North And South Lyrics And Chords
Sheet Music With Midi File Included. Christy credits Bono and The Edge with giving a dig out with the writing of this song, nice bit of guitar playing here from Declan Synott. To play along with Christy in the live version of his youtube video then use the first set of guitar chords I have given in the key of G. Return to Christy Moore Song Lyrics .This in my opinion is one of those songs that lost it's way. The song starts out where one thinks, this is going to be a love song but soon looses it's way any after one finishes scanning the words for meaning it's then you realise the song is really about nothing. As I say, it's just my thoughts.
I[G] want to reach out[D] over the Loch
And[C] feel your hand across the water
[G]Walk with you along an[D] unapproved road
Not[C] looking over my shoulder
I[G] wanna see,[D] and I wanna[Em] hear
To under[C]stand your fears
But [G]we're[D] north and[C] south of the river
I've been doing it wrong all of my life
This holy town has turned me over
A young man running from what he didn't understand
While the wind from the Loch just get colder, colder
There was a badness that had its way
But love wasn't lost, love will have its day
North and south of the river
North and south of the river
Can we stop playing this old tattoo
Darling I don't have the answer
I wanna meet you where you are
I don't need ya to surrender
'Cause there's no feeling that's so alone
As when the one you're hurting is your own
North and south of the river
North and south of the river
North and south of the river
Some high ground is not worth taking
Some connections are not worth making
This old church bell no longer ringing
Some old songs are not worth bringing
North... / Higher ground is not worth taking
And[C] feel your hand across the water
[G]Walk with you along an[D] unapproved road
Not[C] looking over my shoulder
I[G] wanna see,[D] and I wanna[Em] hear
To under[C]stand your fears
But [G]we're[D] north and[C] south of the river
I've been doing it wrong all of my life
This holy town has turned me over
A young man running from what he didn't understand
While the wind from the Loch just get colder, colder
There was a badness that had its way
But love wasn't lost, love will have its day
North and south of the river
North and south of the river
Can we stop playing this old tattoo
Darling I don't have the answer
I wanna meet you where you are
I don't need ya to surrender
'Cause there's no feeling that's so alone
As when the one you're hurting is your own
North and south of the river
North and south of the river
North and south of the river
Some high ground is not worth taking
Some connections are not worth making
This old church bell no longer ringing
Some old songs are not worth bringing
North... / Higher ground is not worth taking
Here's the chords in the key of D [ Remember that the first set of chords above are in the key of the Christy version ]
I[D] want to reach out[A] over the Loch
And[G] feel your hand across the water
[D]Walk with you along an[A] unapproved road
Not[G] looking over my shoulder
I[D] wanna see,[A] and I wanna[Bm] hear
To under[G]stand your fears
But [D]we're[A] north and[G] south of the river
I[D] want to reach out[A] over the Loch
And[G] feel your hand across the water
[D]Walk with you along an[A] unapproved road
Not[G] looking over my shoulder
I[D] wanna see,[A] and I wanna[Bm] hear
To under[G]stand your fears
But [D]we're[A] north and[G] south of the river
North and south Christy Moore Sheet Music And Midi File
| north_and_south_of_the_river-midi-file.mid |
🇮🇪 North and South of the River
Type: Irish contemporary folk song
Writers: Bono (Paul Hewson), The Edge (David Evans), and Christy Moore
First Recorded: 1995 (Christy Moore version)
Genre: Irish folk / modern ballad
Themes: Division, peace, reconciliation, shared humanity
🎶 Origins and Songwriting
“North and South of the River” was co-written by Bono and The Edge of U2, along with Christy Moore, in the mid-1990s.
It was written against the backdrop of the Northern Ireland peace process, a time of deep reflection, lingering pain, and hope for reconciliation after decades of conflict.
The collaboration began when Bono and The Edge were working on early material for U2’s Pop album (released 1997).
They invited Christy Moore to the studio, feeling that the song’s emotional core and message suited his grounded folk voice far better than a rock production.
Christy recorded the song for his 1995 album Graffiti Tongue, giving it a stripped-back, heartfelt treatment that captured the emotional complexity of Irish identity — the pain of division, the yearning for peace, and the quiet resilience of ordinary people on both sides of the border.
U2 later released their own version as a B-side to Staring at the Sun (1997), reworking it with fuller production and ambient textures.
🕊️ Themes and Meaning
At its heart, North and South of the River is about healing divisions — between North and South, between Protestant and Catholic, between political and personal wounds.
It doesn’t preach or assign blame; instead, it captures the emotional fatigue and moral ambiguity of a society living in the shadow of violence.
✳️ Central Themes:
Division and Unity:
The “river” is both literal — referring to the border and the River Boyne — and metaphorical, symbolizing the social and spiritual divides that tore Ireland apart.
Everyday Life Amidst Conflict:
The lyrics evoke small, vivid details — “I have done what I’ve done” — suggesting ordinary lives trying to move forward amid fear, pride, and guilt.
Reconciliation and Hope:
The tone is weary but tender. It’s not a triumphant song, but a quietly human one — acknowledging that reconciliation begins with empathy, not slogans.
These lines speak with the voice of lived experience, not ideology — a weary recognition of shared suffering and a call for quiet dignity.
🎧 Christy Moore’s Version (1995)
Christy’s version, the first to be released, is deeply intimate.
Instrumentation: Sparse — just acoustic guitar and subtle bass.
Tone: Reflective, melancholic, yet hopeful.
Delivery: Christy sings it softly, with a conversational phrasing that makes the listener feel like he’s confiding hard-earned wisdom.
This version remains the definitive folk interpretation — rooted in empathy and authenticity, qualities Christy Moore embodies as few others can.
🎸 U2’s Version (1997)
When U2 released their own version two years later, it carried a more cinematic sound.
Arrangement: Ethereal guitars, layered vocals, and ambient textures.
Mood: Dreamlike, distant — turning the song into a meditation on identity and peace from a wider perspective.
Message: The same — unity and understanding — but filtered through U2’s global lens.
Many fans see the two versions as complementary:
Christy’s as the voice of the people, U2’s as the voice of the collective conscience.
🕊️ Cultural and Historical Significance
Released in the run-up to the Good Friday Agreement (1998), North and South of the River arrived during one of the most hopeful — yet uncertain — moments in modern Irish history.
Unlike overtly political songs of earlier decades, this one reflects a post-conflict consciousness: a desire for healing, memory, and coexistence rather than revenge or victory.
It’s now regarded as a modern Irish peace anthem, bridging the folk and rock traditions much like the country it speaks for — divided by politics, but united by humanity.
📚 In Summary
Aspect Details
Title North and South of the River
Writers Christy Moore, Bono, The Edge
Year 1995 (Christy Moore), 1997 (U2)
Genre Contemporary Irish folk
Themes Division, reconciliation, identity, compassion
Mood Reflective, somber, quietly hopeful
Best-known version Christy Moore (Graffiti Tongue, 1995)
💬 Final Thoughts
North and South of the River is one of the most quietly powerful Irish songs of the late 20th century — a piece that transcends politics to touch something more universal:
the human need to belong, to forgive, and to understand.
Where other songs shouted for revolution, this one whispers for peace.
And in that whisper lies its strength.
Type: Irish contemporary folk song
Writers: Bono (Paul Hewson), The Edge (David Evans), and Christy Moore
First Recorded: 1995 (Christy Moore version)
Genre: Irish folk / modern ballad
Themes: Division, peace, reconciliation, shared humanity
🎶 Origins and Songwriting
“North and South of the River” was co-written by Bono and The Edge of U2, along with Christy Moore, in the mid-1990s.
It was written against the backdrop of the Northern Ireland peace process, a time of deep reflection, lingering pain, and hope for reconciliation after decades of conflict.
The collaboration began when Bono and The Edge were working on early material for U2’s Pop album (released 1997).
They invited Christy Moore to the studio, feeling that the song’s emotional core and message suited his grounded folk voice far better than a rock production.
Christy recorded the song for his 1995 album Graffiti Tongue, giving it a stripped-back, heartfelt treatment that captured the emotional complexity of Irish identity — the pain of division, the yearning for peace, and the quiet resilience of ordinary people on both sides of the border.
U2 later released their own version as a B-side to Staring at the Sun (1997), reworking it with fuller production and ambient textures.
🕊️ Themes and Meaning
At its heart, North and South of the River is about healing divisions — between North and South, between Protestant and Catholic, between political and personal wounds.
It doesn’t preach or assign blame; instead, it captures the emotional fatigue and moral ambiguity of a society living in the shadow of violence.
✳️ Central Themes:
Division and Unity:
The “river” is both literal — referring to the border and the River Boyne — and metaphorical, symbolizing the social and spiritual divides that tore Ireland apart.
Everyday Life Amidst Conflict:
The lyrics evoke small, vivid details — “I have done what I’ve done” — suggesting ordinary lives trying to move forward amid fear, pride, and guilt.
Reconciliation and Hope:
The tone is weary but tender. It’s not a triumphant song, but a quietly human one — acknowledging that reconciliation begins with empathy, not slogans.
These lines speak with the voice of lived experience, not ideology — a weary recognition of shared suffering and a call for quiet dignity.
🎧 Christy Moore’s Version (1995)
Christy’s version, the first to be released, is deeply intimate.
Instrumentation: Sparse — just acoustic guitar and subtle bass.
Tone: Reflective, melancholic, yet hopeful.
Delivery: Christy sings it softly, with a conversational phrasing that makes the listener feel like he’s confiding hard-earned wisdom.
This version remains the definitive folk interpretation — rooted in empathy and authenticity, qualities Christy Moore embodies as few others can.
🎸 U2’s Version (1997)
When U2 released their own version two years later, it carried a more cinematic sound.
Arrangement: Ethereal guitars, layered vocals, and ambient textures.
Mood: Dreamlike, distant — turning the song into a meditation on identity and peace from a wider perspective.
Message: The same — unity and understanding — but filtered through U2’s global lens.
Many fans see the two versions as complementary:
Christy’s as the voice of the people, U2’s as the voice of the collective conscience.
🕊️ Cultural and Historical Significance
Released in the run-up to the Good Friday Agreement (1998), North and South of the River arrived during one of the most hopeful — yet uncertain — moments in modern Irish history.
Unlike overtly political songs of earlier decades, this one reflects a post-conflict consciousness: a desire for healing, memory, and coexistence rather than revenge or victory.
It’s now regarded as a modern Irish peace anthem, bridging the folk and rock traditions much like the country it speaks for — divided by politics, but united by humanity.
📚 In Summary
Aspect Details
Title North and South of the River
Writers Christy Moore, Bono, The Edge
Year 1995 (Christy Moore), 1997 (U2)
Genre Contemporary Irish folk
Themes Division, reconciliation, identity, compassion
Mood Reflective, somber, quietly hopeful
Best-known version Christy Moore (Graffiti Tongue, 1995)
💬 Final Thoughts
North and South of the River is one of the most quietly powerful Irish songs of the late 20th century — a piece that transcends politics to touch something more universal:
the human need to belong, to forgive, and to understand.
Where other songs shouted for revolution, this one whispers for peace.
And in that whisper lies its strength.
