Danny Boy

"Danny Boy"
Song
Published 1913
Genre Folk
Writer Frederick Weatherly (Lyrics)

"Danny Boy" is a ballad written by Frederic Weatherly and usually set to the Irish tune of the "Londonderry Air".[1] It is most closely associated with Irish communities.

Contents

Background

The words to "Danny Boy" were written by English lawyer and lyricist Frederic Weatherly in 1910. Although the lyrics were originally written for a different tune, Weatherly modified them to fit the "Londonderry Air" in 1913, after his sister-in-law in the U.S. sent him a copy.[2] Ernestine Schumann-Heink made the first recording in 1915. Weatherly gave the song to the vocalist Elsie Griffin, who in turn made it one of the most popular songs in the new century.

Jane Ross of Limavady is credited with collecting the melody, the "Londonderry Air", in the mid-19th century from a local fiddle player.

History

"Danny Boy" is considered to be an unofficial signature song and anthem, particularly by Irish Americans and Irish Canadians.[3]

"Danny Boy" enjoys popularity as a funeral song but, as it is not liturgical, its suitability for funerals is sometimes contested.[4] In 1928, Weatherly suggested that the second verse would provide a fitting requiem for the actress Ellen Terry.

Meaning

There are various theories as to the true meaning of "Danny Boy".[5] Some listeners have interpreted the song to be a message from a parent to a son going off to war or leaving as part of the Irish diaspora. The 1918 version of the sheet music included alternative lyrics ("Eily Dear"), with the instructions that "when sung by a man, the words in italic should be used; the song then becomes "Eily Dear", so that "Danny Boy" is only to be sung by a lady". In spite of this, it is unclear whether this was Weatherly's intent, or simply a publisher's note; Weatherly did, however, acknowledge that "Danny Boy" was sung "all over the world by Sinn Feiners and Ulstermen alike", and noted that the song had "nothing of the rebel song in it, and no note of bloodshed".

Lyrics

(There are a number of variations on these 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 there in sunshine or in shadow
Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so.

And when you come, and all the flowers are dying
If I am dead, as dead I well may be
You'll come and find the place where I am lying
And kneel and say an "Ave" there for me.

And I shall hear, tho' soft you tread above me
And all my grave will warmer, sweeter be
For you will bend and tell me that you love me
And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me.

I'll simply sleep in peace until you come to me.

And I shall rest in peace until you come to me.

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

[6]

Recordings

"Danny Boy" has been recorded various times by a variety of artists. Several versions performed by notable artists are listed below in chronological order.

Year Artist Album (or single) Notes
1939 Glenn Miller Performed as part of the Carnegie Hall concert on October 6 and recorded and released on the RCA Victor label.
1939 Gracie Fields Shipyard Sally (soundtrack) Also performed for Jess Yates's TV show Stars on Sunday in 1978.
1940–1962 Judy Garland Little Nellie Kelly (1940) (soundtrack)

Miss Showbusiness (1955)

Also performed live during concerts at Theatre Royal, Dublin and Palace Theatre, New York shows. Her last recording of "Danny Boy" was in London, for Capitol-label The London Sessions, in 1962.
1944 Art Tatum Fine and Dandy
1945 Bing Crosby Merry Christmas Paired with I'll Be Home for Christmas on the original record.
1950 Al Hibbler "Danny Boy"
1953 Slim Whitman
1958 Elisabeth Schwarzkopf "Danny Boy" Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London, England.
1958 Sam Cooke Sam Cooke
1959 Sleepy Matsumoto Instrumental saxophone rearrangement.
1959 Conway Twitty Rockabilly version that reached № 10 on the U.S. Pop charts.
1959 Harry Belafonte Recorded live at Carnegie Hall.
1960 Link Wray
1960

1961

Jim Reeves Album Tall Tales and Short Tempers (Slow Version)

"Danny Boy" (Single Version)

1961 Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys Bluegrass Ramble
1962 Maureen O'Hara Maureen O'Hara Sings Her Favourite Irish Songs
1962 Connie Francis Connie Francis Sings Irish Favorites
1963 CHANG Loo (張露) An Evening With Chang Loo Performed in alternate English and Mandarin Chinese language, under title name of Danny Boy/牧童的懷念*, on EMI Columbia label. *Meaning:The Shepherd Boy's Memories
1964 Joe Feeney Performed numerous times on The Lawrence Welk Show.
1964 The Seekers The Seekers (also known as Roving with The Seekers)
1964 Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles "Danny Boy" Reached № 76 on the Billboard Hot 100.
1965 Johnny Cash Orange Blossom Special Remastered and reissued in 2002.
1965 The Bachelors More Great Song Hits
1967 Ray Price Nashville-sound version that was a top-10 hit on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart.
1969 Cher Jackson Highway
1969–1999 Tom Jones Las Vegas to London: The Best of Tom Jones Live Performed on the first episode of his weekly television show.
1972 Roy Orbison Memphis
1974 Les Humphries Singers Kansas City Featuring John Lawton (vox).
1975 Joan Baez Diamonds & Rust Recorded as part of a medley, with Stephen Foster's "I Dream of Jeannie".
1976 Elvis Presley From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee Recorded during the Jungle Room Sessions, Graceland, Memphis, TN. The song was one of Elvis's and his father Vernon's favourites and was played at his funeral.
1976 Boots Randolph Boots Randolph.
1978 Sam Sorono Sings Tom Jones' Greatest Hits
1978

1991

The Kelly Family "Danny Boy"

Honest Workers

1980 Hazel O'Connor Sons And Lovers
1985 King's Singers Watching the White Wheat A cappella version.
1987 Tony Bennett Jazz Featuring Stan Getz on tenor sax, Herbie Hancock on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums.
1988 Brush Shiels Fields of Athenry Blues version.
1989 Kate Smith The Irish Album Reissued in 1989.
1990 Carly Simon My Romance
1991 The Swingle Singers Around the World
1991 My Friend The Chocolate Cake My Friend The Chocolate Cake Chamber pop version.

Reissued in 1995.

1992 Nana Mouskouri Songs of the British Isles
1993 Mary O'Hara Song for Ireland Harp version.
1994 Black 47 Home of the Brave A variation that retains only the melody and one of the original verses.
1996 Don Walser Texas Top Hand

Dare To Dream (compilation)

1996 Joseph Flummerfelt Recorded at the Festival dei Due Mondi and featuring the Westminster Choir.
1996 Eric Clapton "Change the World"
1999 Charlotte Church Voice of an Angel
1999 Roma Downey Touched by an Angel Season 6-Voice of an Angel
1999 Diana Krall Tears of Stone Featuring The Chieftains.
1999 Harry Connick Jr Come By Me Big-band version.

Featured in the movie Life Without Dick and Memphis Belle.

1999 The Irish Tenors Irish Tenors
1999 Finbar Wright Opera Concert

In popular culture

Books

References

  1. ^ http://www.standingstones.com/danny3.html#derry
  2. ^ "Fred Weatherly's own description of writing Danny Boy". http://www.standingstones.com/danny3.html#sister. Retrieved 2010-03-09. 
  3. ^ Hinnesbusch, Patricia D. "Irish Song Danny Boy Meaning and History of Irish Ballads." Symbol Meaning for Hundreds of Symbols & Symbol Resources. Living Arts Enterprises, LLC, 14 Sept. 2010.
  4. ^ No byline (2001-08-10), "'Danny Boy' cannot be played during Mass". National Catholic Reporter. 37 (36):11
  5. ^ "The true meaning of Danny Boy". http://www.standingstones.com/danny3.html#true. Retrieved 2010-03-09. 
  6. ^ "Danny Boy Irish Song Lyrics and Music Midi". Danny Boy Song Lyrics. Site. http://www.ireland-information.com/irishmusic/dannyboy.shtml. Retrieved 28 March 2011. 
  7. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Sj8DskmVJo
  8. ^ Classic TV, ISBN 0-7935-4762-8, 1996, published by Hal Leonard Corporation

External links