Ride On Song lyrics and guitar chords
The sheet music, and mandolin / 4 string banjo tab are is cluded. Christy Moore and written by songwriter Jimmy McCarthy who has written folk songs for many Irish singers including Katie [ lyrics / chords ] for Mary Black. Tin whistle notes are included. Recorded by many other singers and bands including Rapalje and Celtic Thunder plus the Irish ballad group The High Kings.. Christy uses a capo on the first fret. Recently recorded by Celtic Thunder and by Mary Coughlan. The group Cruachan recorded it in 2006 and up until 2015 had more than 600,000 hits on youtube. Included here is an easy to play version in Am along with the guitar chords that Christy Moore sings in. It's got to be one of the shortest songs on the whole site, just two verses and a chorus. The pdf of the piano sheet music is included.
About Ride On By Jimmy McCarthy
People often ask me about this song but, purely and simply, it is a song of parting. The parting of lovers, the parting of emigrants from their homeland and friends, the parting when illness or accident takes the life of a loved one. I have been asked to sing this song at many funeral services and, somehow, it always feels right.
Christy Moore recorded this song on his Ride On album in 1984 and it was my first hit. I will always be grateful to him for giving me the start with what would have been then regarded as a most unlikely song-writing voice. Christy obviously recognised 'Ride On' as a song of parting when, on its release, he dedicated it to the memory of the great Luke Kelly.
I am often asked about the line 'Run the claw along my gut one last time' (in the same way as I'm asked about the line 'I am the geek with the alchemist's stone', from my song 'The Bright Blue Rose'). These dramatic lines jolt the listener into a deeper engagement, or at least this was my intention in employing such devices. That is not to say that they were not a natural part of the flow of expression but, while most writers would edit them out, I feel that a song, like life, depends on the decisions one makes and these decisions were not taken lightly.
Some people may think that I just throw paint at the canvas, but there is exactitude and detail in the placing of every word and phrase until I am satisfied that the lyric is absolutely watertight. It has always bothered me that the previously mentioned line from 'Ride On' has often been changed to 'Run your claw along my gut one last time', which clearly denotes an intention to cause pain, when the pain I envisioned is simply the pain of living life. The pain of parting and separation that no life can escape. Life is hard. Ride on.
Jimmy McCarthy
People often ask me about this song but, purely and simply, it is a song of parting. The parting of lovers, the parting of emigrants from their homeland and friends, the parting when illness or accident takes the life of a loved one. I have been asked to sing this song at many funeral services and, somehow, it always feels right.
Christy Moore recorded this song on his Ride On album in 1984 and it was my first hit. I will always be grateful to him for giving me the start with what would have been then regarded as a most unlikely song-writing voice. Christy obviously recognised 'Ride On' as a song of parting when, on its release, he dedicated it to the memory of the great Luke Kelly.
I am often asked about the line 'Run the claw along my gut one last time' (in the same way as I'm asked about the line 'I am the geek with the alchemist's stone', from my song 'The Bright Blue Rose'). These dramatic lines jolt the listener into a deeper engagement, or at least this was my intention in employing such devices. That is not to say that they were not a natural part of the flow of expression but, while most writers would edit them out, I feel that a song, like life, depends on the decisions one makes and these decisions were not taken lightly.
Some people may think that I just throw paint at the canvas, but there is exactitude and detail in the placing of every word and phrase until I am satisfied that the lyric is absolutely watertight. It has always bothered me that the previously mentioned line from 'Ride On' has often been changed to 'Run your claw along my gut one last time', which clearly denotes an intention to cause pain, when the pain I envisioned is simply the pain of living life. The pain of parting and separation that no life can escape. Life is hard. Ride on.
Jimmy McCarthy
True[Am] you ride the finest horse I've[F] ever seen
[G]Standing sixteen one or two with eyes[Am] wild and green
And[Am] you ride the horse so well hands[F] light to the totch
[G]I could never go with you no matter how I[Am] wanted to
[Chorus]
[Am]Ride on,[F]see you,
[G]I could never go with you no matter how I[Am] wanted to
When you ride into the night without a trace behind
Run your claw along my gut one last time
I turn to face an empty space where you used to lie
And look for the smile to light the night through a teardrop in my eye.
[Chorus twice]
[G]Standing sixteen one or two with eyes[Am] wild and green
And[Am] you ride the horse so well hands[F] light to the totch
[G]I could never go with you no matter how I[Am] wanted to
[Chorus]
[Am]Ride on,[F]see you,
[G]I could never go with you no matter how I[Am] wanted to
When you ride into the night without a trace behind
Run your claw along my gut one last time
I turn to face an empty space where you used to lie
And look for the smile to light the night through a teardrop in my eye.
[Chorus twice]
Key of G
True[Em] you ride the finest horse I've[C] ever seen
[D]Standing sixteen one or two with eyes[Em] wild and green
And[Em] you ride the horse so well hands[C] light to the totch
[D]I could never go with you no matter how I[Em] wanted to
[Em]Ride on,[C]see you,
[D]I could never go with you no matter how I[Em] wanted to
True[Em] you ride the finest horse I've[C] ever seen
[D]Standing sixteen one or two with eyes[Em] wild and green
And[Em] you ride the horse so well hands[C] light to the totch
[D]I could never go with you no matter how I[Em] wanted to
[Em]Ride on,[C]see you,
[D]I could never go with you no matter how I[Em] wanted to
Here's the chords for the key that Christy sings the song in.
[Bbm]True you ride the finest horse I've[F#] ever seen
Stand[Ab]ing six[Cm]teen [Ab]one or two with eyes[Bbm]] wild and green
And[Bbm]] you ride the horse so well hands[F#] light to the totch
[Ab]I could [Cm]never go with you no matter how I[bBM] wanted to
[Chorus]
[Bbm]Ride on,[F#]see you,
[Ab]I could [Cm]never go with you no matter how I[Bbm] wanted to.
Below is the sheet music for Ride On
[Bbm]True you ride the finest horse I've[F#] ever seen
Stand[Ab]ing six[Cm]teen [Ab]one or two with eyes[Bbm]] wild and green
And[Bbm]] you ride the horse so well hands[F#] light to the totch
[Ab]I could [Cm]never go with you no matter how I[bBM] wanted to
[Chorus]
[Bbm]Ride on,[F#]see you,
[Ab]I could [Cm]never go with you no matter how I[Bbm] wanted to.
Below is the sheet music for Ride On
Ride On piano sheet music with chords
| ride-on-piano-sheet-0music-by-christy-moore.pdf |
Ride on song by Christy Moore
Ride On singer Christy Moore
Ride On Tin Whistle Letter Notes
Verse:
E E E D E F# G
E E F# G
F# F# F# F# G F# F#
E E E D E
E E E D E F# G
E E E F# G
F# F# F# F# G F# F# F# F# E F# G G E E
Chorus:
E G
G E
F# F# F# F# G F# F# F# F# E F# G G E E
Originally written by Jimmy MacCarthy, this is a very simple and captivating tune.
Verse:
E E E D E F# G
E E F# G
F# F# F# F# G F# F#
E E E D E
E E E D E F# G
E E E F# G
F# F# F# F# G F# F# F# F# E F# G G E E
Chorus:
E G
G E
F# F# F# F# G F# F# F# F# E F# G G E E
Originally written by Jimmy MacCarthy, this is a very simple and captivating tune.
Below is the list of songs in the Christy Moore pdf song book. Over 50 of Christy's greatest songs
with sheet music and tin whistle notes. Price €8.75. Ride on included.
with sheet music and tin whistle notes. Price €8.75. Ride on included.
The Irish folk music tradition has always been an integral part of the country's cultural identity, and one of its most iconic figures is singer-songwriter Christy Moore. Known for his powerful and emotive voice, Moore has been a prominent figure in the Irish music scene for over five decades. Among his vast repertoire of songs, one stands out as a timeless classic that has captured the hearts of listeners across generations – 'Ride On'.
Released in 1984, 'Ride On' is a song that has become synonymous with Jimmy McCarthy and has cemented his status as a master storyteller. The song is a poignant and melancholic ballad that tells the story of a man who is reflecting on his past and contemplating his future. The lyrics are simple yet profound, and they evoke a sense of nostalgia, longing, and hope. Through his soulful rendition, Moore takes the listener on a journey of self-discovery, exploring themes of love, loss, and the inevitable passage of time.
One of the reasons why 'Ride On' has stood the test of time is its universal appeal. The song's message is relatable to people of all ages and backgrounds, as it speaks to the common human experience of love and loss. Moore's flawless delivery, coupled with the hauntingly beautiful melody, creates an emotional resonance that strikes a chord with listeners on a deeper level.
Furthermore, 'Ride On' is a reflection of Moore's mastery of the Irish ballad tradition. The song's musical structure and instrumentation draw heavily from the traditional Irish folk style, with its use of acoustic guitar. Moore's unique vocal style, which combines elements of both speaking and singing, is also a nod to the traditional style of storytelling in Irish folk music. By incorporating these elements, Moore pays homage to his roots while also adding his own personal touch to the song.
Beyond its musical and cultural significance, 'Ride On' also holds a special place in the hearts of many due to its powerful and thought-provoking lyrics. The song's message of resilience and determination in the face of adversity is one that resonates deeply with listeners, especially during difficult times. In a world where people are constantly struggling to find their place and make sense of their lives, 'Ride On' serves as a reminder to keep moving forward, no matter what obstacles may come our way.
In conclusion, 'Ride On' by Christy Moore is not just a song, but a profound and timeless piece of art that has captured the hearts and minds of people for over three decades. Its universal appeal, musical brilliance, and powerful message make it a true masterpiece in the world of Irish folk music. Through this song, Moore has solidified his place as a true legend of the genre, and his legacy will continue to ride on for generations to come.
Released in 1984, 'Ride On' is a song that has become synonymous with Jimmy McCarthy and has cemented his status as a master storyteller. The song is a poignant and melancholic ballad that tells the story of a man who is reflecting on his past and contemplating his future. The lyrics are simple yet profound, and they evoke a sense of nostalgia, longing, and hope. Through his soulful rendition, Moore takes the listener on a journey of self-discovery, exploring themes of love, loss, and the inevitable passage of time.
One of the reasons why 'Ride On' has stood the test of time is its universal appeal. The song's message is relatable to people of all ages and backgrounds, as it speaks to the common human experience of love and loss. Moore's flawless delivery, coupled with the hauntingly beautiful melody, creates an emotional resonance that strikes a chord with listeners on a deeper level.
Furthermore, 'Ride On' is a reflection of Moore's mastery of the Irish ballad tradition. The song's musical structure and instrumentation draw heavily from the traditional Irish folk style, with its use of acoustic guitar. Moore's unique vocal style, which combines elements of both speaking and singing, is also a nod to the traditional style of storytelling in Irish folk music. By incorporating these elements, Moore pays homage to his roots while also adding his own personal touch to the song.
Beyond its musical and cultural significance, 'Ride On' also holds a special place in the hearts of many due to its powerful and thought-provoking lyrics. The song's message of resilience and determination in the face of adversity is one that resonates deeply with listeners, especially during difficult times. In a world where people are constantly struggling to find their place and make sense of their lives, 'Ride On' serves as a reminder to keep moving forward, no matter what obstacles may come our way.
In conclusion, 'Ride On' by Christy Moore is not just a song, but a profound and timeless piece of art that has captured the hearts and minds of people for over three decades. Its universal appeal, musical brilliance, and powerful message make it a true masterpiece in the world of Irish folk music. Through this song, Moore has solidified his place as a true legend of the genre, and his legacy will continue to ride on for generations to come.
Interview with Mary Coughlan by Irish Music Magazine
Very much my name is Lar Flynn, and I guess today is singer Mary Copland from Galway here in Ireland Mary is also an author a songwriter and an actress she is known across Ireland UK Europe and beyond for her soul folk sultry and bluesy voice as my pleasure to talk with Mary cotton today for Irish music magazines official podcast Mary thanks for inviting me here and it's good to see you very good see you too are and welcome to my home thank you I'm under people could see your home they would be familiar with it because you did a lot of Facebook live concerts from here so looking out there I'm familiar with the with the location the Landscape is well I did a lot of time walking singing things at the beginning of it all last year so we want you to mention the c word okay the reason I mentioned that is because you were probably one of the first people to do the Facebook Live kicks you know I think it was a welcome addition to people what are we going to do because I think you were you did something and I think you would finish singing all road or something like that and Todd okay that was Saint Patrick's Day yeah and then you talk okay we'll be out of here in a couple of weeks and really thought that and and then I don't know why I started to do the singing up just walked up to mountain everywhere trying to get fit and it started singing that these Are a Few of my favorite things one day and I just put it up on Facebook and everyone loved it so I started doing I did about I did him about 75 or 80 in a row and then I started when when the band could travel out here because three of them live close by to the live close by and one of them lives in town so when he could travel close but out to Wicklow.
I am set up lights a sound on Murphy was put up a sound system because I wanted everybody was doing zooms from different rooms on different planets and everything and like one person was in one house and another country and you know I just couldn't do that I was bad enough to zoom interviews but I couldn't get it together to do the zoom song and we had we tried and it was delay and everything and I'm living the country anyways because and after we went and by the end of by the end of Israel and weeks we were getting 220,000 reached over the internet people would never ever have you know been able to reach I had I had people I looked at all of the comments and it the following night are going to the room set up on the bed with the computer and I answered as many as I could and I felt people were sending me photographs of themselves in their own house like you know just with friends or with family drink a cup of tea or glass of wine and they were watching us on the big screen on the telly and you were there you were there no doubt in a certain that was there an idea so I was like every Thursday night for about 10 weeks so it was it was and the garden was beautiful and remember the weather yeah it's like this last year and we had great weather and was beautiful so it was I kind of missed them but just just for all times sake we did one last month that's right brilliant yeah but lucky few were supposed as well because you did something last month maybe it was the month before as well you got to go to London and do two live gigs and in front of an audience I know we had two people 200 people with without face masks on I guess so I I had I was a little nervous I had reservations about gone but like that you know I said been cancelled or rescheduled like five times and Vince car have gone Vince forever you know and he did look it's safest and over here I'll get you up from the airport and you know it's in hotel and you know it's got it's gonna be all you have to do is leave your room come into the gate and go back to your own shall we were walking All Over Camden and we went both on the on the lock and everything we had a great time we had wonderful it was the first weekend we were out on the band and it was like brilliant you know people looking up at us it was like so weird.
It wasn't just like performance all over again no delirious came back to me for some strange reason and and woman came up to me at the end of the age and that's the first time I haven't thought about covid for three hours and it was really nice and you know meeting people afterwards I as I was a little nervous I did keep my distance so subsidies I talked to everybody but like 200 people like you swears was 2000 too it was just so Grace to have that feedback because we had been doing the other gigs and the Facebook Live Gates people talked here all the time you're doing a heart love hearts and likes and turns up and you know so that's kind of nice but I found it very difficult to do the other gigs you know the live streaming gigs where it was just me and I didn't know anything that was going on you know just pretend to somebody there like you know you're not getting an immediately and you used to get the reaction you know and also you did one on the island as well it was a beautiful outdoor amphitheater and Clark jorgon and county Tipperary not far from Nenagh they built it it's a purpose built and Theater for gigs and plays like the old-fashion and they were only allowed to have 100 people in and this was like it was like a thousand you know there were so happy and even by the end of the evening there were up like socially distant around your Facebook as well and of course exactly and do the reason I'm delighted to be here as well because you're busy you've been busy the last couple of weeks we put this off for a little boy because you have been so busy and in the last week alone you don't ten lunchtime gigs I did this Guy Called Gerald keregrine and he's a cellist and he plays with the orchestra his uncle was Frank and he plays with the R.T.E. Symphony Orchestra he plays with orchestra's all over the world he's wonderful tell us and a girl that he's been working with she's the violin player and stages decided last year to go and sit outside nursing homes because there were so many pictures on TV about family members sitting outside nursing looking in Windows.
So they decided to go and serenade them beautiful both inside and outside and then it got a little bit of notice and they got some funding and they've done 600 concerts all over Ireland and they've been doing concerts in the freezing cold the west the cold there wasn't a canopy but chills them from the sun and the rain and they've never missed a week they do approximately two gigs a day five days a week nice to be part of it it was extraordinary we did somebody in House Down In Our Clothes we did some just care homes you know in very certainly maybe people who are dementia just people who are full of life and in barcelomes you know just you know and lovellers loving us we did mostly holiday sets and the guys would do some classical stuff and as fab really really nice was Billy holiday your hero she I heard really holiday when I was I was 18 I was living in London and I went to see a movie called Lady Sings the Blues with Diana Ross and then the next day I never heard of Billie Holiday the next day I got up and I went down porch below road and I bought all these albums which are still have really yeah lady and Fatima was the first one I bought which was her last album and then I started discover and then when I started taking her songs and people knew I was a big billion to her for whatever reason it started that she did a radio shows like the ultra career you know and it's from all over the world treasures for you had an album ready to go yeah and you probably had a tour lined open so my parents or things like that and you see the album life stories taken our life of its own because it now comes with little drawings that you don't talk about that in a minute as well putting that off and eventually getting it out there it must have been just it must have been a relief to get it out there for some foremost yeah.
It was like I finished the finished the last the last track on I came home and the 24th of February 2020 and we had released it for made the fifth my birthday and I was going to be 64 and I had every festival that you could imagine from Glastonbury to Norway Iceland Finland the Galway Arts Festival everything was lined up for this over 34 festivals and great gigs all over the place and we're pressed lined up and everything and then March the 11th happened or the 17th or whatever it was and that was the end of the road guy yeah and for some strange reason I said well okay well that's that I think maybe from learning to you know learn into I don't know you learn a lot through when you when you start it recovery from from alcohol you learned one of the first things you learned is acceptance so I accept us that everything was gone but not forever I thought everything would be back in June and then I thought everything would be icon September so everyone was assuring make that go for September go for a September release that went for a September release and I stuck to it yeah and I didn't happen but the price came out I got loads and loads and it's all came out in September and I started selling CDs a lot of people took pictures are active pictures of myself from people started posting pictures on online on Twitter and stuff because I would draw a little picture little just for whatever he went to my head I Christmas I started to do Christmas on Easter I started doing themed ones bunnies but people on Facebook our Twitter they would put up the pictures that framed so then some people are ringing me and telling me that they did they bought they listen to the album on Spotify and they were just bone the album because they wanted the pictures and even now just finished three for CDS that were just ordered after you on the morning we kept the post office busy I tell you last year and a few people in enveloped some stamps was great I did.
I actually just before for the magazine for the Irish music magazine and print print edition it was late last year but there was a quote I read and let's say the album could be a soundtrack to your boy or pick and because it sums are beautiful and I think it's very personal album to you and the songs are indeed can you tell us a bit about some of the songs maybe and we might play some of them as well during the show okay as well like I know a family life is under it's a song that you wanted record for for a while yeah family life to answer blue and Isle of loved them for years in the nightmare was very I have we had been down in Galway with the with the three kids up and down up and down up and down for about 10 weeks and the last like week we stayed down came back to Dublin on the Sunday night so they have to get the kids back to school and my sister called just as we were headed into Luke and the M50 and there weren't built yet so my sister said he had better come back down so we just turned the car around at the next exit back down to Galway and my mother passed away and the nice she was buried over decided you know we had the lunch and everything's looking I wanted to get back to Dublin to process stuff and you know maybe get the kids into some sort of normal and on the radio can this song and I was driving and I was just bought I'm crying at the kids were falling crying and it was oh Tamil and Claire my daughter lives here and I heard the song is she wrote down the name of the album and I mean it's rented completely I didn't know saying I just listened to the words and music and I was just brought me the album for Christmas and blue nails new album so I wanted to do the song and I did it last for thought it was the Grace idea and we took a gamble by putting on as the open track looks really well now they're happy to start with yeah and the other songs he had written high heel boots and I you know five though but it's still feel like you're 35-year-old you're lying so you know he asked me you know start later I'm with it for a while and I got the boots out and I put them up on the kitchen table and I said yeah maybe maybe I'll get back into the boots you know and then I started to write songs that and he said look where you've got an awful let's say you have a life and you've been very public about it so he sat down over many many weekends and many long weeks in London at his house and we said about doing the album and these beautiful studio and I worked with peace in 1990 we did the album uncertain lectures and we got like invisible and manage the world too big hits that I had international hits like international space international close to home and things like safe and sound your old tree.
I wrote that yeah so some of those I'm sorry I wrote safe and sound kind of a lullaby really for my grandchildren and my kids and and it tell s really the whole story about like I was never safe and sound and how could I have been and and make sure that you are and I kind of dedicated my last 24 years I suppose really to make an immense and making life safe for my family and their families you know are they easy to write or the Grace I can't I couldn't write for tips I mean I couldn't I have to have somebody there yeah and getting this out of my dragon is out and and then when the album was just finished we had 10 songs done and we had another one record that we didn't put on we kept it for in case we needed a single and then Pete said you've never actually spoken about your second marriage breakup and he said is it still too Iraq this is not all I don't will tell me about it tell me what happened tell me how it felt and I had never considered right in the song about that and eventually about two days later we had this song called two breaking into one which is the single which was the most played song on Irish radio across every single station last year we were kind of gone for a dusty Sila kind of yeah yeah I couldn't figure I mean he's the musical genius you know I just said a few stories to tell somebody I was glad to get that one out so I have very little unexplored territory I'm pointing to think that you couldn't write or you couldn't talk about them because you know from people who know you now I'm from singing on television and your concerts I know that you're very open I'm very public about your past so riding about it and thinking about it must have been just a thing that you didn't want to do and I never talked as I could write the songs because I thought that other people wrote much like I have some Johnny Moynahan songs and Molly paid songs and I thought other people could write much better songs than I could I said what's the point in writing you know preppy little songs just to get the the PRS or the immoral money for them you know I can take a Mark Nevin song and sing it as if it's my own you know our pizza you know you've got to tell them and your own way and and you know I'll help you and like Eric before scars on the calendar album we did that here and the house and he had Parkinson's Disease and he didn't really was able to work in a studio and we worked very very slowly and we had a studio here in the house we had guitar room of double bass room a vocal boost over there it's all curse and off and we had a desk get here and my son and his friend put in the desk first and all the microphones yet really good stuff and very very slowly did an album you know which was very personal deserved it was and it's called life stories and you can get them on Mary cotton and what's website Mary again a very comfortable music.com I have a few a few of the albums that they're in our life stories there the house of a repute and live and Kicking is there which I didn't Vicar Street and would you be surprised to know that it's your 17th release and yeah people always asking me which releases I didn't know the 17 I thought it was 15 but 17 is out I'll tell you what I'm gonna play a couple of songs from it I'm gonna play two breaking into one and I'm gonna play the high heels one as well okay
Very much my name is Lar Flynn, and I guess today is singer Mary Copland from Galway here in Ireland Mary is also an author a songwriter and an actress she is known across Ireland UK Europe and beyond for her soul folk sultry and bluesy voice as my pleasure to talk with Mary cotton today for Irish music magazines official podcast Mary thanks for inviting me here and it's good to see you very good see you too are and welcome to my home thank you I'm under people could see your home they would be familiar with it because you did a lot of Facebook live concerts from here so looking out there I'm familiar with the with the location the Landscape is well I did a lot of time walking singing things at the beginning of it all last year so we want you to mention the c word okay the reason I mentioned that is because you were probably one of the first people to do the Facebook Live kicks you know I think it was a welcome addition to people what are we going to do because I think you were you did something and I think you would finish singing all road or something like that and Todd okay that was Saint Patrick's Day yeah and then you talk okay we'll be out of here in a couple of weeks and really thought that and and then I don't know why I started to do the singing up just walked up to mountain everywhere trying to get fit and it started singing that these Are a Few of my favorite things one day and I just put it up on Facebook and everyone loved it so I started doing I did about I did him about 75 or 80 in a row and then I started when when the band could travel out here because three of them live close by to the live close by and one of them lives in town so when he could travel close but out to Wicklow.
I am set up lights a sound on Murphy was put up a sound system because I wanted everybody was doing zooms from different rooms on different planets and everything and like one person was in one house and another country and you know I just couldn't do that I was bad enough to zoom interviews but I couldn't get it together to do the zoom song and we had we tried and it was delay and everything and I'm living the country anyways because and after we went and by the end of by the end of Israel and weeks we were getting 220,000 reached over the internet people would never ever have you know been able to reach I had I had people I looked at all of the comments and it the following night are going to the room set up on the bed with the computer and I answered as many as I could and I felt people were sending me photographs of themselves in their own house like you know just with friends or with family drink a cup of tea or glass of wine and they were watching us on the big screen on the telly and you were there you were there no doubt in a certain that was there an idea so I was like every Thursday night for about 10 weeks so it was it was and the garden was beautiful and remember the weather yeah it's like this last year and we had great weather and was beautiful so it was I kind of missed them but just just for all times sake we did one last month that's right brilliant yeah but lucky few were supposed as well because you did something last month maybe it was the month before as well you got to go to London and do two live gigs and in front of an audience I know we had two people 200 people with without face masks on I guess so I I had I was a little nervous I had reservations about gone but like that you know I said been cancelled or rescheduled like five times and Vince car have gone Vince forever you know and he did look it's safest and over here I'll get you up from the airport and you know it's in hotel and you know it's got it's gonna be all you have to do is leave your room come into the gate and go back to your own shall we were walking All Over Camden and we went both on the on the lock and everything we had a great time we had wonderful it was the first weekend we were out on the band and it was like brilliant you know people looking up at us it was like so weird.
It wasn't just like performance all over again no delirious came back to me for some strange reason and and woman came up to me at the end of the age and that's the first time I haven't thought about covid for three hours and it was really nice and you know meeting people afterwards I as I was a little nervous I did keep my distance so subsidies I talked to everybody but like 200 people like you swears was 2000 too it was just so Grace to have that feedback because we had been doing the other gigs and the Facebook Live Gates people talked here all the time you're doing a heart love hearts and likes and turns up and you know so that's kind of nice but I found it very difficult to do the other gigs you know the live streaming gigs where it was just me and I didn't know anything that was going on you know just pretend to somebody there like you know you're not getting an immediately and you used to get the reaction you know and also you did one on the island as well it was a beautiful outdoor amphitheater and Clark jorgon and county Tipperary not far from Nenagh they built it it's a purpose built and Theater for gigs and plays like the old-fashion and they were only allowed to have 100 people in and this was like it was like a thousand you know there were so happy and even by the end of the evening there were up like socially distant around your Facebook as well and of course exactly and do the reason I'm delighted to be here as well because you're busy you've been busy the last couple of weeks we put this off for a little boy because you have been so busy and in the last week alone you don't ten lunchtime gigs I did this Guy Called Gerald keregrine and he's a cellist and he plays with the orchestra his uncle was Frank and he plays with the R.T.E. Symphony Orchestra he plays with orchestra's all over the world he's wonderful tell us and a girl that he's been working with she's the violin player and stages decided last year to go and sit outside nursing homes because there were so many pictures on TV about family members sitting outside nursing looking in Windows.
So they decided to go and serenade them beautiful both inside and outside and then it got a little bit of notice and they got some funding and they've done 600 concerts all over Ireland and they've been doing concerts in the freezing cold the west the cold there wasn't a canopy but chills them from the sun and the rain and they've never missed a week they do approximately two gigs a day five days a week nice to be part of it it was extraordinary we did somebody in House Down In Our Clothes we did some just care homes you know in very certainly maybe people who are dementia just people who are full of life and in barcelomes you know just you know and lovellers loving us we did mostly holiday sets and the guys would do some classical stuff and as fab really really nice was Billy holiday your hero she I heard really holiday when I was I was 18 I was living in London and I went to see a movie called Lady Sings the Blues with Diana Ross and then the next day I never heard of Billie Holiday the next day I got up and I went down porch below road and I bought all these albums which are still have really yeah lady and Fatima was the first one I bought which was her last album and then I started discover and then when I started taking her songs and people knew I was a big billion to her for whatever reason it started that she did a radio shows like the ultra career you know and it's from all over the world treasures for you had an album ready to go yeah and you probably had a tour lined open so my parents or things like that and you see the album life stories taken our life of its own because it now comes with little drawings that you don't talk about that in a minute as well putting that off and eventually getting it out there it must have been just it must have been a relief to get it out there for some foremost yeah.
It was like I finished the finished the last the last track on I came home and the 24th of February 2020 and we had released it for made the fifth my birthday and I was going to be 64 and I had every festival that you could imagine from Glastonbury to Norway Iceland Finland the Galway Arts Festival everything was lined up for this over 34 festivals and great gigs all over the place and we're pressed lined up and everything and then March the 11th happened or the 17th or whatever it was and that was the end of the road guy yeah and for some strange reason I said well okay well that's that I think maybe from learning to you know learn into I don't know you learn a lot through when you when you start it recovery from from alcohol you learned one of the first things you learned is acceptance so I accept us that everything was gone but not forever I thought everything would be back in June and then I thought everything would be icon September so everyone was assuring make that go for September go for a September release that went for a September release and I stuck to it yeah and I didn't happen but the price came out I got loads and loads and it's all came out in September and I started selling CDs a lot of people took pictures are active pictures of myself from people started posting pictures on online on Twitter and stuff because I would draw a little picture little just for whatever he went to my head I Christmas I started to do Christmas on Easter I started doing themed ones bunnies but people on Facebook our Twitter they would put up the pictures that framed so then some people are ringing me and telling me that they did they bought they listen to the album on Spotify and they were just bone the album because they wanted the pictures and even now just finished three for CDS that were just ordered after you on the morning we kept the post office busy I tell you last year and a few people in enveloped some stamps was great I did.
I actually just before for the magazine for the Irish music magazine and print print edition it was late last year but there was a quote I read and let's say the album could be a soundtrack to your boy or pick and because it sums are beautiful and I think it's very personal album to you and the songs are indeed can you tell us a bit about some of the songs maybe and we might play some of them as well during the show okay as well like I know a family life is under it's a song that you wanted record for for a while yeah family life to answer blue and Isle of loved them for years in the nightmare was very I have we had been down in Galway with the with the three kids up and down up and down up and down for about 10 weeks and the last like week we stayed down came back to Dublin on the Sunday night so they have to get the kids back to school and my sister called just as we were headed into Luke and the M50 and there weren't built yet so my sister said he had better come back down so we just turned the car around at the next exit back down to Galway and my mother passed away and the nice she was buried over decided you know we had the lunch and everything's looking I wanted to get back to Dublin to process stuff and you know maybe get the kids into some sort of normal and on the radio can this song and I was driving and I was just bought I'm crying at the kids were falling crying and it was oh Tamil and Claire my daughter lives here and I heard the song is she wrote down the name of the album and I mean it's rented completely I didn't know saying I just listened to the words and music and I was just brought me the album for Christmas and blue nails new album so I wanted to do the song and I did it last for thought it was the Grace idea and we took a gamble by putting on as the open track looks really well now they're happy to start with yeah and the other songs he had written high heel boots and I you know five though but it's still feel like you're 35-year-old you're lying so you know he asked me you know start later I'm with it for a while and I got the boots out and I put them up on the kitchen table and I said yeah maybe maybe I'll get back into the boots you know and then I started to write songs that and he said look where you've got an awful let's say you have a life and you've been very public about it so he sat down over many many weekends and many long weeks in London at his house and we said about doing the album and these beautiful studio and I worked with peace in 1990 we did the album uncertain lectures and we got like invisible and manage the world too big hits that I had international hits like international space international close to home and things like safe and sound your old tree.
I wrote that yeah so some of those I'm sorry I wrote safe and sound kind of a lullaby really for my grandchildren and my kids and and it tell s really the whole story about like I was never safe and sound and how could I have been and and make sure that you are and I kind of dedicated my last 24 years I suppose really to make an immense and making life safe for my family and their families you know are they easy to write or the Grace I can't I couldn't write for tips I mean I couldn't I have to have somebody there yeah and getting this out of my dragon is out and and then when the album was just finished we had 10 songs done and we had another one record that we didn't put on we kept it for in case we needed a single and then Pete said you've never actually spoken about your second marriage breakup and he said is it still too Iraq this is not all I don't will tell me about it tell me what happened tell me how it felt and I had never considered right in the song about that and eventually about two days later we had this song called two breaking into one which is the single which was the most played song on Irish radio across every single station last year we were kind of gone for a dusty Sila kind of yeah yeah I couldn't figure I mean he's the musical genius you know I just said a few stories to tell somebody I was glad to get that one out so I have very little unexplored territory I'm pointing to think that you couldn't write or you couldn't talk about them because you know from people who know you now I'm from singing on television and your concerts I know that you're very open I'm very public about your past so riding about it and thinking about it must have been just a thing that you didn't want to do and I never talked as I could write the songs because I thought that other people wrote much like I have some Johnny Moynahan songs and Molly paid songs and I thought other people could write much better songs than I could I said what's the point in writing you know preppy little songs just to get the the PRS or the immoral money for them you know I can take a Mark Nevin song and sing it as if it's my own you know our pizza you know you've got to tell them and your own way and and you know I'll help you and like Eric before scars on the calendar album we did that here and the house and he had Parkinson's Disease and he didn't really was able to work in a studio and we worked very very slowly and we had a studio here in the house we had guitar room of double bass room a vocal boost over there it's all curse and off and we had a desk get here and my son and his friend put in the desk first and all the microphones yet really good stuff and very very slowly did an album you know which was very personal deserved it was and it's called life stories and you can get them on Mary cotton and what's website Mary again a very comfortable music.com I have a few a few of the albums that they're in our life stories there the house of a repute and live and Kicking is there which I didn't Vicar Street and would you be surprised to know that it's your 17th release and yeah people always asking me which releases I didn't know the 17 I thought it was 15 but 17 is out I'll tell you what I'm gonna play a couple of songs from it I'm gonna play two breaking into one and I'm gonna play the high heels one as well okay
