History of Sorts

It’s October, which means it’s time once again for the annual Rocktober festivities! This year, I’m kicking things off with a touch of the risqué—something to please both the eyes and the ears.

For the first episode, we’ll be celebrating two of Ireland’s greatest rock legends: Gary Moore and Phil Lynott. Sadly, both were taken from us far too soon, but their music and legacy continue to inspire generations.

“Out in the Fields”: The Background, Conflict, and Legacy

In 1985, Gary Moore released “Out in the Fields”, featuring Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy. The single, and the album Run for Cover on which it appears, came at a pivotal moment in both their lives.

A Reawakening of Collaboration

Moore and Lynott had a long history: Moore had been an on-again, off-again member of Thin Lizzy, and the two had collaborated before. But by the mid-1980s, there had been tension, personal differences, and periods of estrangement—especially as Lynott’s health and lifestyle (including drug use) became more concerning.

In this light, “Out in the Fields” was not just another musical collaboration: it was a reaching out. Moore, aware of Lynott’s difficulties, offered him a chance to work together again—not merely as nostalgic allies, but to put out a song with meaning, with purpose.

The Troubles, and the Larger Message

The song’s lyrics touch on the conflict in Northern Ireland (The Troubles), though Moore later said the song was meant as a more general anti-war statement, not limited to one region.

Lines like “No colour or religion ever stopped the bullet from a gun”, “It doesn’t matter if you’re wrong or if you’re right”, and images of people falling “out in the fields”, “on the streets” show the universality of suffering in conflict. The song argues that ideological, religious, or political distinctions vanish in the face of human loss.

Musically, it balances Moore’s hard rock guitar work with Lynott’s distinctive vocals and bass playing. The emotional urgency in both the message and delivery is part of what made it resonate.

Commercial Success and Sad Aftermath

“Out in the Fields” was commercially successful: it reached No. 3 in Ireland and No. 5 in the UK, becoming the highest-charting single for both Moore and Lynott as solo artists.

Tragically, this collaboration came near the end of Lynott’s life. He died in January 1986, just months after the song’s release. Thus, “Out in the Fields” stands among his last recordings.

Moore was deeply affected by Lynott’s death. Subsequent works (e.g. Wild Frontier) explore their shared Irish heritage more directly, and Moore has spoken of wanting to remember Lynott, and honour him musically.

Today, “Out in the Fields” is regarded as more than just a rock single. It is often seen as a protest song, a plea for peace, and an example of how music can both reflect and attempt to heal political and social wounds. It’s also meaningful as a document of friendship, reconnection, and artistic solidarity under difficult circumstances.