My latest recording, released as a single on Friday 25th July 2025, is a song called 'The Night We Went To Bob Dylan', written by two of Ireland's greatest songwriters, Christy Moore & Wally Page.
For me, this recording is a celebration of Dylan, Christy, the stories that shape us & the songs that keep it all lit.
I just love a good story song like this one and some of my favourite artists have released some beauts too - 'The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll' (Bob Dylan), 'Beeswing' (Richard Thompson), 'Tower of Song' (Leonard Cohen), 'Folsom Prison Blues' (Johnny Cash), 'Tecumseh Valley' (Townes Van Zandt), ‘Lua’ (Bright Eyes), ‘Desperados Waiting for a Train’ (Guy Clark), to name but a few and all those songs listed regularly feature in my live set.
Anyone who knows me knows I'm a massive fan of Bob Dylan. His songs have helped form the core of my artistic and personal outlook. I'm lucky enough to have witnessed him perform live 5 times so far, including the show that is referenced here in 'The Night We Went to Bob Dylan'.
Christy Moore's songs have equally been a lifelong companion for me. His iconic work with Planxty, Moving Hearts, his storytelling, humanity and honesty in his solo work have all deeply resonated within me. I have witnessed Christy perform 10 times to date and I treasure those moments and memories.
Both Dylan & Christy have taught me more about history, civil rights, political protest, song-writing, performance and cultural identity than any classroom or mainstream media ever did.
My song ‘Darkness Before Dawn’ is a story song, detailing a tragedy that occurred in Newbridge during the War of Independence. This song found it's way to Christy Moore and to my delight and amazement, he recorded a version for his extraordinary album 'A Terrible Beauty'. That stands as a pivotal moment for me, both personally and as an artist and I pinch myself every time I hear it.
During a conversation with Christy about 'Darkness Before Dawn', we wound up talking about Bob Dylan. He asked me if I was gigging much and I told him I was in a band called The Muddy River Band, who perform the songs of Neil Young, Van Morrison and Bob Dylan nationwide. Christy mentioned a song he had written with the late Wally Page about Dylan called 'Zozimus & Zimmerman' and he was reworking it by adding new verses and taking Zozimus out of the story.
To my utter astonishment, he offered to send on this revised version of the song for me to have a go at it. I was humbled and honoured at this offer and determined to give this song the care and attention it deserved.
What a gift and I can only hope I've done it justice. I gave it my best. It took two attempts, the first of which was in Newbridge with the mighty Rubber Keogh. That recording is a mellow, travis picked arrangement, a lovely harmonica part and features some tasty mandolin licks from Rubber, who also recorded, mixed and mastered it. However, I still didn't feel it was right. I hadn't gotten into the story across in my vocal performance and felt it needed more weight, more grit. Back to the drawing board.
My wife Pam offered to help with the recording and production. I laid down the vocal, acoustic guitar (strummed) and harmonica at home and Pam then added her vocal to the take. We were on track. We then got my friends Shay Cosgrave and Joe Ryan in to add a bodhrán and Pedal Steel Guitar respectively and we sent it all on to Hally at Arthouse Studio, who added a few magic touches before he mixed and mastered it.
So here it is - ‘The Night We Went to Bob Dylan’. Out in the world now on all the usual streaming platforms.
I am very proud to be a part of this song's journey and extremely grateful to everyone who helped bring it to life. I hope you enjoy it.
CREDITS
Written by Christy Moore and Wally Page
Pete Kavanagh: Vocals, Acoustic Guitar and Harmonica
Pam Kavanagh: Vocals
Joe Ryan: Pedal Steel Guitar
Shay Cosgrave: Bodhrán
Hally: Backing Vocals and additional Instrumentation
Produced by Pam Kavanagh & Hally
Recorded by Pam Kavanagh
Mixed and Mastered by Hally at ArtHouse Studios