Top 5 Gary Moore Songs

I first got into Gary Moore, about the same time I really got into Thin Lizzy. Since then, he has become potentially; my favourite solo artist!

For those not in the know; Gary Moore was a Northern Irish Musician, who was initially influenced by Peter Green and Eric Calpton. Over the course of his 40+ year career, he played in the bands Skid Row, and Thin Lizzy, before embarking on a successful solo career.

Moore began his solo career in the 1970’s, and achieved major success with the song Parisienne Walkways released in 1979. In the 1980’s, he transitioned into Hard Rock, and Heavy Metal, and achieved varying success on the international scene. He then returned to his Blues roots in the 1990’s, releasing Still Got the Blues; the most successful album of his career.

Moore was voted as one of the Greatest Guitarists of all time on lists published by both Louder, and Total Guitar, and on Classic Rock‘s list of The 100 Most Influential Guitar Heroes. He has also been cited as a major influence by many notable guitar players too, including: Zakk Wylde, Doug Aldrich, Vivian Campbell, John Petrucci, John Sykes, Joe Bonamassa, and Kirk Hammett. Moore was heavily associated too, with the 1959 Gibson Les Paul (or Greeny, as it’s named after it’s first owner Peter Green), and later on would be honoured with signature models produced by both Gibson and Fender. He was also known for the pained expressions he made during live performances.

I’d never really heard of him, until a chance encounter looking for Thin Lizzy songs on YouTube. I was drawn to a song, which had the same title as the end credits for the TV series Sharpe (can you guess what it was?). From that point on, I was instantly hooked. My discovery of his music was pretty gentle, and it wasn’t until abvout 2021 that I got one of his albums (Wild Frontier). Since then though, I am always looking to discover more of his work, particularly in the Heavy Metal area, as that is my preferred genre.

Given that he is quite possibly my favourite solo artist of the last few years (if not all time), I thought I would share with you, my particular favourites from his legendary career. Now of course, as usual, there are too many to be featurted in a Top 5, but just to given a quick nod to the others; here are some other, more than noteworthy Gary Moore classics:

Choices: Wishing Well, Friday on My Mind, Empty Rooms, Murder in the Skies, and Wild Frontier.

And so, without further ado, here are My Top 5 Favourite Gary Moore Songs; Enjoy!

5. Don’t Take Me for a Loser – Kicking off both this list and the Corridors of Power album is this terrific rocker. Starting off in an explosive fashion, instantly drawing you in. The song isn’t as emotionally powered, or as powerful as a couple of other songs on this list, but it doesn’t need to be; as it packs the power into it’s riff, and catchy lyrics. It’s the perfect song to kick off a show, not small or melodic, but something that grabs your attention, like a roller coaster starting off with a drop, than a gentle climb. The show has begun, and you’re already hooked, and reeled in!

4. Military Man – It feels starnge calling this one a Gary Moore song, as he doesn’t sing a single line, instead handing duties over to Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott. Much like another song in this list, the song highlights the turmoil the two experienced in their native Ireland. In this instance, we get a song with an initial military atmosphere, before then kicking off into some really emotionally fueled, killer lyrics; which highlight what a parent might miss in their son joining the army. Highlighting that he is now a Military Man, but in doing so he has been taught to Kill, and Die, and that his eyes are now Colder, Frightened, and Crying. It’s a song packing a real punch into the potentially hidden realities of military recruitment, and works in near tandem with both The Call Up by The Clash, and American Boy Soldier by the Edgar Broughton Band. And behind these lyrics, is a fast, and ear catching hard rock riff, which makes you stand up and pay attention!

3. Out in the Fields – Much like the song above, this too features vocals from Phil Lynott, whislt also highlighting The Troubles in Northern Ireland. But in a way it’s not entirely about that either, as the lyrics highlight the equality of victims in war, and how everyone on the battlefield is equal in both living and dying. And again, much like Military Man, the song features a heavy ear catching riff. But it’s one that evolves as the song goes on, lightly changing tone and timbre, before then hitting a fantastic key change at the end. But what’s more, is that we get both Moore and Lynott on vocals, really working together. You get Lynott singing the verse, and Moore the pre-chorus. But it’s a song you can’t sing solo, as Lynott hits that “OUT!” shout instantly as Moore delivers the last word in both pre-chorus and chorus. It’s a song with a powerful sound, powerful singing, and also a powerful message!

2. Take a Little Time – A nice fast paced, near mainstream pop piece now. Take a Little Time highlights how Moore was able to convey and perform several types of genres with ease over his career. The song has it’s nice, easy going early riff, before then picking up speed. But in this burst of speed, we get a real boost of adrenaline, that makes you want to jump out of your seat, and get involved with the music. And it’s a feeling you don’t want to end, as it really picks you up out from where you are. It’s a song which really makes you feel alive, bursting with energy, an unstoppable force in whatever world you reside in (I will though just say, the below video is rather weird)!

1. Over the Hills and Far Away – Interesting little fact; this song features the traditional Irish folk band The Chieftains. Over The Hills and Far Away tells the story of an imprisoned man, who after getting arrested spends many years in prison, waiting for the day he will be released, and meet his lover once more. The song features an assortment of celtic folk sounds, which then merge seemlessly into the tune’s real heavy metal riff. The story is a fantastic song just to hear Gary Moore tell, but, it works so well with that tune, you want to hear and experience both. It features a terrific solo at the mid-way point, as well as an entire vocal section carrying the tune, with just a simple drum beat in the background, allowing all the other musicians time to recover; before the grand victorious finale. It is an EPIC piece of music, which tells a very simple story, but one you want to sing along to. And while it sadly has to end, there’s a real peace behind it when it does end, as it feels like no other song in existence, could possibly top it!