Danny Boy

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For the Scottish comedian, see Danny Bhoy. Danny Boy is also the stage name of Chicago native Daniel Ray, a contemporary African-American soul singer.

"Danny Boy" is a song from a man to his son, (sometimes interpreted to be from a woman to a man), providing one of many lyrics set to the Irish tune Londonderry Air. It was written in 1910 by Frederick Weatherly, an English lawyer, and set to the tune in 1913. The first recording was made by Ernestine Schumann-Heink in 1915. Weatherly gave the song to Elsie Griffin, who made it one of the most popular in the new century. Weatherly later suggested in 1928 that the second verse would provide a fitting requiem for the actress Ellen Terry.

The song is widely considered an Irish anthem, and the tune is used as the anthem of Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games, even though the song's writer was not Irish, and the song was and is more popular outside Ireland than within. It is none-the-less, widely considered by Irish Canadians/Americans, to be their unofficial signature tune. It is frequently included in the organ presentation at Irish-American funerals.

Though the song is supposed to be a message from a woman to a man (Weatherly provided the alternative "Eily dear" for male singers in his 1918 authorised lyrics [1]), the song is actually sung by men as much as, or possibly more often than, women. It has also been interpreted by some listeners that the song is a message from a parent to a son, with the singer saddened that the son has gone to war, or left Ireland forever in the Irish diaspora.

The lyrics:

Oh Danny Boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling

From glen to glen, and down the mountain side

The summer's gone, and all the roses falling

'Tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide

But come ye back when summer's in the meadow

Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow

'Tis I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow

Oh Danny Boy, oh Danny Boy, I love you so

And when ye come, and all the flowers are dying

And I am dead, as dead I well may be

Ye'll come and find the place where I am lying

And kneel and say an Ave there for me

And I shall hear, though soft you tread above me

And all my grave shall warmer, sweeter be

For you shall bend and tell me that you love me

And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me

A television documentary, 'In Sunshine or In Shadow', about the origins and history of the song was produced by Julian Lloyd in 1995 (broadcast on ITV in the UK and PBS in the US).

[edit] Recordings

Joan Baez recorded the song as part of a medley, pairing it with Stephen Foster's "I Dream of Jeannie", on her 1975 album Diamonds & Rust
Harry Belafonte recorded a version
Brobdingnagian Bards recorded it for their album "Songs of Ireland" (2002, Mage Records)
Tony Bennett recorded this, released on the 1987 Columbia CD, Jazz, with Stan Getz on tenor sax, Herbie Hancock on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums.
Jazz duo Stian Carstensen (button accordion) and Iain Ballamy (tenor saxophone) recorded a version in which their instruments metamorphose into the sound of an accordion on the album The Little Radio
Johnny Cash on American IV: The Man Comes Around. Cash recorded an earlier version of this song on his 1965 album "Orange Blossom Special".
Eva Cassidy recorded a performance of the song on the album Imagine (2002)
Cher recorded it in 1969 on her "Jackson Highway Album"
Welsh singer, Charlotte Church recorded the song on her "Voice of an Angel" album (1999, Sony)
The Choirboys (boyband) recorded a beautiful and moving version of the song on their album 'The Choirboys' (2005, EMI)
Judy Collins sang it at her "Live at Wolf Trap" concert (released on DVD/CD in 2000)
Harry Connick Jr's 1999 big-band record Come By Me has a voice and piano take on this song Harry Connick Jr's character Daniel sings Danny Boy at a talent show in the movie Life Without Dick. As a cast member in the 1990 World War 2 aviation film Memphis Belle he sings the song at a dance. It becomes the principal music theme of the film, particularly prominent in the harrowing ending and the end credits.
Bing Crosby recorded it for his "Top O' the Morning" album (re-released 1996, MCA)
Irish tenor Dennis Day sang it several times as a regular on the Jack Benny television program
Londonderry Air: Jazz pianist Bill Evans recorded a piano solo rendition of the tune in 1962. It appears on the album "Time Remembered" and on "Bill Evans: The Complete Riverside Recordings". A gently swinging interpretation was recorded in 1994 by pianist Hank Jones and bass player Charlie Haden on their album "Steal Away".
Irish tenor Joe Feeney performed the song numerous times, both on The Lawrence Welk Show and in a 1964 recording
Connie Francis on her "Connie Francis Sings Irish Favorites" album (1962, MGM)
The opening track on the eponymous debut album by young British singer Declan Galbraith
Megan Gallagher performed the song as her character Maeve Ryan, on the final episode of the ABC-TV soap opera Ryan's Hope on January 13, 1989
Judy Garland recorded it several times, once for her film Little Nellie Kelly (1940) and again for her "Miss Showbusiness Album" (1955, Capitol Records) and sang it live during her concerts in Dublin's famed Theatre Royal and at her now legendary New York Palace Theatre show. Her last recording of the song was in 1962 in London, again for "The London Sessions" (Capitol).
Londonderry Air: The British label Chandos released a recording of Percy Grainger's setting of this tune for wind band as part of its series of the complete works of that composer
Great Big Sea recorded it for their live concert DVD Courage & Patience & Grit (2006)
Hip hop Irish-American band House of Pain on their "Homonym" album. "Danny Boy" is also the stage name of a member this group.
The King's Singers, a cappella version on the album Watching the White Wheat (1985)
Singer Diana Krall performed the song with The Chieftains on their album Tears of Stone (1999 RCA)
Cape Breton fiddler Natalie MacMaster on her "Yours Truly" Album (2006) with vocals by Michael McDonald_(singer)
Performed by Irish-/Scottish-Canadian vocalist John McDermott during every performance
Londonderry Air: Glenn Miller did an instrumental version in 1940
Ruby Murray on her When Irish Eyes Are Smiling album in the late Sixties (re-released 1997)
My Friend The Chocolate Cake recorded a chamber pop version for their 1991 album "My Friend The Chocolate Cake" (re-released 1995)
Willie Nelson on "One From The Road" (released in 1979; re-released on a compilation "Stardust/Honeysuckle Rose/One From The Road")
Sinéad O'Connor performed the song, adding a third (political) verse, on whistler and piper Davy Spillane's album The Sea of Dreams
Daniel O'Donnell
Maureen O'Hara Irish Actress recorded it on her Maureen O'Hara Sings her Favourite Irish Songs album (1962, Columbia Records)
G4 on their Act 3 CD (2006, White Rabbit)
Roy Orbison on his 1972 Memphis album
Frank Patterson, recorded the song for his album "Ireland in Song". His voice is heard during a scene in the movie Miller's Crossing by Joel and Ethan Coen.
Elvis Presley recorded the song in 1976 during the Jungle Room Sessions at Graceland in Memphis, TN. The master take is available on From Elvis Presley Boulevard. Other takes are available on The Jungle Room Sessions and Platinum. The song was noted as one of his favourite songs and was played at his funeral.
The Pogues on the soundtrack Straight to Hell
The Poxy Boggards on Whiskey Business (2006)
Jim Reeves recorded it and used to perform it as the last song at his concerts
Ray Price had a top 10 hit on Billboard magazine's Hot Country Singles chart in 1967, and is an example of his Nashville Sound output
Carmel Quinn recorded a poignant version on her Carmel Quinn at Carnegie Hall album (1970 Columbia/EMI )
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf: 13.07.1958 Abbey Road Studios, London, England
Deirdre Shannon's version returns it to its simple best on her album Deirdre Shannon
Irish rocker Brush Shiels performs a bluesy version on his album "Fields Of Athenry" (1988)
Carly Simon recorded it for her 1990 album My Romance
Conway Twitty recorded a rockabilly version
Maureen Tucker of The Velvet Underground recorded it for her album Dogs Under Stress
Irish tenor Ronan Tynan's rendition plays while photographs of several of the New York City firefighters who perished in the September 11, 2001 attacks are shown in the closing minutes of the documentary film 9/11
Sarah Vaughan, recorded an exceptionally good rendition on her album "It's A Man's World" (Original release: Mercury Stereo SR 611220; released as an audio CD on Verve label in April, 2002)
Hayley Westenra's 2007 UK album "Treasure" and the international counterpart "Celtic Treasure" include her rendition of the song.
Jackie Wilson recorded two different versions. It was his mother's favorite song.
Though not a "cover" per se, "Danny Boy" is mentioned in the lyrics of Chumbawamba's "Tubthumping".
A recurring theme throughout The Adventures of Lano and Woodley, appearing as a jazz song and a campfire song, among others.
Sung by the Irish-American character Maureen McBain in the classic spaghetti western Once Upon a Time in the West by Sergio Leone, even though the movie was set before the song was written.
Sung by Dr. Zoidberg at Bender's fake funeral in "A Pharaoh to Remember"
The song is often used at funerals. It is parodied in the comedy Saved by the Bell at the funeral for Slater's lizard.
Recited by Barney Gumble in The Simpsons on the closing of Moe's Tavern, due to excessive health code violations.
Sung by Eugene's father in Random Shoes, an episode of Torchwood
The 27th Lancers Drum and Bugle Corps used the piece to close out their competitive shows from 1971 to 1983 (excepting 1974 and 1978)
A short snippiet of the song appears (uncredited) on The Beatles' album Let It Be.
The song was played by the The Grimethorpe Colliery Band in the 1996 movie Brassed Off when Pete Postlethwaite's character (coincidentally, named Danny) was in hospital.
Garrett Morris sang it beatifully on SNL, 3/18/1978.
Canadian Idol 2006 runner-up Craig Sharpe covered the song during the program and included a version on his February 2007 debut CD I Am
Performed by "The Leprechaun Brothers" (Swedish Chef, Animal and Beaker) on The Muppet Show)