle!"
With your too-ry-ah
Fol-de-diddle-dah
Me Day-re fol-de-diddle
Dai-rie oh
There we lay till the break of the day
And devil the one did hear us
There we lay till the break of the day
And devil the one did hear us
She arose and put on her clothes
Saying "Darling, you must leave me"
With your too-ry-ah
Fol-de-diddle-dah
Me Day-re fol-de-diddle
Dai-rie oh
When can I return again
When will we get married
When can I return again
When will we get married
When broken shells make Christmas bells
We might well get married
With your too-ry-ah
Fol-de-diddle-dah
Me Day-re fol-de-diddle
Dai-rie oh

 

[fox69]

"The Other Side"

"The Other Side"


Where John paints in Caribbean colours
And Tyrone boys dream of loving on the strand
Flowers heaped in gesture on the courthouse steps in Kerry
And we trampled on the outstretched hand
Roman posters on the wall outside the graveyard
"No Divorce" is all they say
I saw a little sister of Mercy
Invoke the wrath of God on polling day

Oh the Island, where Tyrone boys dream of loving on the strand
Oh the Island, where we trampled on the outstretched hand

The lady sends squaddies on the water
Geordie don't be afraid to die
In blackened face he dreams of his darling bairns and hinny
On the watchtower overlooking aughnacloy
In Long Kesh the Tyrone Boys are dreaming
Of making love upon the strand some day
On the news came a mid-Atlantic accent
Plastic bullet has taken Julie Livingstone away

Oh the Island, where Tyrone boys dream of loving on the strand
Oh the Island, where we trampled on the outstretched hand

The King he came to see his people
And he took a soldier by the hand
Eyes averted from the Gloucester Diamond
To comfort those who occupy the land
High above the clouds a promised heaven
On the street a confused and homeless child
While men in black declare a social order
Frightened women sail to the other side

Oh the Island, where Tyrone boys dream of loving on the strand
Oh the Island, where we trampled on the outstretched hand

All the young ones are leaving the Island
Out the door, down the steps, around the side
Unwanted they file through departure lounges
Like deportees dispersing far and wide
In the distance there's cricket in Cloughjordan
The gentle clack of croquet on the lawn
As our children shackled by illegal status
Hold their heads down behind the Brooklyn wall

Oh the Island, where Tyrone boys dream of loving on the strand
Oh the Island, where we trampled on the outstretched hand

 

[fox69]

"The Pipers Path"

"The Pipers Path"


Down the Pipers path we followed the Winters sun
On its frosty ride or Autumns frosty pride
And the piper by my side took his tunes from Winters mouth
And played them back to the racing clouds
Through waves of copper trees we followed the purple trees
Past the speckled hen and the seaweed men
On down through the bay of soft weather days
That led us back to the racing ways
Wind and weather they told us all be done
All together they sang us a Winters song
And the piper by my side took his tunes from Winters mouth
And played them back to the racing clouds

 

[fox69]

"The Raggle Taggle Gipsies"

"The Raggle Taggle Gipsies"


There were three auld gypsies came to our hall door
They came brave and boldly-o
And one sang high and the other sang low
And the other sang a raggle taggle gypsy-o

It was upstairs, downstairs the lady went
Put on her suit of leather-o
And it was the cry all around her door
"She's away with the raggle taggle gypsy-o"

It was late that night when the lord came in
Enquiring for his lady-o
And the servant girl's reply to him was
"She's away with the raggle taggle gypsy-o"

"Then saddle for me my milk-white steed
Me big horse is not speedy-o
And I will ride and I'll seek me bride
She's away with the raggle taggle gypsy-o"

He rode east and he rode west
He rode north and south also
And when he rode to the wide open field
It was there that he spied his lady-o

"Arra, why did you leave your house and your land
Why did you leave your money-o?
Why did you leave your only wedded lord
All for the raggle taggle gypsy-o?"

"Yerra what do I care for me house and me land?
What do I care for money-o?
What do I care for me only wedded lord?
I'm away with the raggle taggle gypsy-o"

"It was there last night you'd a goose feather bed
Blankets drawn so comely-o
But tonight you lie in a wide open field
In the arms of the raggle taggle gypsy-o"

"Yerra, what do I care for me goose feather bed?
Yerra, what do I care for blankets-o?
What do I care for me only wedded lord?
I'm away with the raggle taggle gypsy-o"

"Oh, for you rode east when I rode west
You rode high and I rode low
I'd rather have a kiss of the yellow gypsy's lips
Than all the cash and money-o"

 

[fox69]

"The Reel In The Flickering Light"

"The Reel In The Flickering Light"


As I was walking home one evenin'
I know this takes some believin'
I met a group of creatures
With the strangest lookin' features

A poor old dove and a worm in the weed
And a fine old pigeon, yes indeed
A daddy longlegs jumpet sprite
As he danced to the reel in the flickering light
Oh round we go, heel to the toe
And the daddy longlegs jumpet sprite
As he danced to the reel in the flickering light

On his thin and wispy spindles
He was deft and he was nimble
His eyes were scientific
And his dancing was terrific

And the rats and worms they made a din
And the nettles in the corners took it in
"Oh God" says I, "Tonight's the night"
"We'll dance to the reel in the flickering light"
Oh round we go, heel to the toe
"Oh God" says I "tonight's the night
We'll dance to the reel in the flickering light"

Then he looked at me directly
With a gaze that could dissect me
Then he asked me in a whisper
"Have you got any sisters?"

"Oh God almighty" says I to him
"What sort of a man d'you think I am?
I've only one she's not your type
She wouldn't dance the reel in the flickering light"
So round we go, heel to the toe
"I've only one she's not your type
She wouldn't dance a reel in the flickering light"

Says he
"Does she come from another planet?
Does she got a bee in her bonnet?
Does she do her daily duties
You never know we might be suited"

And the rats and the worms began in to laugh
And some of them started shufflin' off
We're goin' to have some fun tonight
Getting ready for the reel in the flickering light
Oh round we go, heel to the toe
We're goin' to have some fun tonight
Getting ready for the reel in the flickering light

I could see he had no scruples
When I looked into his pupils
They were purple or magenta
Like a statue during lent

I said "I'll get her right away"
"Good man" says he "now don't delay"
We're going to have some fun tonight
And he flicked his legs in the flickering light
Oh round we go, heel to the toe
We're goin' to have some fun tonight
And he flicked his legs in the flickering light

Then up stepped a red carnation
And they gave her an ovation
She was warm and enchatin'
As she slowly started dancin'

And the wise old pigeon peeled his eye
And the nettles and the weeds began to sigh
Daddy longlegs said "my-oh-my
Are we ready for the reel in the flickering light?"
Oh round we go, heel to the toe
Daddy longlegs said "my-oh-my
Are we ready for the reel in the flickering light?"

She was gentle, she was charmin'
And I heard him call her "darlin'
He was graceful as a whisper
On his delicate legs of silver

And the rats and worms were still as mice
And the poor old pigeon said "That's nice"
As shimmering there, ah, the lovely bride
As they danced to the reel in the flickering light
Oh round we go, heel to the toe
As shimmering there, ah, the lovely bride
As they danced to the reel in the flickering light

Oh round we go, heel to the toe
As shimmering there, ah, the lovely bride
As they danced to the reel in the flickering light