The 4 of Us

Crescent Nights

The New Album from The 4 of Us. 

The 4 of Us are one of the most acclaimed bands in Ireland, having been a steadfast part of Irish music history for over 30 years. Blending contemporary roots with rock, the award- winning band was formed by brothers Brendan and Declan Murphy from the border town of Newry in Northern Ireland. 

The band shot to early fame towards the end of 1989 with their debut album, Songs for the Tempted, which featured the massive hits Mary and Drag My Bad Name Down. Their truly unique sound has garnered a large and loyal fan base and an enviable catalogue of timeless songs, including numerous Top 20 Irish charting albums and hit singles. Regulars on Irish radio playlists, their music has also been featured on American, UK, and Irish TV and film soundtracks.

Speaking about how Crescent Nights was created Brendan Murphy has these thoughts on some of the songs:

St Gabriel’s Drive. We were kids growing up in the 1970’s in Northern Ireland and it was a very different place than it is today. Our parents wouldn’t allow to play on the streets in case we got into trouble. Music for us was an escape, but some of the boys we grew up with weren’t so lucky. This is a song about one of them.

Crescent Nights. When we went to college in Belfast in the 1980s the city centre was locked up by the security forces every evening. Our student social life was therefore confined to the area close to Queens University. Nearby, on the corner of Sandy Row there was a place called The Crescent Bar. It became a favourite haunt of ours and a whole generation of students. After a night there we would usually search for a house party somewhere close by in the area known as the Holy Land. All you had to do was head in that direction and listen out for some loud party music.

Murphy’s Place. Our Dad was a bookie. Not the kind who attends the races, he had his own office, and on the big days like the Grand National we’d be drafted in to help take the bets. This song is written from the perspective of a punter who is hoping for one last big win but facing me at the hatch.

Carry Me to The Water. Dad bought a caravan in the 1970s and parked it at the edge of a beach just across the border and we’d go there every summer. It was a typical Irish beach with more rocks than sand. There were 5 young kids, and he spent most of his time carrying us over the rocks to get to the water. We still have the evidence in the form of cine camera footage shot by our mum at the time. He passed away just a few years ago and when I think of him, I often remember him carrying us to the water.

Boneshaker. The bike I had in the 1970 had no gears and practically no brakes. If I wanted to stop, I had to put both feet down and it was the only show in town when it came to thrill seeking back then. I don’t know how I managed to avoid breaking every bone in my body, but I loved that old bike.

Hurt People. Back then I think the parents were the heroes. It was difficult enough to protect us kids with the Troubles raging but as teenagers we got tired of being cooped up and would stay out till all hours. They didn’t get a wink of sleep at the weekends!

Waiting Game. Between our last album and this one Covid came and went. This song is a nod to that time

Night Out of Town. It was a big deal when of our friends passed his driving test and got a lend of his dads’ car. We could leave Newry and go out on a Saturday night to exotic locations like Dundalk.

Tree of Life. A song about the hopes and dreams of youth.