Product Description

In this autobiography, Christy Moore tells the story of his life as an Irish musical hero. Combining song lyrics with personal memories, the text charts his experiences from drunk to sober, and from bar room guitar playing to internationally-renowned singer-songwriter.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #675166 in Books
• Published on: 2000-10-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 287 pages

Sunday Independent
'intimate, absorbing and sometimes disturbing'

The Daily Telegraph
'a frank account of the much-loved singer's rip-roaring career'

The Irish Times
'Essential reading for anyone who owns even one Christy Moore CD.'

Customer Reviews

No Ordinary Man!
This is an astounding collection of Christy's favourite songs, 500 in total, and the stories that go with them, how they sustained and carried him around the world. From the dizzy heights of the Palace cinema in Newbridge, Co. Kildare to the lonely citadel of Carnegie Hall in New York, Christy has performed these songs 5,000 times, each time like the first, never to sing the last. This is an autobiography which dispenses with a traditional life-narrative in favour of an approach that's far more innovative and revealing. It is also one of the few music books you'll read in which the subject eloquently communicates their love of music and illustrates just what it has meant throughout their life. There are some very revealing stories behind the words and music of particular songs and writers. A lot of his material was by unknown authors that he then recreated into his own unique renditions. Included are well-know and much-loved songs from the talents of Bob Dylan, Shane McGowan, Bobby Sands, Woody Guthrie, Pierce Turner, Jimmy Page and Joe Dolan to mention a few.
There are also quite a few references to Derry and the people Christy met and some of the experiences he had during the troubles at the time. His stories are intimate, honest, absorbing and occasionally disturbing and harrowing. He shares the ups and downs of his music career, his personal battles and his family life. His raw energy shines through and his strength and honest outlook are hard to ignore. Christy found that through this 'labour of love' he was able to write about his life through writing about the songs themselves. They are the real words and memories of much more than "An Ordinary Man" who has been on the circuit for nearly four decades. His message to all is "let the music keep your spirits high." Genuine, sincere and full of spirit.

No Ordinary Man!
This is an astounding collection of Christy's favourite songs, 500 in total, and the stories that go with them, how they sustained and carried him around the world. From the dizzy heights of the Palace cinema in Newbridge, Co. Kildare to the lonely citadel of Carnegie Hall in New York, Christy has performed these songs 5,000 times, each time like the first, never to sing the last. This is an autobiography which dispenses with a traditional life-narrative in favour of an approach that's far more innovative and revealing. It is also one of the few music books you'll read in which the subject eloquently communicates their love of music and illustrates just what it has meant throughout their life. There are some very revealing stories behind the words and music of particular songs and writers. A lot of his material was by unknown authors that he then recreated into his own unique renditions. Included are well-know and much-loved songs from the talents of Bob Dylan, Shane McGowan, Bobby Sands, Woody Guthrie, Pierce Turner, Jimmy Page and Joe Dolan to mention a few.
There are also quite a few references to Derry and the people Christy met and some of the experiences he had during the troubles at the time. His stories are intimate, honest, absorbing and occasionally disturbing and harrowing. He shares the ups and downs of his music career, his personal battles and his family life. His raw energy shines through and his strength and honest outlook are hard to ignore. Christy found that through this 'labour of love' he was able to write about his life through writing about the songs themselves. They are the real words and memories of much more than "An Ordinary Man" who has been on the circuit for nearly four decades. His message to all is "let the music keep your spirits high." Genuine, sincere and full of spirit.

An honest, rambling and emotional read
Chrsity has written a book that evokes the same emotions as his music. As book you can easily dip in and out of ... skipping bits and coming back later .. just like real life his 'life story' windes and moves along, hghlighted by stories, songs, pictures and emotion.

Well done Christy - Up Moorefield !