Davy Carton
Encyclopedia
Davy Carton is a singer, songwriter, and rhythm guitarist from Tuam
, County Galway
, in the Republic of Ireland
. He is best known as a core member of the Saw Doctors
, the folk-rock band he co-founded with Leo Moran
and others in 1987.
, London, Carton moved permanently to Tuam
with his family in 1966. As a teenager he attended Tuam's Christian Brothers
school, where he formed the punk
band Blaze X
with fellow students Paul Cunniffe
, Paul Ralph, and Ja Keating. He began work in a local textile factory after leaving school, but continued to play with Blaze X until the band dissolved in 1981, the year Carton married his girlfriend Trisha.
Working full-time in the textile factory throughout Ireland's economically bleak 1980s, Carton largely put his musical career on hold to support his wife and three young sons.
In the late 1980s, Carton got together for a pint with Leo Moran
, formerly of Irish reggae band Too Much for the White Man. Carton and Moran began gigging around Galway with a handful of their own rootsy-rock compositions.
The duo adopted the name Saw Doctors—travellers who earned money by sharpening saws in old Ireland—until they could think of something better. As the band grew, the opportunity to find a better name never arose.
Carton finally gave up his day job in 1989, when the Saw Doctors rose to prominence and began touring with bands including The Waterboys
, The Hothouse Flowers, and The Stunning
.
Carton's achievements with the Saw Doctors have included six studio albums, two live albums, a concert DVD, several compilation albums, and extensive tours throughout Europe and the United States. Noted for his witty, rapacious lyrics, Carton has co-written almost all of the band's songs, including "I Useta Lover
", Ireland's all-time best-selling single.
The Saw Doctors' lyrics tend to stay out of political issues. "I'm not a politician, and I never will be a politician," Carton told the website PopMatters in 2003. "What I like to do is go into a room of people and make them sing along and whatever. I'm not going to tell them how to vote -- there's enough people doing that already. I'd rather talk about girlfriends and football. We don't like to write about things we don't really know about. We know about rejection from girls and all that, so we can write about that."
Tuam
Tuam is a town in County Galway, Ireland. The name is pronounced choo-um . It is situated west of the midlands of Ireland, and north of Galway city.-History:...
, County Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
, in the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. He is best known as a core member of the Saw Doctors
The Saw Doctors
The Saw Doctors are an Irish rock band. Formed in 1986 in Tuam, County Galway, they have achieved eighteen Top 30 singles in Ireland, including three number ones. Their first number one, "I Useta Lover," topped the Irish charts for nine consecutive weeks in 1990, and still holds the record for the...
, the folk-rock band he co-founded with Leo Moran
Leo Moran
Leo Moran is best known as lead guitarist and sometimes vocalist in the Irish folk rock band The Saw Doctors....
and others in 1987.
Biography and musical career
Born in IslingtonIslington
Islington is a neighbourhood in Greater London, England and forms the central district of the London Borough of Islington. It is a district of Inner London, spanning from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy Upper Street...
, London, Carton moved permanently to Tuam
Tuam
Tuam is a town in County Galway, Ireland. The name is pronounced choo-um . It is situated west of the midlands of Ireland, and north of Galway city.-History:...
with his family in 1966. As a teenager he attended Tuam's Christian Brothers
Congregation of Christian Brothers
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
school, where he formed the punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band Blaze X
Blaze X
Blaze X were an Irish punk band. The band was formed in Tuam, Co. Galway. They released a successful single in 1980, Some Hope which became Larry Gogan's Hit song of the week on 2FM. It's b-side, Rippy, about serial killer The Yorkshire Ripper was banned by the RTE. Their finest moment came when...
with fellow students Paul Cunniffe
Paul Cunniffe
Paul Cunniffe was a British-born Irish singer-songwriter. He fronted the 1980s punk band Blaze X.-Early life and career:...
, Paul Ralph, and Ja Keating. He began work in a local textile factory after leaving school, but continued to play with Blaze X until the band dissolved in 1981, the year Carton married his girlfriend Trisha.
Working full-time in the textile factory throughout Ireland's economically bleak 1980s, Carton largely put his musical career on hold to support his wife and three young sons.
In the late 1980s, Carton got together for a pint with Leo Moran
Leo Moran
Leo Moran is best known as lead guitarist and sometimes vocalist in the Irish folk rock band The Saw Doctors....
, formerly of Irish reggae band Too Much for the White Man. Carton and Moran began gigging around Galway with a handful of their own rootsy-rock compositions.
The duo adopted the name Saw Doctors—travellers who earned money by sharpening saws in old Ireland—until they could think of something better. As the band grew, the opportunity to find a better name never arose.
Carton finally gave up his day job in 1989, when the Saw Doctors rose to prominence and began touring with bands including The Waterboys
The Waterboys
The Waterboys are a band formed in 1983 by Mike Scott. The band's membership, past and present, has been composed mainly of musicians from Scotland, Ireland and England. Edinburgh, London, Dublin, Spiddal, New York, and Findhorn have all served as homes for the group. The band has played in a...
, The Hothouse Flowers, and The Stunning
The Stunning
The Stunning were an Irish rock band. They formed in 1987, and first split up in 1994. They have reformed twice in the 21st century.-Members:* Steve Wall* Joe Wall* Derek Murray...
.
Carton's achievements with the Saw Doctors have included six studio albums, two live albums, a concert DVD, several compilation albums, and extensive tours throughout Europe and the United States. Noted for his witty, rapacious lyrics, Carton has co-written almost all of the band's songs, including "I Useta Lover
I Useta Lover
"I Useta Lover" is a 1990 song by Irish rock group The Saw Doctors. It is the second single off the If This Is Rock and Roll, I Want My Old Job Back album. It stayed at the #1 position in the Irish chart for nine weeks and became one of the best-selling singles of all time in the country...
", Ireland's all-time best-selling single.
The Saw Doctors' lyrics tend to stay out of political issues. "I'm not a politician, and I never will be a politician," Carton told the website PopMatters in 2003. "What I like to do is go into a room of people and make them sing along and whatever. I'm not going to tell them how to vote -- there's enough people doing that already. I'd rather talk about girlfriends and football. We don't like to write about things we don't really know about. We know about rejection from girls and all that, so we can write about that."