♫ Under A Violet Moon ♫

Posted on by under Bits 'n Pieces, History, music

Ay ay ay!!!  How in heck did this begin?  Well, for those who may not have been following the thread, long story short, our dear friend Clive rather challenged me to play an AC/DC song called Whole Lotta Rosie.  Now, he was pretty sure I would not play it and he could hold that over my head for sometime into eternity, but I’m nothing if not a stubborn wench, so … yeah, I played it.  Meanwhile, though, friend Carolyn had begged me not to cave to Clive’s request, for she had a side bet with him that she’d listen to it if I played it!  Since I already owe Carolyn a big one because of Betsy, then I am now twice in debt to Carolyn. Confused yet? 😵‍ She said I could pay her back by playing an ABBA song, so I was looking forward to playing Dancing Queen, but instead she emailed me links to two songs by a band I’ve never heard of before (and might have been content to go to my ash heap without ever hearing them!) … Blackmore’s Night.  I think there’s more to this request than I’ve been told, but hey … I keep my promises, so this one is for you, my dear Carolyn!

According to Wikipedia, Blackmore’s Night …

“… is a British-American traditional folk rock band formed in 1997, consisting mainly of Ritchie Blackmore (acoustic guitar, hurdy gurdy, mandola, mandolin, nyckelharpe, and electric guitar) and Candice Night (lead vocals, lyricist, and woodwinds). Their lineup has seen many changes over the years; Blackmore and Night have been the only two constant members. They have released eleven studio albums.”

WTF is a “hurdy gurdy” and a “nyckelharpe”???

Today’s song, the title song from their second studio album, was released in Japan in April 1999, and the lyrics to the title track were partly written by Blackmore, “the only time to date he has tried his hand at such,” according to Blackmore biographer Jerry Bloom.  The title was created from his mother’s first name and his grandmother’s surname.

Says Candice Night, this song …

“… was written while we were touring and realized that we needed more upbeat songs to implement into the stage set. So we wrote more gypsy based and faster tempo numbers for that album.”

According to Songfacts …

The lyrics, which feature lines such as “Leave this world behind. We’ll have a drink and toast to ourselves,” and “lose yourself in a medieval mood,” not only characterize the neo-renaissance style of the duo’s music, but also imply Blackmore’s resistance to returning to rock music. Often in interviews Blackmore is asked whether he would reunite with his old rock bands Deep Purple and Rainbow. The lyric, “we’re going back to a time we knew” suggests that medieval music has always been at the heart of Ritchie’s past.

Under A Violet Moon

Blackmore’s Night

Dancing to the feel of the drum
Leave this world behind
We’ll have a drink and toast to ourselves
Under a Violet Moon

Tudor Rose with her hair in curls
Will make you turn and stare
Try to steal a kiss at the bridge
Under a Violet Moon

Raise your hats and your glasses too
We will dance the whole night through
We’re going back to a time we knew
Under a Violet Moon

Cheers to the Knights and days of old
the beggars and the thieves
living in an enchanted wood
Under a Violet Moon

Fortuneteller what do you see
Future in a card
Share your secrets, tell them to me
Under a Violet Moon

Raise your hats and your glasses too
We will dance the whole night through
We’re going back to a time we knew
Under a Violet Moon

Raise your hats and your glasses too
We will dance the whole night through
We’re going back to a time we knew
Under a Violet Moon

Close your eyes and lose yourself
In a medieval mood
Taste the treasures and sing the tunes
Under a Violet Moon

Tis my delight on a shiny night
The seasons of a year
To keep the lanterns burning bright
Under a Violet Moon

Raise your hats and your glasses too
We will dance the whole night through
We’re going back to a time we knew
Under a Violet Moon

Raise your hats and your glasses too
We will dance the whole night through
We’re going back to a time we knew
Under a Violet Moon

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Candice Night / Ritchie Blackmore

Under a Violet Moon lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc

73 thoughts on “♫ Under A Violet Moon ♫”

  1. Never heard this song, i like it! Googled this and turns out the group is named in part after Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple fame! Candice Night is Richie’s music partner hence the cool band name.
    Sound is Celtic/ Baroque infused adult contemporary, with interesting instruments. i distinctly hear lutes, reeds, mandolins and classical guitars, so cool!
    This song/ group is very pleasant to listen to ❤

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  3. You are a good sport, my friend! I had to surprise you after the stunt you pulled on me! Now we are even. LOL!
    Blackmore’s Night is a favorite band of mine, so thank you for playing them and giving them more exposure to those who may not have heard them before! We have all of their albums, except a few live ones. Maybe you just need to listen to a few more of their songs. 🙂 They will grow on you. (((HUGS))) its OK, we wouldn’t have near the variety of music in this world if everyone liked the same thing !

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  6. My kind of music! I’ve played Blackmore’s Night a couple of times in my Advent Calendars. Those two instruments are both played by Faun in the video in my Tuesday Tunes this week: the hurdy gurdy is the one with a handle being turned, the nyckelharpe is the one like a horizontal fiddle being played with a bow. More like this, please!

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  7. This is right up my street! I’m pleased Carolyn suggested this, as I really like Blackmore’s Night and have played them a couple of times in my Advent Calendars. If you want to see those two instruments in action just watch the Faun video in my Tuesday Tunes this week: they have both. The hurdy gurdy is the one with a handle being turned, and the nyckelharpe is the one being played with a bow.

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    • She tricked me!!! She said she wanted ABBA, but then she sent me these two by Blackmore’s Night! I did not like the other one (Dandelion Wine) she sent at all, so figured this was the lesser of two evils.

      That said, I’m really glad you enjoyed it! I will come check out the Faun video a little later, for I’ve never heard of either of those instruments. I meant to ask daughter Chris about them last night, for she is the musical expert in this household and is in a Caledonian Society Pipes and Drums band (fortunately for Goose and I, Chris plays the drums, though she is trying to learn the bagpipes).

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      • Dandelion Wine is a nice little song but I think you picked the livelier one to play.

        They are both older instruments, going back centuries. A lot of musical tradition tied up in them! There’s a young German singer who goes by the name of Patty Gurdy. Very talented, and I’ve played her on mine. Both instruments are often featured in folk bands in Europe.

        Good luck with the bagpipes!

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  8. Pingback: ♫ Under A Violet Moon ♫ | Filosofa’s Word. |jilldennison.com | Ramblings of an Occupy Liberal

  9. Jill, this is a neat pairing of talents, Blackmore is as an excellent guitarist, but ironically he is well known by many high school marching bands for writing the simplest of guitar licks to Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the water.” Bands still play this rock anthem as it is easily recognizable. Night is a terrific singer and she offers up a Stevie Nicks kind of vibe, but with a lighter voice. Good choice. Keith

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    • I’m glad … and not at all surprised … that you liked it! I don’t dislike it, but … not crazy about it, either, though I do see the talent in both Blackmore and Night. I’m definitely broadening my horizons these days!

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        • No, I wasn’t a big Donovan fan, but the only two I can remember right off are “Mellow Yellow” and “Universal Soldier”. This one sounds vaguely familiar, but I really don’t remember it. So, thanks for sharing!

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      • I would have played it for you had OF not done so. I doubt it was one of Donovan’s biggest hits overall, though it may have been in certain areas, but was certainly a well-known song for him worldwide. It’s too late for me to be finding facts, but Donovan was a great folk singer and huge representative 9f flower children everywhere. He taught John Lennon how to play the acoustic guitar, while Lennon taught D9novan how to play the electrc guitar while both were on retreat in India.

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