It was a dark and dirty morning and my day had just begun. Storm Barra was battering Britain, so I knew I wouldn’t be venturing out today. There was a knock on the door. It was a soggy postman with a package for me. I knew what it was, a new CD by Christy Moore called Flying Into Mystery. Great! that was my day sorted out. I made myself a cup of tea and sat down to give the music my full attention. It is two years since the wonderful live Magic Nights album, and five years since Lily his last studio album was released. I must say that at the age of 76 Christy’s voice sounds as good or better than ever. He is ably assisted on this new album by Jim Higgins on percussion and organ, Seamie O’Dowd on guitar, harmonica, bouzouki, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, bass, and vocals, Gavin Murphy on keyboards and orchestral arrangements, Mark Redmond on uilleann pipes, James Blennerhassett on double bass and Christy’s son Andy Moore on backing vocals.
The opening song Johnny Boy was written by the late great guitar player Gary Moore. The song originally featured on Gary’s 1987 album, Wild Frontier, and was a tribute to his friend and former Thin Lizzy bandmate, Phil Lynott. (The name Johnny cropped up in a lot of Phil Lynott's songs, and also album titles) I have written previously about when I saw Gary when he was only 18 and in the band Skid Row. I still think to this day that Gary was one of the greatest guitar players of all time. He wasn’t the greatest of singers though in my opinion, which is why I prefer Christy’s version of this great song. It tears you up emotionally, especially if it reminds you of a lost friend or loved one. As well as the voice, the harmonica and soulful pipes are played exquisitely. (Listen to Johnny Boy below) Clock Winds Down is a very topical reminder of the climate catastrophe which is already happening to the planet. It is written by Jim Page, who wrote Hiroshima Nagasaki Russian Roulette, which Christy recorded with Moving Hearts. I wonder if Greta Thunberg has heard this song. I think she would approve.
On Christy’s previous studio album Lily one of my favourite songs was The Gardener written by Paul Doran and on this album another song by Paul is included called Greenland. You can notice the similar poetic style in the lyrics, which are obviously written by someone who is close to nature. Christy’s son Andy also sings on this track. Flying Into Mystery has been previously recorded as 16 Fishermen Raving. When I read the lyrics on Christy’s website https://www.christymoore.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Lyrics-and-Sleevenotes-Flying-Into-Mystery.pdf I couldn’t understand the significance of fishermen carrying a caul, so I googled it and found that in folklore people believed that possession of a baby's caul would bring its bearer good luck and protect that person from death by drowning. Cauls were therefore highly prized by sailors and fishermen because a caul was regarded as a valuable talisman. The next song is Gasun which is another word I didn’t understand until recently. I think it means young boy or lad. Probably similar to the French word garcon meaning boy. It is a sad song by Tom Tuohy and Ciaran Connaughton about homelessness. All I Remember is another song that Christy has recorded before. It is written by Mick Hanly and although the words are humorous there is a dark undercurrent from the days when priests and nuns called the shots. I can relate to all that because although brought up in England I went to a catholic primary school where we were taught by nuns, the Sisters of Charity. Some of them were awful, but I tell you they weren’t all bad. There was one called Sister Theresa who always gave me a present on St Patricks Day.
December 1942 is lyrically one of the most harrowing songs I have ever heard. It is a graphic description of a train full of Jewish people arriving at a concentration camp. Christy has dedicated it to Tomi Reichental and in the sleeve notes it says that Tomi has written a book called I Was A Boy In Belsen. I might read that book soon. The song is written by Ricky Lynch from Cork. Although it is difficult to listen to this song, I think it is important to be reminded of the fragility of so-called ‘civilisation’ and how easy it is to descend into chaos and hatred. You only have to look at the news to see how fascism is again rearing its ugly head around the world. Van Diemen’s Land is a traditional song which Christy learned from Mike Waterson in Hull in 1968. As you know, if you read my stories on here regularly that I am a big fan of The Watersons.
Bord Na Mona Man is another song which got me googling. I found out that Bord Na Mona is a semi-state company in Ireland, created in 1946 by the Turf Development Act 1946. The development of peatlands involved the mechanised harvesting of peat, which took place primarily in the Midlands of Ireland. The song shows the great sense of humour that Christy is blessed with. I love the banjo playing by Seamie as well.
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| Zozimus |
Myra’s Caboose also has some funny lyrics. Christy heard it played by Willie Clancy in 1964 as The Gander and Christy has put his own re-arrangement to it, set it in an old railway carriage and changed the title. Zozimus & Zimmerman is an interesting song. Wikipedia tells us that Michael J Moran (c. 1794 – 3 April 1846), popularly known as Zozimus, was an Irish street rhymer. He was a resident of Dublin and known as the "Blind Bard of the Liberties" and the "Last of the Gleemen". Zimmerman as you know is none other than Bob Dylan. The two come together in this very clever song by Christy and Wally Page. There is almost a complete setlist of Dylan songs in the lyrics. The album closes with a fabulous rendition of Dylan’s I Pity The Poor Immigrant. This song has also taken on new meaning recently when you look at the plight of refugees around the world. I have mainly mentioned the lyrics in this review, but I must say that the arrangements on this and other songs by Gavin Murphy are wonderful and all the musicians deserve praise. This album is a fine addition to the great body of work by the one and only Christy Moore.
